JIMMIE RODGERS
EARLY YEARS - 1928-1929
(Rounder 1057)
1990
Produced by Ralph Peer
Jimmie Rodgers - vocal/guitar
Dean Bryan - guitar
John Westbrook - steel
George MacMillan - string bass
C.L. Hutchison - cornet
James Rikard - clarinet
Shelly Lee Alley - violin
Recorded:
June 12/1928, Camden, NJ (1,3,4,5,7,8,11,13,14)
Oct 20/1928 Atlanta, GA (2,9)
Oct 22/1928 Atlanta, GA (10,12)
Feb 21/1929 NY City (6,16)
Feb 23/1929 NY City (15)
1.
MY LITTLE LADY (SADDIE BROWN)
(Jimmie Rodgers - Elsie McWilliams)
« © '28 Peer International, BMI »
I had a gal oh what a gal her name was Saddie Brown
I take her out to ride about when the moon was shining down
We'd sat alone when we got home out in the old porch swing
And that dear little miss would give me a kiss while sweetly to her I would sing
Oh hey lady a little lay lady I love no one but you
Oh hey lady a little lay lady just say you love me too
We'll get marry in June and have a long honeymoon
Then settle down for a life
Oh hey lady a little lay lady won't you be my wife
I had a gal oh what a gal she left me alone one day
I didn't mind because I find that most always do you that way
So I went about to try find out if another gal I couldn't find
In less than a day I met Saddie Mae now I'm in that same old line
Oh Saddie a little lady I love no one but you
Oh Saddie a little lady just say you love me too
We'll get marry in June and have a long honeymoon
Then settle down for a life
Oh Saddie a little lady won't you be my wife
**********
2.
CALIFORNIA BLUES (BLUE YODEL NO. 4)
(Jimmie Rodgers)
« © '28 Peer International, BMI »
I'm goin' to California where they sleep out every night
I'm goin' to California where they sleep out every night
I'm leavin' you mama cause you know you don't treat me right
[ yodel ]
Listen to me mama while I sing you this song
Listen to your daddy singing you this so lonesome song
You got me worried now but I won't be worried too long
[ yodel ]
Let me tell you something mama that you don't know
Let me tell you something good gal that you don't know
I'm a doright papa and got a home everywhere I go
[ yodel ]
I got the California blues and I'm sure gonna leave you here Lawd Lawd
I got the California blues and I'm sure gonna leave you here
I may ride the blinds I ain't got no railroad fare
[ yodel - clarinet ]
I don't understand what makes you treat me like you do
I can't understand how come you treat me like you do
Now if you don't want me mama it's the same I don't want you
[ yodel ]
**********
3.
DADDY AND HOME
(Jimmie Rodgers - Elsie McWilliams)
« © '28 Peer International, BMI »
I am dreaming tonight of an old southern town
And the best friend that I ever had
For I've grown so weary of roaming around
I'm going home to my dad
Your hair has turned to silver I know you're fading too
Daddy dear old daddy I'm coming back to you
You made my boyhood happy but still I longed to roam
I've had my way but now I'll say I long for you and for home
[ yodel ]
Dear old daddy you shared my sorrows and joys
You tried to bring me up right
I know you'll still be just one of the boys
So I'm starting back home tonight
Your hair has turned to silver...
[ yodel ]
**********
4.
LULLABY YODEL
(Jimmie Rodgers)
« © '28 Peer International, BMI »
My baby I know that you want me each lonely night and day
Your deep blue eyes how they haunt me though you're far away
Oh why did she take you away from my arms and leave nothing to cherrish there
She left me so blue but when she took you too it seems more than l could bear
My baby I want you tonight dear after my work is through
To rock you to sleep in my arms dear and sing lullabys to you
[ yodel ]
I dream of you baby caresses dimples and golden hair
I reach out to clasp you in my arms and find only emptiness there
Your future has been the chief thing of my life you'll never know how it means
My plans and my schemes are all blasted it seems for you are my only in dreams
My baby I want you tonight dear after my work is through
To rock you to sleep in my arms dear and sing lullabys to you
[ yodel ]
**********
5.
YOU AND MY OLD GUITAR
(Jimmie Rodgers - Elsie McWilliams)
« © '28 Peer International, BMI »
I could never be lonely I could never be blue
As I go through life if only I'd have my guitar and you
Why should I ever worry why should I feel sad
We travel along in a hurry sharing the good and the bad
Whenever I'm up you're near me giving me happiness
And when I'm down you cheer me nothing is better than this
[ yodel ]
Here we go just we three oh how happy we will be
I'll hook my ladder to a silver star and climb with you and my old guitar
[ yodel ]
Over the land we wander first here and there
But I never stop to ponder if the clouds are dark or fair
In a one horse town or city no matter where we are
I'm happy if I have with me you and my old guitar
We'll travel the roads together leading to lands afar
Singing in all kinds of weather and strumming my old guitar
[ yodel ]
**********
6.
BIG CHIEF BUFFALO NICKEL (DESERT BLUES)
(Jimmie Rodgers)
« © '28 Peer International, BMI »
Way out on the wind swept desert where nature favors no man
The buffalo found his brother at rest on the sun baked sand
He said my brother what is you the sickness got you this way
But his brother never said for his brother was dead
Been dead since way last May
[ yodel - cornet ]
Yeah the big chief buffalo nickel a mighty man in his days
Never once used a sickle to clear the bushes away
He was goin' around from ten to ten beat everything in sight
He loved a squaw everyone he saw he loved a new one every night
[ yodel - cornet ]
Last night on the wind swept desert I heard a big Indian moan
I left my kin I knew what it meant and I swore I'd never more roam
It was dawn when I reached teepee my legs was certainly sore
I must have lost what I found on that desert ground and I'll lose that many more
[ yodel ]
**********
7.
NEVER NO MO' BLUES
(Jimmie Rodgers - Elsie Mc Williams)
« © '28 Peer International, BMI »
I'm just as blue as I can be since Susie said goodbye to me
My life is a failure I see
And she won't be mine gal no mo' no mo' no mo'
I'll pack my things in a grip take me a long ocean trip
Out on the great big steamship
She will never see her daddy no mo' no mo'
Still I hate to say farewell to my mommy and my sister Nell
They're sure gonna cry when I tell
That I ain't coming home no mo' no mo'
[ yodel ]
Perhaps I'll be sorry someday that I leave here and go away
But they need not ask me stay
For I'll never change my mind no mo' no mo'
Now whether I'm right or wrong I'm gonna be gone before long
And then I'll hush this crazy song and I never will sing no mo' no mo'
**********
8.
MISSISSIPPI MOON
(Jimmie Rodgers)
« © '28 Peer International, BMI »
I've heard all about the tune that's called the Alabama Moon
But the Mississppi moon is just as bright
And I can't forget the time when I asked you to be mine
While the moon was shining on that happy night
And you promised me then that you'd wed me in June
That's why I love the Mississippi moon
Oh the Mississippi moon is smiling down tonight
And love just seems to fill the air
How our hearts would be so light while we wander there tonight
Underneath the Mississippi moon
[ yodel ]
Many years have come and gone since I met you there alone
But tonight I'm thinking just as much of you
As I did when hand in hand we wandered in that magic land
Where we gave vows to love each other true
Come and go back with me to that fonding memory
Just to see again that the Mississippi moon
Oh the Mississippi moon is smiling down tonight
And love just seems to fill the air
How our hearts would be so light while we wander there tonight
Underneath the Mississippi moon
[ yodel ]
**********
9.
MY CAROLINA SUNSHINE GIRL
(Jimmie Rodgers)
« © '28 Peer International, BMI »
Moon moon I can see you sinking low
You make me think of a sweetheart a little girl that I love so
After I wonder the whole night through wondering if you think of me
While I'm on my lonesome thinking of someone I'm thinking only of you
My carolina sunshine girl you have turned my heart to stone
My Carolina sunshine girl you have left me all alone
I wonder why I sit and cry
When I really should laugh at your photograph
For you're the sweetest angel in this world
And I love love love you my Carolina sunshine girl
[ yodel - clarinet - cornet ]
I wonder why I sit and cry
When I really should laugh at your little old photograph
For you're the sweetest angel in this world
And I love love love you my Carolina sunshine girl
**********
10.
I'M LONELY AND BLUE
(Jimmie Rodgers - Elsie McWilliams)
« © '28 Peer International, BMI »
I'm lonely and blue I'm downhearted too
Nobody but you can cheer me
You left me alone you wandered from home
Oh why do you roam my deary
You promised you'd be just mine sweetheart
That you and I would never part
You broken your vow and left but now
I pray that somehow you'll return sweetheart
[ yodel - guitar ]
If you only knew I'm longing for you
That I am still true to you dear
Perhaps you would say I'm sorry someday
That I went away from you dear
You promised to be just mine sweetheart...
[ guitar - yodel ]
Sweetheart
**********
11.
I'M LONELY AND BLUE
(Jimmie Rodgers - Elsie McWilliams)
« © '28 Peer International, BMI »
I'm lonely and blue I'm downhearted too
Nobody but you can cheer me
You left me alone you wandered from home
Oh why do you roam my deary
You promised you'd be just mine sweetheart
That you and I would never part
You broken your vow and left but now
I pray that somehow you'll return sweetheart
[ yodel ]
If you only knew I'm longing for you
That I am still true to you dear
Perhaps you would say I'm sorry someday
That I went away from you dear
You promised you'd be just mine sweetheart...
[ yodel ]
**********
12.
WAITING FOR A TRAIN
(Jimmie Rodgers)
« © '28 Peer International, BMI »
All around the water tank waiting for a train
A thousand miles away from home sleeping in the rain
I walked up to a brakeman to give him a line of talk
He said if you've got money I'll see that you don't walk
I haven't got a nickel not one penny can I show
Get off get off you railroad bum he slammed the boxcar door
[ yodel - clarinet+cornet ]
He put me off in Texas a state I dearly love
The wide open spaces all around me the moon and stars up above
Nobody seems to want me nor to lend me a helping hand
I'm on my way from Frisco I'm going back to Dixie Land
Though my pocketbook is empty and my heart is full of pain
I'm a thousand miles away from home just a waiting for a train
[ yodel ]
**********
13.
MY OLD PAL
(Jimmie Rodgers - Elsie McWilliams)
« © '28 Peer International, BMI »
I'm thinking of you tonight old pal
And wishing that you was here
I'm dreaming of the times and the days gone by
When you filled my heart with cheer
I remember the nights when all alone
We sang Sweet Adoline
No other face can take your place
In my heart old pal of mine
[ yodel ]
The old pals are always the best you see
New friends you can find every day
But they can't fill their places or ever be
Like the old pals of yesterday
I'm wondering just where you are tonight
And if you ever think of me
It would make my weary heart so light sweetheart
Your face again to see
But in my checked life I find nothing comes right it seems
Still you'll always be a pal of mine though it may be only in dreams
[ yodel ]
The old pals are always the best you see...
**********
14.
MY LITTLE OLD HOME DOWN IN NEW ORLEANS
(Jimmie Rodgers)
« © '28 Peer International, BMI »
I never knew that the place I grew is the grandest place on earth
Till I roamed around from town to town but now I know what it's worth
Listen while I'll tell you bout the place I mean
It's my little old home way down in New Orleans
[ yodel ]
In the sunny south where the black boat flows that's where I long to be
The Dixieland where the white cotton grows is calling now to me
And soon I'll be in the land of my dreams
It's my little old home way down in New Orleans
[ yodel ]
I've been east and way out west been around most everywhere
Now I'm heading south for a good long rest I'll be glad when I get there
All the wonderful things in the world it seems
Are a waiting for me way down in New orleans
[ yodel ]
In the sunny south where the black boat flows...
**********
15.
BLUE YODEL NO. 5
(Jimmie Rodgers)
« © '29 Peer International, BMI »
[ yodel ]
It's raining yet coming on the deep blue sea
Lord it's raining yet coming on the deep blue sea
Ain't no black headed mama can make a fool out of me
[ yodel ]
Now I can see that train coming down the railroad track
I see that train coming down the railroad track
And I love to hear the bark of that old smoke stack
[ yodel ]
Talk about Southern that's all I've ever known
Talk about Southern that's all I've ever known
Now if I have to be a man I would have stayed at home
[ yodel ]
I may need clothes I may need hat and shoes
I may need clothes I may need hat and shoes
Makes no difference what I need I'll never sing the blues
[ yodel ]
**********
16.
ANY OLD TIME
(Jimmie Rodgers)
« © '29 Peer International, BMI »
[ yodel ]
I just received your letter you're down and out you say
At first I thought I would tell you you travel along the other way
But in my memory linger all you once were to me
I'm going to give you another chance to prove what you can be
Any old time you wanna come back home
Write me a line and say no more you roam
You had your chance to play the game fair
When you left me sweetheart you only left the load of care
Now that you're down I'm going to stick by you
If you will only say your roaming days are through
You'll find me right here like the day you left me alone
Any old time you wanna come back home
[ clarinet - clavinet - violin]
You'll find me right here like the day you left me alone
Any old time you wanna come back home home home
**********