Guitarist/singer Francis "Scrapper" Blackwell is best known for his recordings with pianist Leory Carr in the 1930's; but he also recorded many solo sides. He was born in 1903 in Syracuse, N.C. After World War Two, Scrapper Blackwell faded into obscurity, but was rediscovered around 1958 and made a comeback in the early 1960's, but he was shot on 6 October 1962 and died the following day.
This page contains lyrics to the following song(s):
The appropriate flip-side to "My Old Pal Blues", also recorded on 7 July 1935, as it was bad liquor (and heavy drinking) that got Leroy Carr.
From the Agram Blues LP "Blues That Make Me Cry" (AB 2008, with lyrics included).
Listen here people, listen to what I have to say (2x) If you drink bad whiskey, it will do you this a-way Make you lose your money, make you lose your best friend (2x) And when you get sober, swear you'll never get drunk again Lay down in the evening, wake up in the morning feeling bad (2x) It's just some bad liquor, partner, that you've had Get up in the morning, your head going round and round (2x) Buy more bad liquor, stand there and drink it down Better stop that drinking, before it goes to your head (2x) Wake up some morning, find your own self dead.
"Life sure is miserable for Scrapper these days. Tom cat and kitty fightin' on the shed and kittens playin' in his hall, wake him up every break of day. His good woman has told him to go and his friends give him the go-by. All because everybody's been messin' around with "BE-DA-DA-BUM." [from the Chicago Defender ad for this "novelty vocal" record (Vocalion 1276)] Recorded in Chicago on 21 March 1929, with Leroy Carr on piano (the only Carr/Blackwell duet with vocals by Scrapper Blackwell). From the Agram Blues LP "Blues That Make Me Cry" (AB 2008, with lyrics included). The chorus is nonsense, scat-like "de-da-da-di-di-da-da-dum" stuff (listen to the audio excerpt to get an idea).
Click here to hear the song's middle part in RealAudio
I'm gonna stop them kittens, from playin' in my hall-way They been waking me up every morning, about the break of day chorus: About that be-de-da-di-bum etc. Now that tom was on the wood-shed, kitty on the ground Tom made a pass, and they both went round and round (chorus) Now the tom said to the kitten, what you gonna do? Come here to me, kitten, I'm gonna murder you (chorus) Now if these cats get crazy, and act the fool, Now tell me, people, what am I going to do? (chorus) Now my baby put me out, said, I don't want you no more, And I wonder why my baby, had to tell me so (chorus) Now I can remember way back, with ma and pa, Let me tell you, about they swore (chorus) Now you take these young folks, that goes to high school, They sometimes really, do act the fool (chorus) Now wonder baby, what more can I do, In this wide world, to get along with you? (chorus)
Scrapper Blackwell's long-time partner Leroy Carr succumbed to his alcohol addiction on 29 April 1935. Carr's death was understandably a big shock to Blackwell. He recorded this dedication to Leroy Carr on July 7, in Chicago, with piano accompaniment by Dorothy Rice.
Scrapper Blackwell was not the only one to sing tribute blues in memory of Leroy Carr, who was among the most popular black artists of the day. On the same date, July 7, Scrapper Blackwell accompanied Amos Easton (who used the pseudonym "Leroy Carr's Buddy") on "The Death of Leroy Carr". And Bill Gaither recorded "Leroy Carr's Blues (Dedicated To The Memory Of Leroy Carr" on 15 December 1935 and "Life Of Leroy Carr" on 12 June 1940.
From the Agram Blues LP "Blues That Make Me Cry" (AB 2008, with lyrics included).
See also:
I woke up this morning, couldn't hardly get out of my bed (2x) When I got the news, that Leroy Carr was dead I run to the window, and I throwed up the blinds (2x) I stood there wondering, and just couldn't keep from crying The day of his funeral, I hated to see Leroy's face (2x) Because I know there's no one, could ever take his place Then off to the funeral, then to the burying ground (2x) My heart was breaking, as they lowered him down He's done singing, he's done playing, you'll never hear his voice no more (2x) He was a real good pal, and I'll miss him everywhere I go.
No Good Woman Blues was recorded in Chicago on July 7, 1935, with Dot Rice on piano. It's from a 1970 LP, "Out Came The Blues" (Coral CP 58)
NO GOOD WOMAN BLUES (Dot Rice) I got a no good woman and she sho' don't mean me no good (2x) I hope it ain't another woman like her, in nobody's neighborhood She leaves every mornin', come back at the break of day (2x) And when she comes in the mornin', she ain't got a word to say Every time I look at that woman, she's got a frown on her face (2x) I believe that woman done let my best friend take my place Every evening he used to stop by my door (2x) But since he's got my woman, he don't stop there no more She's just a no good woman, and I took her to be my friend (2x) But she's taught me a lesson, 'bout no good women and men
Recorded in Chicago on 8 July 1935, with Dorothy Rice on piano.
From the Agram Blues LP "Blues That Make Me Cry" (AB 2008, with lyrics included).
Just sittin' here thinkin', just four year ago today, (2x) If I make up my mind, I won't be treated this a-way See that sun is shinin', out across the deep blue sea (2x) And I'm hopin' someday, she'll come back home to me Now I'm lonesome, don't know what to do (2x) Lord it's awful, to have these wayback blues Did you ever sit a-wonderin', about your old used-to-be? (2x) I'd feel a whole lot better, if she was here with me Now I'm worried, don't know what to do (2x) I guess it's the reason, why I've got them wayback blues
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