Big Maceo

Whoa, Lordy, Lord
Oh Lordy, Lord
It hurts me so bad
For us to part
But someday, baby
I ain't gonna worry my life any more

So many nights
Since you been gone
I been worried' an grievin'
My life alone
But someday, baby
I ain't gonna worry my life any more

So many days
Since you went away
I had to worry
Both night an day
But someday, baby
I ain't gonna worry my life any more


'No boy, I ain't gonna worry my life no more!'

'Yeah, yeah'

(piano & guitar)

You on my mind
Ev'ry place I go
How much I love you
Nobody knows
But someday, baby
I ain't gonna worry my life any more

So that's my story
This is all I got to say to you
Goodbye, baby
An I don't care what you do
But someday, baby
I ain't gonna worry my life any more.

Ramblin' Mind Blues 3:09 Trk 2
(M. Merriweather)
Big Maceo
Big Maceo - piano & vocal, Tampa Red - guitar
Ransom Knowling - string bass.
Recorded Tues. June 24, 1941
Chicago, ILL. RCA Studio C
Album: Bluebird Recordings Big Maceo 1941-1942
RCA #66715-2


Well, I woke up this mo'nin'
With ramblin' on my mind
Well, I woke up this mo'nin'
With ramblin' on my mind
Well, my babe had quit me
An I couldn't hardly keep from cryin'

She brought me up north
When I was just out of school


She brought me up north
When I was just out of school
Since she got me up north
She tried to play me for a fool

When a woman says she love you
Man, don't pay that no mind
When a woman said she loves you
Man, don't pay that no mind
She'll have you out of yo home
Just like I'm outta mine

(guitar, piano & bass)

When you see me leave you
Hang crepe on your door
When you see me leavin'
Hang crepe on your door
Well, I won't be dead
But I ain't comin' here no more.

~

County Jail Blues 2:54 Trk 3
(Alfred Fields)
Big Maceo - piano & vocal, Tampa Red - guitar
Recorded Tues. June 24, 1941
Chicago, ILL. RCA Studio C
Album: Bluebird Recordings Big Maceo 1941-1942
RCA #66715-2


They picked me up
An put me in the county jail
They picked me up
An put me in the county jail
They wouldn't even let my woman
Come and go my bail

Now, I'm in prison
But I've almost did my time
Now, I'm in prison
But I've almost did my time


They give me six months
But I had to work out nine

'Cause I know my baby
She's gonna jump an shout
I know my baby
She's gonna jump an shout
When that train roll up
An I come walkin' out

'Now play 'em Mr. Tampa'

(guitar, piano & bass)

So, take these stripes around me
Chain way from 'round my legs
These stripes from 'round me
And these chains from 'roundlegs
Well, these stripes don't hurt me
But these chains gonna kill me dead.

~

Way back tale
In nineteen hundred and ten
The monkey and the baboon
They came walkin' in

The monkey told the baboon
Let's shoot a game of pool
The monkey could shoot
But the baboon wadn't no fool

Next thing came along
Was a little mule
He say, 'You know I'm so mad
I even can't wear no shoes'

Next thing came along
There was Mr. Cat
We ain't gon' have no such-a stuff
Goin' on here like that

Next thing came
Was a little mouse
'Let's all get drunk
And break up the doggone house'

Can't ya re-ead?
Now, can't ya re-ead?
If ya keep on readin'
I'm bound to put you wise

(Tampa sings:)

Well, the monkey and the elephant
They went out for a little drive
The elephant hit the monkey
Right square in his eye

The monkey looked up
With a tear in his eye
Said, 'Look-a-here big boy
You oughta get someone yo' size

One a these days
I'm gonna climb yo' tree
Remember big boy
You got to march right under me


When you march under me
You better march careful and fast
I get me limb and break it
Cross yo' ~

Now, can't you re-ead
Now can't you re-ead
If you keep on readin'
I'm bound to put you wise

If anybody jus' happen to ask'd you
Where the waitin' gonna be?
Tell him right down there on
Hazen Street

Go down there
Just about the end of the week
You can get most anything
That you care to eat

If you don't like shrimp
Just na-ame yo' dish
They will even sell you
Some a-that ol' filtie fish

Now, can't you re-ead?
Now, can't you re-ead?
Now, if you keep on readin'
Mama, I'm bound to put you wise

'Yeah, play it Mr. Maceo'

(piano, guitar)

Well, fifteen cents
You know that's reg'lar price
If you got two bits
They will even serve you twice

Can't you re-ead?
Now, can't you re-read?
If you keep on readin'
I'm bound to put you wise.

~

So Long Baby 2:43 Trk 5
(M. Merriweather)
Big Maceo
Big Maceo - vocals & piano
Ransom Knowling - string bass.
Recorded: Friday Dec. 15, 1941
Chicago, ILL. RCA Studio C
Album: Bluebird Recordings Big Maceo 1941-1942
RCA #66715-2


I'm worried in mind
Stay worried all the time
Someday I'll be satisfied

It's your time now
But it's my time after a while
Oh said, if things don't get no better
I'm gonna move on down the line

'Cause when you was my baby
I treated you nice and kind
But baby I have changed my mind

I was crazy 'bout you, baby
Crazy as a man could be


So now, when I leave ya now, baby
Don't try an follow me

You gonna wake up
One a these mornin's
An it ain't gonna be long
And look for me
An I will be gone

So bye-bye, baby
Babe, you know you'd done me wrong
So try your best to forget
That I ever held you in my arms

'Yas, yas, yas'

(instrumental & piano)

You gonna worry 'bout me
One a-these old lonesome days
An yo' daddy'll be far away

So long peoples an sweetheart
I'll soon be on my way
You're going to be sorry
That you let me go run, still.

~

Texas Blues 2:53 Trk 6
(M. Merriweather)
Big Maceo
Big Maceo - vocals & piano
w/Tampa Red - guitar & vocal, Ransom Knowling - string bass.
Recorded Tues. June 24, 1941
Chicago, ILL. RCA Studio C
Album: Bluebird Recordings Big Maceo 1941-1942
RCA #66715-2


My home's in Texas
What am I doin' up here?
My home's in Texas
What am I doin' up here?
Yes, my good corn whiskey
Baby, an women brought me here

Well, I'm goin' back to Texas
Just to ride this Texas train
I'm goin' back to Texas


Just to ride this Texas train
I'm goin' to Texas
Just to be on the devil's range

I love, Texas
That is a place for me
I love, Texas
That is a place for me
I got a sweet gal there
That means so much to me

'A-pick 'em Mr. Maceo'

(piano & guitar)

When I left Texas
Well, she begged me not to go
When I left Texas
Well, she begged me not to go
But if I ever get back to Texas
Love, I won't be bad no mo'.

~

Tuff Luck Blues 3:01 Trk 7
(Maceo Merriweather)
Big Maceo
Big Maceo - vocals & piano
w/Tampa Red - guitar, Alfred Elkins - im. bass.
Recorded Friday Dec. 15, 1941
Chicago, ILL. RCA Studio A
Album: Bluebird Recordings Big Maceo 1941-1942
RCA #66715-2


It's too bad
Things are going so tuff with me
It's too bad
Things are going so tuff with me
I'm blue and disgusted
As any poor man could be

I used to have a car
An it was painted white an black
I used to have a car
An he was painted white an black
I couldn't keep up the payments
An the man, he took it back

I used to smoke cigars
The very best in town
But bad luck an trouble
Is bound to tear me down

It's too bad


Things are going so tuff with me
I guess I go back to my plow
And start hollerin' (*whoa, haw, gee)

'Play 'em for me boy, play 'em for me'

(piano)

'You know my gal quit me'

'I'm sho' in hard luck'

'Get it and get it good, now'

'Yes, I know'

'I have so much trouble'

The women that I'm lovin'
Is followed me all around
I can tell by her action
She 'bout to put me down

It's too bad
Things are goin' so tuff with me
You have heard my story
Peoples, what'ch you think a me?

~

*Whoa, haw, gee
Mules and horses: whoa=stop
Haw=go left, gee=go right.

I Got The Blues 2:49 Trk 8
(M. Merriweather)
Big Maceo - vocals & piano
w/Tampa Red - guitar, Alfred Elkins - string bass.
Recorded Tues. Dec 15, 1941
Chicago, ILL. RCA Studio A
Album: Bluebird Recordings Big Maceo 1941-1942
RCA #66715-2


Just tell me, baby
Just tell me, baby
What can I do
To change your mind?

Hey, hey
Baby can I change your mind?
I got the freight train blues
The tracks is outta line

You got a man in the east
An a man in the west
Jus' sittin' here worryin'
Who you love the best?

Hey, hey
What can I do to change your mind?
I got the blues for you, baby
You keep me worried all the time


You say you love me
I believe in you
You kind of quit me
What mo' can I do?

Hey, hey
Baby, can I change yo' mind?
I got the blue for you, baby
You keep me worried all the time

'Now boy, you know I've got
the blues now'
'Play 'em for me, now'

(piano & guitar)

'Yas, yas, yas, yas'

My mama got 'em
My papa got 'em
My sister told me
That she had them, too

Hey, hey
Mama, what can I do?
Some old day you will want me
An I won't care a thing about you.

~

It's All Up To You 3:08 Trk 9
(M. Merriweather)
Big Maceo
Big Maceo - vocals & piano
w/Tampa Red - guitar, Alfred Elkins - im. bass
Recorded: Friday Dec. 15, 1941
Chicago, ILL. RCA Studio A
Album: Bluebird Recordings Big Maceo 1941-1942
RCA #66715-2


(piano intro)

I'm so disgusted
An broken-hearted, too
I'm so disgusted
An broken-hearted, too
Though I'm disappointed in your love
Baby, that's alright for you

There's no need of you lyin'
Babe, you know I been good to you
Yeah, yeaaah


Babe, I been good to you
But if I leave you now, baby
Go an do what you wanna do

You know I had a good woman
An she was so kind an true
Yeah, good woman
An she was so kind an true
I even let her go
Baby, on account a-you

'Yes, I know'

(slow piano boogie & guitar)

'Get off-a my back, now!'

But she is willin' to forgive me
So, I leave it all up to you
Hey-ay-ay
Umm, leave it all up to you
She told me when I was leavin'
That yo' love wasn't really true.

~

Why Should I Hang Around 3:09 Trk 11
Big Maceo
(M. Merriweather)
Big Maceo - vocals & piano
w/Tampa Red - guitar, Alfred Elkins - im. bass
Recorded: Friday Dec. 15, 1941
Chicago, ILL. RCA Studio A
Album: Bluebird Recordings Big Maceo 1941-1942
RCA #66715-2


I just don't know
What's this all about?
What is it all about, boys?

I just don't know
What's this all, all about?
The woman I love
Is tryin' to put me out

She said she didn't want me


Why should I hang around?
Hey-aay
Why should I hang around?
And that if I hang around
I would be jailhouse bound

I love that woman
More than she will ever know
'Yes, I love her'

Yeah, baby
More than you will ever know
But if you drive me away
I won't be back no mo'

I stole that woman
Stole her from my best friend
Yeah-ay-ay
Hee-eee, from my best friend
But that ol' fool so darn lucky
He's 'bout to get her back, again.

~

Poor Kelly Blues 3:17 Trk 12
(M. Merriweather)
Big Maceo
Big Maceo - vocals & piano
w/Tampa Red - guitar, Alfred Elkins - im. bass
Recorded: Friday Dec. 15, 1941
Chicago, ILL. RCA Studio A
Album: Bluebird Recordings Big Maceo 1941-1942
RCA #66715-2


I went up on the mountain
To see what po' Kelly done
He killed his woman
And didn't even 'tempt to run

Up on the mountain
Just to see what po' Kelly done
Well, he killed his woman
And he didn't even 'tempt to run

When I found po' Kelly
He was standing in the do'
With a 32.20
And a forty-fo'

When I found po' Kelly
He was standin' in the do'
With a 32.20
An a hard-hitting, forty-fo'


I ask him was he sorry?
He say, 'Nobody know'
'Just can't stand the way she was
Treatin' me any mo'

'Just couldn't stand
Way she was doin' me, any mo'
She's a dirty mistreater
She won't jive me, no mo'

He said, 'I know I love her
Better than I did myself
She misused me
For somebody else'

'She know I loved her
Better than I did myself
Still, she tried to misuse me
For somebody else'

'I know they gonna get me'
He said, 'But I know I don't care'
They may even send me
To the 'lectric chair'

'I know they gonna get me
But baby, I don't care'
There is one consolation
They won't leave my woman, here.

~

Some Sweet Day 2:48 Trk 13
(S. Martin, R. M. Jones)
Big Maceo
Big Maceo - vocals & piano
w/Tampa Red - guitar, Clifford Jones - drums
Recorded: Tues. July 28, 1942
Chicago, ILL. RCA Studio C
Album: Bluebird Recordings Big Maceo 1941-1942
RCA #66715-2


While the blues is on me, now
I'll feel better
When I leave your town
But some sweet day
You gonna be sorry
That you throw'd me down

I got my suitcase
Already packed
And my trunk
Is on the road
Don't worry, baby


You won't see my smilin' face, no mo'

You so mean
An you're so evil
You got me running
Running, from do' to do'
But some sweet day
You gonna be sorry
Babe, that you let me go

'Now, get it together, boy'

(piano, guitar, drums)

'Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah'

I'm blue an I'm disgusted
An I don't know just what to do
But some sweet day
Your luck will change
Baby, you will be blue, too

(piano, guitar, drums to end)

~

Anytime For You 2:51
(D. Howell)
Big Maceo
Big Maceo - vocals & piano
w/Tampa Red - guitar, Clifford Jones - drums
Recorded: Tues. July 28, 1942
Chicago, ILL. RCA Studio C
Album: Bluebird Recordings Big Maceo 1941-1942
RCA #66715-2


I trusted in you
Right from the start
You messed around
Until you broke my heart

Anytime for you
An all the time for me
Someday you gonna be sorry
The way you treated me

You'd leave me in the mo'nin'
Come home late at night
Would have the nerve to tell me
That you treated me right

Anytime for you


An all the time for me
Babe, you gonne be sorry
The way you treated me

You is a liar
An a cheater, too
The things you do to me
Is comin' home to you

Anytime for you
An all the time for me
You goin' to be sorry
The way you treated me

'Pick 'em boy, pick 'em'

(piano, drums, guitar)

Pack up yo' clothes
An get out of my flat
An let my do' knob
Hit you in yo' back

Anytime for you
An all the time for me
You gonna be sorry
The way you treated me.

~

Since You Been Gone 2:50 Trk 16
(M. Merriweather)
Big Maceo
Big Maceo - vocals & piano
w/Tampa Red - guitar, Clifford Jones - drums
Recorded: Tues. July 28, 1942
Chicago, ILL. RCA Studio C
Album: Bluebird Recordings Big Maceo 1941-1942
RCA #66715-2


I lost a good woman
An I grieve both night an day
I lost a good woman
An I grieve both night an day
I catch the blues for my baby
Ever since she's been gone away

I'm so unhappy
Mama, when I used to be so gay
I'm so unhappy
Baby, when I used to be so gay


I catch the blues for my baby
Ever since she been gone away

I watches the sun
When it rises
Until it fades away
I watch the sun when it rise
Until it fades away
I catch the blues for my baby
Ever since she's been gone away

'Yeah, boy'

(piano boogie, drums, guiar)

Catch it long as I live
You will always hear me sing
Just as long as I live
Mama, you will always hear me sing
I catch the blues for my baby
Ever since she's been gone away.

~/