Remembering Sonny Boy Williamson: TESTI

- All of my love in vain

My heart has been broken

And all of my love`s in vain

Heart have been broken

And all my love`s in vain

But the people`s always told me

That woman was the glory of a man

You whip her when she need it

The judge will not let you explain

Whip her when she need it

The judge will not let you explain

Because he believe in justice

and a woman is the glory of a man

I`d rather be tied out on the desert

Right out in the falling rain

Tied out on the desert

Right out in the falling rain

Than to lose my baby

She is the glory of a man

- Born blind

You been talkin' about your woman

I sure wish that you could see mine
You been talkin' about your woman
I sure wish that you could see mine
Every time the little girl start to lovin'
She bring eyesight to the blind
Her daddy must've been a millionaire
'Cause I can tell by the way she walk
Her daddy must've been a millionaire
'Cause I can tell by the way she walk
Every time she start to lovin'
The deaf an' dumb begin to talk
All right
I remember one Friday mornin'
The little girl was makin' up her bed
Man in the next room was dyin'
Stopped down an', an' held up his head
He said, Man, ain't she pretty?
An' the whole state know she's fine
Every time she start to lovin'
She bring eyesight to the blind
Let's go now

- Bring it on home

Baby, baby,

I'm gonna bring it on home to you
I done bought my ticket, I got my load
Conductor done hollered, "All, aboard"
Take my seat and ride way back,
And watch this train move down the track
Baby, baby,
I'm gonna bring it on home to you
I think about the good times I once have had
Soul got happy now, my heart got glad
I think about the way you love me too
You can bet your life, I'm comin home to you
I'm goin home,
I'm gonna bring it on home, now
I'm gonna bring it on home, now
I'm gonna bring it on home, now
Gonna bring it on home,
Bring it on home to you

- Checkin’ on my baby

I'm checking on my baby.
Find out what she's puttin' down.
I'm checking on my baby.
Find out what she's puttin' down.
So many nights and days,
Well, I've been out of town.
I won't even call.
I won't even write.
I won't even call.
I won't even write.
Well, I caught me a plane,
Flew back that same night.
Aah.
Checking on my baby.
Find out what she's puttin' down.
Checking on my baby.
Find out what she's puttin' down.
So many nights and days,
Well, I've been out of town.

- Cool disposition

My baby a kind hearted woman, so lovely and so sweet she's so kind

Yeah, she's a kind hearted woman, so lovely and so sweet she's so kind

She's got such a cool disposition, she just makes me love her all the time

She got me doin' things, peoples I just can't sleep at night

She got me doin' things, you know boys I just can't sleep at night

I don't eat my breakfast in the mornin', and my teeth and tongue begin to fight

Yes, she's 41 through the shoulders, 29 in the waist,

I'll never find another woman, to take my baby's place

She's so lovin', she's so sweet she's so kind
She's got such a cool disposition, makes me love her all the time

- Cross my heart

If you cross your heart to someone

You're not suposed to tell a lie

If you cross your heart to someone

You're not suposed to tell a lie

Before you say a wrong

Or either do wrong

It have to be so long

Or either goodbye

The first time I crossed my heart

I was by your bedside on my knees

Yes, the first time I crossed my heart

I was by your bedside down on my knees

Sure enough, may (spoke)

And I know the difference between

I knew I'd have to beg you

Please, darlin', help me please

- Decoration Day

Lord, I had a woman

She was nice lovin' in ev'ry way

Lord, I had a woman

She was nice lovin' in ev'ry way

Lord, but she died an' left me

I have the blues on ev'ry Decoration Day

Lord, I hated to see her leave me

Because these are the last words

My baby had to say

Lord, I hate to see her leave me

Because these are the last words

My baby had to say

She told me to bring her some flowers

On ev'ry Decoration Day

People, you havin' a good time, now?

Just like the flowers that comes in May

Peoples, you havin' a good time, now?

Just like the flowers that comes in May

Now, but Sonny Boy thinks about his baby

On ev'ry Decoration Day

Fare you well, mm

Baby, I ain't got no mo' to say

Fare you well, mm

Baby, I ain't got no mo' to say

Lord, but I'll always remember

I won't never forget, 'Decoration Day'.

(Il brano fu inciso da John Lee 'Sonny Boy' Williamson aka Sony Boy Williamson 1°, già il 13 marzo 1938 con il titolo di Decoraton Blues.)

- Don't lose your eye

Don't lose your eye, man to spite your face,

Because if people started snitchin' on ya, can't hide at no place

If you do wrong, the world gonna find you out

You know you can't do wrong and get by, ain't no use in tryin', the dogs that doubt

If I was you, I'd play fair in anything I do

Any time that the people find out that you're crooked man their not goin', do nothin' in the world for you

My daddy taught me, ever since I was a child

Always treat your neighbors right, be fair with your friends like wild

- Don't start me to talkin'

Well, I'm goin' down to Rosie's, stop at Fannie Mae's.

Gonna tell Fannie what I heard, her boyfriend say.
Don't start me to talkin',
I'll tell her everything I know.
I'm gonna break up this signifyin',
'Cause somebody's got to go. Jack give his wife two dollars, go downtown and get some market.
Gets out on the streets, ole George stopped her.
He knocked her down, and blackened her eye,
She gets back home, tell her husband a lie.
She borrowed some money, go to the beauty shop.
Jim honked his horn, she begin to stop,
She said, "Take me, baby," "Around the block,"
"I'm goin' to the beauty shop,""Where I can get my hair sock."

- Down Child

Listen downchild, please take a fool's advice

Don't newer let no one woman, Man misuse you twice

Every time she smiles, says she don't love no one but you

Everytime she smiles, says she don't love no one but you

You better watch out buddy boy,

Little girl love to drop a chunk on you

I tried so hard to not even think about my past life

I tried so hard even think about my past life

Because I don't want to ever ever make a mistake in life

Baby, I and you could be so happy,

We can be so lovin' tonight

From now on darling, we can be so happy

Be so loving from now on

Because if I ever make a mistake in life,

I know I'd ruin my happy home

- Eyesight to the blind

You've talking about your woman, I wish to God, man, that you could see mine

You're talking about your woman, I wish to God that you could see mine

Every time the little girl start to loving, she bring eyesight to the blind

Lord, her daddy must been a millionaire, 'cause I can tell by the way she walk

Her daddy must been a millionaire, because I can tell by the way she walk

Every time she start to loving, the deaf and dumb begin to talk

I remember one Friday morning, we was lying down across the bed

Man in the next room a-dying, stopped dying and lift up his head, and said,

"Lord, ain't she pretty, and the whole state know she fine!"

Every time she start to loving, she bring eyesight to the blind

- Fattenin' frogs for snakes

It took me a long time, to find out my mistakes
Took me a long time, to find out my mistakes,
It sho'h did man
But I bet you my bottom dollar, I'm not fattenin' no more frogs for snakes
I found out my downfall, back in nineteen and thirty,
I started checkin'
I found out my downfall, from nineteen and thirty
I'm tellin' all of my friends, I'm not fattenin' no more frogs for snakes
All right now
Yeah it is nineteen and fifty-seven, I've got to correct all of my mistakes
Whoa man, nineteen and fifty-seven, I've got to correct all of my mistakes
I'm tellin' my friends includin' my wife and everybody else,
Not fattenin' no more frogs for snakes

- Good evening everybody

Good evening, everybody, tell me how do you do

I'm one of the artists of Chess, come out to work a little

Goodbye, hello, goodbye

I didn't come here to stay, I just come here to work awhile

This morning I just dropped in your town

I'm in the studio over in Chicago, trying to knock these blues around

- Have you ever been in love

Have you ever been in love with a woman, like I am in love today

I wonder to myself, why she broke my heart this way

Oh baby, I know you don't understand

Oh baby, oh baby, I know you don't understand

It's so tough, that you drive a man insane

The woman I'm talkin' about, she's specially built

A heavied hipted woman, her shoulders are full filled

She got knee action body, hydraulic hips

Air conditioned stomach makes her, back bone slip

Have you ever been in love, like I am in love today

I'm cryin' and beggin' the little girl, why she treat me this a way

Said she would meet me, a quarter to nine

Better believe it dear 'cause, wasn't on time but

Have you been in love, like I'm in love today

She broke my heart, I wonder why she treat me this a way

- Help me

You got to help me darlin'
I can't do it all by myself
You got to help me, baby
I can't do it all by myself
You know if you don't help me darling
I'll have to find myself somebody else
I may have to wash
I may have to sew
I may have to cook
I might mop the floor
But you help me babe
You know if you don't help me darling
I'll find myself somebody else
When I walk, you walk with me
When I talk, you talk to me
Oh baby, I can't do it all by myself
You know if you don't help me darling
I'll have to find myself somebody else
Help me, help me darlin'
Bring me my nightshirt
Put on your morning gown
Bring me my nightshirt
Put on your morning gown
You know I ain't sleepy darlin'
But I do feel like lying down

- I don't care no more

When we first met, I know what it was

A stranger told me not to, trust your love

I was so carried away, I payed no mind

But I thank God, I saw the light in time

Little girl now, I don't care no more

I don't care what you do, I don't care no more

You had your way from time the time

Women, you spoke your piece, now I'm going to speek mine

The words you would send, they were not true

I picked up a loosing battle like all fouls do

But now, I don't care no more

I don't care what you do, I don't care no more

I finally found out just what it was

The women wanted convenience, but I want love

Ain't but one drink that I did wrong

Take the bottle of life and not my own

But now, I don't care no more

I don't care what you do, I don't care no more

- I don't know

At eleven forty five the phone begain the ring
I heard someone say Sonny Boy
And I know that was my name
Who call you?
I don't know, I don't know
But I'm trying to get in touch my baby
To find out why she disapoint me so
You know I met the greyhound bus
And I met the train, she wasn't on either one
And I wanna know who was there to blame
I don't know, I don't know
But I'm still trying to get in touch with my baby to find out
Why she disapoint me so
I received a special deliver' I received a telegram
Then she called me long distance, she wanna know
Just where I am for what?
I don't know, Man, I just don't know
But I'm still tryin' to get in touch with my baby
To find out why she disapoint me so.
That's right, that's right...
I know she come back home by highway
even comes by rail
She’s got my head in my hand.
Wonder what causes all my (!?) fail.

- In my younger days

In my younger days, I wished I knowed then like I know now

I wouldn't be standing around here, begging for this little woman to let me in her house

Back in those days, I wished I'd knowed then like I know now

The money I was throwing away, I could have saved it and bought my own house

(And I'd've had a home)

In my younger days, I wish I knowed then like I know now

Well, in my younger days, I wished I knowed then like I knowed now

I wouldn't be standing 'round, begging this woman to let me in her house

- Keep it to yourself

Baby, do me a favor, keep our business to yourself
Please, darling, do me a favor, keep our business to yourself
I don't want you to tell nobody in your family,
And don't mention it to nobody else
Don't tell your mother
Don't tell your father
Don't tell your sister
Don't mention it to your brother
Please, darling, keep our business to yourself
Don't you tell nobody,
And don't mention it to nobody else
You have a husband,
I have a wife
If you start to talkin',
That's gonna mess up our life
Please, please baby, keep our business to yourself
Don't you tell nobody,
And don't mention it to nobody else
Goodbye darlin'

- Let your conscience be your guide

Hold up your head, and don't let your conscience get you down

Hold up your head darlin', don't let your conscience get you down

If you never lie to me, I'll always be around

You are the same little woman, was so nice and kind to me in every way

But if you never lie to me, I'll be by your side both night and day

You have a strong constitution, and I'm not gonna let you down

And if you never lie to me darlin', I'll always be around and I won't let you down

Yeah man...

- Lonesome cabin

In my one room little cabin, just me and my little girl alone

It makes a man feel so good when she wrap way back in your arms

The little room is so small, I can't even put up no cookin' stove

The little room is so small, till I can't put up no cookin' stove

But you can tell from the weather, it's so cold, so cold outdoors

I could hear it rainin', and see the lightnin' flashin' on my window pane

Could hear it rainin', could hear it rainin', and I could see the lightnin' flashin' on my window pane

But the little girl lay her head up in my chest and said "I love you, and I'm not ashamed"

- Nine below zero

Yeah, ain't that a pity

People ain't that a cryin' shame

Ain't that a pity

I declare it's a cryin' shame

She wait till it got nine below zero

And put me down for another man

I give her all my money

All of my lovin' and everything

All of my money

All of my lovin' and everything

It done got nine below zero

And she done put me down for another man

Nine below zero

The little girl she done put me down

Nine below zero

The little girl she done put me down

She know I don't have nowhere to stay

And I don't have not one dime

- Ninety nine

Darling you know exactly what happened, last year just about this time

Yes you know exactly what happened, last year just about this time

You asked me for one hundred dollars, and I didn't have but ninety nine

Yes I'm in love with the little girl, just because she's so nice and kind

I'm in love, I'm in love with the little girl, just because she's so nice and kind

I was so sorry when she asked me for one hundred dollars,

I couldn't give her but ninety nine

Yes my baby taken sick on July twenty-nine

Yes the one I love she taken sick on July twenty-nine

Her doctor billed her four hundred dollars,

And I didn't have but three hundred and ninety nine

- No nights by myself

Hmm

I'm not going to spend another night by myself

Lord, I'm not going to spend any night by myself

If I don't find my baby, I'll have to carry somebody else

I set up all last night, haven't slept a wink today

All night last night, haven't slept a wink today

I couldn't find my baby, she's gone too far away

Hmm mmm mmm mmm:mmm mmm mmm mmm

Whoa whoa whoa, she must have left town

She left town

(She had to leave, left town)

- One way out

Raise your window,
I ain't goin' out that door
Raise your window,
I ain't goin' out that door
'Cause the man out there might,
Be your man I don't know
If you raise your window,
I can ease out soft and low
If you raise your window,
I can ease out soft and low
Your neighbors gonna be talkin',
That stuff me don't know
Ain't but one way out,
I ain't goin' out that door
Ain't but one way out,
I ain't goin' out that door
If I get away this time,
I won't be caught no more
Ain't but one way out,
I ain't goin' out that door
Ain't but one way out,
I ain't goin' out that door
If I get away this time,
I won't be caught no more

- Please forgive

I know I hurt your feelin's

and I'm asking you to forgive

I know I hurt your feelin's darlin'

and I'm asking you to forgive

Because you got a sweet disposition

[that] strictly gives me a thrill

(harp solo)

I'll admit, darlin',

I really done you wrong

I'll admit, baby,

I really done you wrong

But if you believe in me

you will be happy from this day on

(harp solo)

I'll O-dmit, the words

I said were not right

I'll admit, little girl, the words

I said were not right

You're too nice a girl to forgive me this night

I did you wrong and

I'm beggin' you to forgive

I know I did you wrong and

I'm beggin' you to forgive

Because your sweet disposition

strictly gives me a thrill

(You know I do)

- Pontiac blues

I found out,

What my baby likes.

I found out,

What my baby likes.

Whole lot of loving,

And a straight-eight Pontiac.

We gonna get on the highway,

[And cut the?] bright lights [on?]

Get on the highway,

[Got the?] bright lights [on?]

Turn the radio on,

Dig that voice from the North.

Oh,

[?]

Yes baby I know.

[?]

With your head in my chest,

[... in my bed ?]

We gonna move,

Down highway 49.

We gonna move,

Down the highway 49.

She got her head in my chest

[... fine?]

- Santa Claus

My baby went shoppin' yesterday,

Said "I'm gonna buy what you need for Santa Claus"

My baby went shoppin' yesterday,

Said "I'm gonna buy what you need for Santa Claus,

I'm gonna take mine with me,

But I'll leave yours in my dresser drawer"

So that started me to ramblin',

Lookin' in all of my baby's dresser drawers

Whoa, that started me to ramblin',

Lookin' all in my baby's dresser drawers

Tryin' to find out,

What did she bought me for Santa Claus

When I pulled out the bottom dresser drawer,

The landlady got mad and called the law

When I pulled out the bottom dresser drawer,

The landlady got mad and called the law

I was just tryin' to find,

What did she bought me for Santa Claus

The police walked in and tapped me on the shoulder,

"What you doing with your hand in that woman's dresser drawer?"

I hand the police a letter my baby wrote me,

Showin' where I should find my Santa Claus

I just kept on pullin' out all of my baby's dresser drawers

I walked out and left the police and the landlady arguin',

Said, "Look at the man done pull out all the lady's dresser drawers"

Yes, I walked out and left the police and the landlady arguin',

Said, "Look at the man done pull out all the lady's dresser drawers"

But he said, "I got the letter and show the judge

The boy just tryin to find his Santa Claus"

Oh yeah

- So sad to be lonesome

It's so sad to be lonesome, too much inconvenient to be alone

You know it's so sad to be lonesome, but it's too much inconvenient to be alone

You know it makes a man feel so good when his baby's lying down in his arms

I received a letter from my baby, I received a telegram

I received a letter from my baby, and I received a telegram

Then the little girl called me long distance, she wants to know just where I am

When you miss your baby, you look around can't see nothing but just your shade on the ground

So sad to be lonesome, I know it's too much inconvenient to be alone

But I declare you feel good when your baby come back home

Met the Greyhound bus, met the train

She wasn't on either one, I want to know what was to blame

So sad to be lonesome, too much inconvenient to be alone

But it make you feel so good when your baby come back home

- Sonny Boy's Christmas blues

Got some mighty sad news and I ain't got nothin' to say

I heard some mighty sad news and I don't have nothin' to say

My baby left me, started me drinkin' on Christmas day

Lord, I tried to fetch religion but the devil would not let me pray

Lord, I tried to fetch religion boys, but the devil he will not let me pray

That's why I gotta stay drunk all day Christmas Day

(spoken: Ooh, on a Christmas Day, You know that's one day I hate to have the blues; you know when she walked out and left me she give 'em to me, so I have to drink 'em all. I don't even have a Christmas tree in my house unless she comes home, but if she do happen to come home I will enjoy this Christmas)

Yes, run here baby and let me tell you what I got to say

Please, please run here darlin' and let daddy tell you what he got to say

Unless'n you come back to me, I'll be drunk all day Christmas Day

- Take your hands out of my pocket

Take your hand out of my pocket,
I ain't got nothing belong to you
Take your hand out of my pocket,
I ain't got nothing belong to you
Little girl, if you don't stop ravishing me
I will have to put the police on you
I heard about your reputation,
no sooner I dropped in your town
I heard about your reputation,
the minute I dropped in your town
You know I caught your hand in my pocket, above the elbow
And the police got to take you down

- Temperature 110

Nine below zero on the outside,

But I brought my baby's temperature to a hundred and ten

Nine below zero out on the outside,

And I brought my baby's temperature to a hundred and ten

Ever since the little girl put me down for another man

I give 'are all of my money, my lovin' and everything

All of my money, all my lovin' and everything

I brought my baby's temperature up to a hundred and ten,

And she done put me down for another man

Temperature nine below zero on the outside,

I brought my baby's temperature up to a hundred and ten, oh yes I did

Nine below zero,

And I brought my baby's temperature up to a hundred and ten, oh yeah

Ever since then she done put me down for another man

- The key (to your door)

It's just one thing baby I'm asking you to do

It's just one little thing baby I'm asking you to do

Please give me back your key to your door

I called the little girl about a quarter after nine

I called the little girl one morning about a quarter after nine

The landlady say "I'm sorry, she's not in at the present time"

I called my baby back about fifteen after four

I called my baby back fifteen after four

I said darling, would you please give me back the key to your door?

- This old life

This old life, I just can't stand to live it no more

Baby, you got to help me get myself straightened up right now, if you don't lam gon' have to go

I'm asking you, baby, please help me just once more

Asking you, baby; I'm asking you please help me once more

Because I'm gonna get myself straightened all out right now, so I won't go wrong no more

Help me, baby, help me, darling, just once more

If you help me get myself straightened out this time, I won't go wrong no more

I done you wrong and I'm asking you to forgive

Darling, I done you wrong, and I'm asking you to forgive

If you just help me get myself straightened out this time, darling, I know just how you feel

Please help me, darling

- Work with me

Yes work with me, baby, and I'll work with you

Work with me, mama, and I will work with you

I'll try to make it so pleasant, darlin', 'till you don't know what to do!

Ah, let me work wit' you, and I'll learn you how to work with me

Let me work wit' you, and I'll learn you how to work with me

Little girl I'll make you so happy, be as happy as a child can be!

Oh, I like to work with you, baby, I can work all night long

I like to work with you, baby, I can work all night long

If you work with me me little girl, you know, you can't go wrong!

Mama I never gets tired of workin', I trained up workin' from a kid

Never gets tired of workin', I brought up workin' from a kid

Anytime I put up a good job for you, don't try to keep it hid!

Or tell your girlfriends 'bout the work I did!

- Your funeral and my trial

Please come home to your daddy, and explain yourself to me
Because I and you are man and wife, tryin' to start a family
I'm beggin' you baby, cut out that off the wall jive
If you can't treat me no better, it gotta be your funeral and my trial
When I and you first got together, 't was on one Friday night
We spent two lovely hours together, and the world knows alright
I'm just beggin' you baby, please cut out that off the wall jive
You know you gotta treat me better, if you don't it gotta be your funeral and my trial
Alright
The good Lord made the world and everything was in it
The way my baby love is some solid sentiment
She can love to heal the sick and she can love to raise the dead
You think I'm jokin' but you better believe what I say
I'm beggin' you baby, cut out that off the wall jive
Yeah, you gotta treat me better, or it gotta be your funeral and my trial

Pagine

TESTI