A couple of early tunes from Mary Johnson transcribed by yours truly. A new pair of classic style headphones is making this process a hell of a lot easier.
"Room Rent Blues" was recorded in Chicago on May 7, 1929, and "Western Union Blues," two days later. Same backing players for both: Ike Rodgers on trombone, Henry Brown on piano.
These ditties serve as heralds for The Great Depression. Also applicable during The Great Recession, although Western Union discontinued telegram deliveries in the USA in 2006.
"Room Rent Blues" by Mary Johnson
My room rent is due this morning
I did not have a dime
My room rent is due this morning
I did not have a dime
The landlord told me
He'd give me till half past nine.
I said kind Papa
Will you please give me a chance
Oooohhhhhhhhh
Please give me a chance
I'll get myself some money
And pay my room rent in advance.
I'm just a poor girl
I have no place to go
I'm just a poor girl
Have no place to go
I haven't got no good man
And I'm zippin' from door to door.
I'm going to the radio station
Put my voice on the air
I'm going to the radio station
Puttin' my voice on the air
And maybe by broadcastin'
I can save my room rent somewhere.
"Western Union Blues" by Mary Johnson
I woke up this morning
As the clock was striking three
I woke up this morning
As the clock was striking three
I heard the doorbell ringing
And it sure did worry me.
I got up in a slumber
And put on my shoes and clothes
I got up in a slumber
And put on my shoes and clothes
I thought about my Daddy
And opened my front door.
I received a message
And I began to weep
I received a message
And I began to weep
It was a telegram from my Daddy
Dying of a heart disease.
I know I loved my Daddy
And him I hated to lose
I know I loved my Daddy
And him I hated to lose
That's why you hear me singing
I've got these Western Union blues.
Western Union Man
I hate to see you pass my door
Western Union Man
I hate to see you pass my door
Make me think about my Daddy
That I'll never see no more.
Two comments: I use the term "zippin'" as in zippin' around, also nipping in and out of places. Glad to see it already in use 81 years ago. Secondly, did her Daddy actually die, or did he merely find a new Special Lady Friend?
Today's Rune: Harvest.
2 comments:
Do you plan to publish all these transcriptions? I could see an academic press being interested in something like this.
Hey Charles, that's a good idea ~ thanks ~ first, I'd like to do a complete run of Mary Johnson and Leulla Miller (am about half done); but I'll consider it. If the acedemic presses didn't go for it, at least a bundled text of some kind.
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