|
|
Stavin'
Chain
by probably Lil
Johnson
recording of June 10 1937
from, copyright
notice
If you don't shake you don't get no cake
If you don't hum I'm gonna give you none
You can't ride, honey, you can't ride this train
I'm the chief engineer, I'm gonna run it like Stavin'
Chain
I asked you in the morning to treat me right
You put me off, tell me "Wait 'til night"
Now, you can't ride, honey, you can't ride this train
I'm the chief engineer, I'm gonna run it like Stavin'
Chain
Back your horse out my stable, back him out fast
I got myself another jockey, get yourself another mare
Now, you can't ride, honey, you can't ride this train
I'm the chief engineer, I'm gonna run it like Stavin'
Chain
Stavin' Chain was a man of might
He save up his money just to ride all night
Now, you can't ride, honey, you can't ride this train
I'm the chief engineer, I'm gonna run it like Stavin'
Chain
Was at your house last night, 'bout half past four
found another woman comin' out your door
Now, you can't ride, honey, you can't ride this train
I'm the chief engineer, I'm gonna run it like Stavin'
Chain
Top
Take
It Easy, Greasy
by probably Lil
Johnson
recording of February 12 1936
from Complete
Recorded Works In Chronological Order, Vol. 1 (1929-1936)
(Document DOCD-5307),
copyright
notice
Take it easy, greasy, love me 'til I get enough
Take it easy, greasy, now baby, don't you get so rough
Hug me, honey, squeeze me tight
You need not hurry 'cause you got all night!
So, take it easy, greasy, love me 'til I get enough
I got to have it, love me 'til I get enough!
Take it easy, greasy, love me 'til I get enough
Take it easy, greasy, now baby, don't you get so rough
I'm goin' downtown, to old Butcher Pete
'Cause I want a piece of his good old meat!
So, take it easy, greasy, love me 'til I get enough
I got to have it, love me 'til I get enough!
Take it easy, greasy, love me 'til I get enough
Take it easy, greasy, now baby, don't you get so rough
Call you this morning 'bout half past two
Now tell me, daddy, what you're going to do
So, take it easy, greasy, love me 'til I get enough
I got to have it, love me 'til I get enough!
(spoken:
Take it easy, greasy!
You got a long way to slide!)
Take it easy, greasy, love me 'til I get enough
Take it easy, greasy, now baby, don't you get so rough
Sweetest candy in the candy shop
It's just your sweet, sweet lollipop!
So, take it easy, greasy, love me 'til I get enough
I got to have it, love me 'til I get enough!
Take it easy, greasy, love me 'til I get enough
Take it easy, greasy, now baby, don't you get so rough
The jay bird say to the peckerwood
I'll let you peck it like a pecker should!
So, take it easy, greasy, love me 'til I get enough
I got to have it, love me 'til I get enough!
Top
That
Bonus Done Gone Through (Version 1)
by probably Lil
Johnson
recording of February 12 1936
from Complete
Recorded Works In Chronological Order, Vol. 1 (1929-1936)
(Document DOCD-5307),
copyright
notice
Have you heard the latest news?
These veterans ain't got no more blues!
They are planning what to do
Since that bonus1 done gone through!
Now, where's that man you used to rave about?
It's time now to see what he's made out
You'd better not let him slip through your hands
'Cause some other woman will surely take your man!
Come on, girls! Yes! Ain't you going downtown? Yes!
What you gonna buy? A new evening gown!
Oooooh, a new pair of shoes!
Oooooh, gonna truck away those blues!
'Cause that bonus done gone through!
(spoken:
Beat it out, boy!
Say, Bob!
Yes?
Ain't you gettin' your bonus?
Sure, baby!
You'll go up when the wagon comes
Come up and see me sometime
Sure, baby, when I get my bonus!)
Now when you steps out on the street
All lookin' so nice and neat
Everybody will stare at you so
Now look here, folks, she's out the bear once more
Now when I get all togged down
Men's will come from miles around
Go on, boys, I ain't got no time to lose
I got a good veteran who has cured my blues
Come on, girls!
Yes!
Ain't you going downtown?
Yes!
What you gonna buy?
A new evening gown!
Oooooh, listen to my call!
Oooooh, just watch this Mae West walk!
'Cause that bonus done gone through!
'Cause that bonus done gone through!
__________
Note 1: bonus, Michael Fleenor wrote: "The song 'That Bonus
done gone through' refers to the May, 1932 bonus march and
protest in Washington DC by World War 1 veterans. A bonus
had been promised but President Hoover refused and in July
1932 ordered staff general Douglas MacArthur to clear them
out. It got violent. After Roosevelt's election things
changed. Many veterans received jobs in the various
employment programs until the details of the bonus came out.
They eventually got it after a few years." Many thanks to
Michael Fleenor.
Top
That
Bonus Done Gone Through (Version 2)
by probably Lil
Johnson
recording of February 12 1936
from Complete
Recorded Works In Chronological Order, Vol. 1 (1929-1936)
(Document DOCD-5307),
copyright
notice
Have you heard the latest news?
These veterans ain't got no more blues!
They are planning just what to do
Since that bonus1 done gone through!
Now, where's that man you used to rave about?
Time now to see what he's made out
You'd better not let him slip through your hands
'Cause some other woman surely take your man!
Come on, girls!
Yes!
Ain't you going downtown?
Yes!
What you gonna buy?
A new evening gown!
Oooooh, a new pair of shoes!
Oooooh, gonna truck away those blues!
'Cause that bonus done gone through!
(spoken:
Beat it out, boy!
Say, Bob!
Yes?
Ain't you gettin' your bonus?
Sure, baby!
You'll go when the wagon comes
Step up and see me sometime
Sure, baby, when I get my bonus!)
Now when you steps out on the street
All lookin' so nice and neat
Everybody will stare at you so
Now look here, folks, she's out the bear once more!
Now when I get all togged down
Men's will come from miles around
Go away, boys, I ain't got no time to lose
I got a good veteran who has cured my blues
Come on, girls!
Yes!
Ain't you going downtown?
Yes!
What you gonna buy?
A new evening gown!
Oooooh, listen to my call!
Oooooh, just watch this Mae West walk!
'Cause that bonus done gone through!
'Cause that bonus done gone through!
__________
Note: the second take of this song, taken the same day as
the first take;
Note 1: bonus, see version 1 of this song for a detailed
explanation.
Top
Winner
Joe
by probably Lil
Johnson
recording of February 12 1936
from Complete
Recorded Works In Chronological Order, Vol. 1 (1929-1936)
(Document DOCD-5307),
copyright
notice
Joe Louis was born in Alabama
And raised up in Detroit
But he always had that killing blow
Every since he was a boy
So, lay it, Joe!
You got the best blow!
When Joe Louis fought in Chicago
Some bet that he would lose
But when the papers brought the news
He gave that kind the blues
So, lay it, Joe!
You got the best blow!
Levinsky made a few passes
And then he fell to the floor
Then the referee hollered, "Hold it, Joe
For he won't be back no more!"
So, lay it, Joe!
You got the best blow!
(spoken:
Yeah, man, I'm bettin' on Joe!
Got any money?
I'll bet you!)
You all heard about Primo Carnera
They thought he was so good
But Joe started chopping on his head
Like a farmer chopping wood!
So, chop it, Joe!
You got the best blow!
Then Joe walked up to the man mountain
And kindly shook his hand
Then Joe backed up a step or two
And knocked him in the promised land
So, knock it, Joe!
You got the best blow!
Then Joe Louis went to New York
Just to fight that champion Baer
And before the first round ended up
Joe left him layin' there!
So, lay it, Joe!
You got the best blow!
But the Baer, he took it easy
He didn't argue long
He went on back to California
And bought him a cattle farm
He said, "Take it, Joe
You got the best blow!"
(spoken: Who's next?)
__________
Note: music of "Frankie and Johnny".
Top
You
Can't Bet On Love
by probably Lil
Johnson
recording of February 12 1936
from Complete
Recorded Works In Chronological Order, Vol. 1 (1929-1936)
(Document DOCD-5307),
copyright
notice
I'm sorry we parted
I was blue and downhearted
How can anyone, anyone bet on love?
Now that we're together again
Oh, life will be sweet again
You're the one, the one I adore
My heart was just a plaything to you
Just let your love haunt me
And say you'll be mine again
Please whisper that you want me
And now that you're so sweet
Without you, life wouldn't be complete
How can anyone, anyone bet on love?
(spoken:
Now swing, you cats!
You can't bet on love
Hmmm, I'm so melancholy!)
I'm sorry we parted,
I was blue and downhearted,
How can anyone, anyone bet on love?
Now that we're together again
Life will be so sweet again
For you're the one, you're the one I adore
My heart was just a plaything to you
Just let your love haunt me
And say you'll be mine again
Please whisper that you want me
And now that you're so sweet
Without you, life wouldn't be complete
How can anyone, anyone bet on love?
(spoken: Yowza!)
Top
You'll
Never Miss Your Jelly Till Your Jelly Roller's
Gone
by probably Lil
Johnson
recording of April 23 1929
from Complete
Recorded Works In Chronological Order, Vol. 1 (1929-1936)
(Document DOCD-5307),
copyright
notice
I woke up this morning with the blues all 'round my
bed
I woke up this morning with the blues all 'round my bed
I felt just like somebody in my family was dead
I began to moan and I began to cry
I began to moan and I began to cry
My big man went away, don't know the reason why
If you don't like my sweet potato, what made you dig so
deep?
If you don't like my sweet potato, what made you dig so
deep?
In my potato field three, four times a week
Whooping, I've been whooping, whooping all night long
Whooping, I've been whooping, whooping all night long
Whooping, I've been whooping, ever since my man been
gone
(spoken:
Oh, swing that thing, Mr. Avery!
You play that thing so good!
Ooh, them blues sure sound good this morning
Don't kill that half-pint!)
My dog jumped a rabbit, the rabbit fell down on his
knees
My dog jumped a rabbit, the rabbit fell down on his
knees
He looked up at the dog and said, "Won't you have mercy on
me, please"
Just as sure as you hear me sing this song
Just as sure as you hear me sing this song
You'll never miss your jelly till your jelly
roll is gone
Top
You
Stole My Cherry
by probably Lil
Johnson
recording of March 3 1937
from, copyright
notice
How do you want me to love you, when you keep on
holding yours back?
Why, you must think your mama, have got rubber in her
back
Now you started to kissin', I asked you to stop, but I could
not resist 'cause those kisses was hot
When it comes to lovin', you all right with me, 'cause you
got everything that a good man needs
Yes, I twirled and I twirled, baby, I twirled from right to
left
Now if you want any more lovin', baby, you'll have to twirl
yourself
Yes, I climbed and I climbed, like a fox up a tree, I
climbed so high you stole my cherry from me
How do you want me to love you, when you keep on holding
yours back?
How do you want me to love you, when you keep on holding
yours back?
Why, you must think your mama, have got rubber in her
back
Now you started to kissin', I asked you to stop, but I could
not resist 'cause those kisses was hot
When it comes to lovin', you all right with me, 'cause you
got everything that a good man needs
Yes, I twirled and I twirled, baby, I twirled from right to
left
Now if you want any more lovin', baby, you'll have to twirl
yourself
When my gauge goes up, and my love comes down, I gets on
your trail like a thirsty bloodhound
How do you want me to love you, when you keep on holding
yours back, I mean,
when you keep on, keep on holding yours back?
Top
|
![[Lil Johnson]](../photographs/lil_johnson.jpg)
