This page contains the lyrics to a complete album by Champion Jack Dupree with Mickey Baker, "The Tricks", recorded on April 25, 1968 in Paris for the Vogue label (later re-issued on LP as "Vogue Blues Legacy 2" and on CD, with two numbers from 1969, on Vogue CD "I Had A Dream" - where the date of the recording is given incorrectly as April 2, 1968). Dupree and Baker, both living in "voluntary exile" in Europe (singer-pianist Dupree in England and guitarist Baker in Paris, France) got together that day in the studio and produced a memorable record. They exchanged jokes and anecdotes (while having a few words to say about being black in Alabama in "My Black And White Dog") and played the blues in a relaxed atmosphere that comes over very well. But the highlight of the disc is Jack Dupree's Death of Martin Luther King, a deeply moving blues in memory of Rev. Martin Luther King who was assassinated only a few days before (on April 4, 1968). It's a sincere, heartfelt performance that can bring tears to your eyes. The Death of Louis is from another session with Mickey Baker, Hal Singer and a French rhythm section, and was included on the same "I Had A Dream" CD (and on others, too).
This page contains lyrics to the following song(s):
Champion Jack Dupree is a fine example of the blues singer as chronicler of his times, and especially the plight of poor black people made him produce some memorable, touching blues. No matter who or where they were from, he was on their side, because he was one of them; it could be his fellow brothers and sisters in America (see "Death of Martin Luther King"), or the homeless people in the streets of Paris (see "Million of People Live the Same Way"), or even the refugees from the civil war in Angola, as in this song.
He also gives a very concise, personal summary of the situation in Angola and ends the song with a statement that, in retrospect, turns out to be an accurate prophesy!
I feel sorry for the people, way over in Angola today I feel sorry for the people whooo, way over in Angola today Cause there's millions of people, ain't got no place to stay Everybody want their country, they wanna take everything away Everybody want their country, they wanna take everything away Because the poor Angolan people, didn't have no help no way Three hundred years, Angolan people has been a slave Three hundred years whooo, Angolan people has been a slave Nobody worryin', nobody helpin' no way Soon as they got independent, people wanna take the land away Soon as the Angolan got their independence, those dirty people wanna take it away They don't wanna see you happy, they don't wanna see you have your way Well I don't know why, people wanna live that way I don't know why, people wanna live that way Cause people wanna have a country, and somebody wanna take it away Russia and Cuba walked in, say I'll give you a helpin' hand Russia and Cuba walked in, say people let me give you a hand Cause we done got tired, people takin' away your land Rhodesia and South Africa, one day gonna see the same One day Rhodesia and South Africa, they both gonna see the same They will understand, be able to shake hand with a black man
This gem of a song must be unique in the blues: here Champion Jack Dupree performs a duet with himself, without overdubbing (in "real time", so to speak). He's not only Jack but also "Georges", whose scratched voice makes us think of Louis Armstrong (that was no coincidence, I think, since Jack knew Louis from his boyhood and he turns the ending of this song into a typical Louis Armstrong affair, complete with the "ohhhh yessss...").
This is from the April 29, 176 session in Paris on LP Saravah SH 10065 (see also "Million People Live The Same Way"). Jack must have had quite a few beers by the time he got to this number, because the way he talks and sings his way through it can hardly be called "sober". And during the song he took a few drinks more, as he himself announced...
"George"'s text is in italics, by the way.
Well hello Georges, well I'll be doggone! I hadn't seen you in a long time, man, where have you been? Well, you see, I've been hangin' around but eh... I ain't been doin' no good Well you ain't been goin' to the right places man, you must go to the right places, you know. The right places is where I go! Well... where's that? Where's that place you go? And then... and then... You know that big fat woman they call Big Sally? You-you know Big Sally? You mean that - you mean that big woman with her chest hangin' down below her knees? Yes... that's the one I'm talkin' about. Everytime she walks she kick herself in the chest. Yes, I remember that. Uh, well look friend, I tell ya - I tell ya what you should do for me. You should sing a couple of numbers, you know, short numbers and then I'll take the rest. You know what you used to sing? What was - what was I used to sing? Ah.. the one about... what Shakespeare wrote... you know: "Mama move your false teeth papa wanna scratch your gums" or somethin' like that you know - you understand, yeah. All right, now look. You sing a verse and then I'll sing a verse. Well early in the mornin', when I wake up in my bed... That's it! That's it! That's it! Sing that one, yeah, that's good. Or did you wake up, you know. Early in the mornin' yes.. You sound like my mother-in-law, you know... Yes when I wake up in my bed... Scoobydoobydoo... that's it, that's it, yeah... Yeah I don't have no money You never did! But I have the blues in my bread No no li-li-listen what I'm gonna sing now... I said big legged mama, take your big legs off of me Well, that's good! Yeah big legged mama, take your big legs off of me Give me - you used to sing together a long time ago, you remember that? I think it was, uh, eighteen hundred and one to one Septober the sixth, you remember? Yeah... We used to really do it, you remember? Yeah... Now-now look, now look... Nownownow le-le-le- let's let this guitar player play it awhile you know. Cause he'll feel bad if he don't play. Play it fella, while I drink - again... That's the way he played before he got married! Yeah... Well after he got married he didn't play that way you know... Look out look out son! Now let the bass player play it a little bit here... Play it son... Shakespeare says "Man who play bass use fingers" - ain't nothin' else he could use, you understand... he can't use his teeths 'cause he ain't got none, you understand... yeah... Well I'll be doggone, this is the best day I ever had since I've been having had days, yeah! Well loo-look I tell you friend, I'm sorry I have to leave you but - I have to get on down to Big Sally's house because she got somethin' goin' on down there you know. Why don't you come along with me, down to Big Legged Sally, you know... Well you see, I'd go along with you but uh... my money's very short! Well you don't need no money.... all you need to do is sing that verse you sung before. I-I tell you what you do you know, sing this number: "Cocoanut Annie" you know, somethin' like that you know... Now hear me say I used to love you baby I give you my money too Now I'm gettin' doggone tired Foolin' 'round with you She drink three quarts of whiskey Like you drinkin' lemonade You drink one pint of gin At night 'fore you go to bed Bye bye, yes baby bye bye Yes I see you mama No matter babo babo babo babo - - you know what "babo" is? Uh, "babo" is when the real modern jazz fellers play and they close their number and he say, "baboo baboo sayz who" but you haven't seen his sazoo you know but he say "scooby dooby dooby" - when I say that then all of yours say "ohhhh yesss..." I wanna hear it, all right? You ready now? All right now... Wait - let me get a little drink here 'fore we close just wait - one minute - Hey Baboo Baboo Scoobee Doobee Oobleehooblee hoo hoo zoo bowwow hooo... (all: Ohhhh Yessss....) That's crazy! That's crazy...
You can find this on the CD "Blues from the Gutter", Atlantic 1992, recorded in the 1960's. Jack Dupree sings about both the attraction and the dangers of drug addiction in this song: "I know it's killing me, but I feel good anyhow".
Well I can't kick this habit and this junk is killin' me Yes I can't kick this habit and that junk is killin' me Ever since I started this habit Everything been down on me I hung around my friends and smoked reefer and I thought I was doin' all right Yes I hung around my friends and smoked reefer and I thought I was doin' all right Now I done lost a good woman And I have no place to sleep at night Well I went to the doctor see could he cure this habit for me Yes I went to the doctor see could he cure this habit for me He looked at me and shook his head And said that dope is killin' me (guitar solo, spoken:) Yes I know it's killin' me... but I feel good anyhow... wished I would have listened to what my mother said... she told me that dope was no good... I didn't pay her no mind, I thought I was doin' all right... now I'm stayin' here as sick as I can be... It don't pay nobody just to live their life so fast It don't pay nobody, whoooo just to live, to live their life so fast If you just take it slow and easy Just as long as this habit last
From the CD "The Tricks", played by Champion Jack Dupree and Mickey Baker (1968), although this song was played by Jack Dupree solo.
(Spoken:) Well the world lost a good man When we lost doctor Martin Luther King A man who tried to do everything He tried to keep the world in peace And now the poor man is gone to rest But go on, doctor Martin Luther King, take your rest There will always be another Luther King. (Sung:) It was early one evening, when the sun was sinking down Early in the evening, some dirty sniper shot Martin Luther King down He was nothing but a coward He dropped his gun and run But he will never have no peace He'll always be on the run The words that he say just before he died That I'm, I'm going upon, I'm going way upon, way upon the mountain top Well nobody know and nobody seem to care Seem like the whole world, the whole world is in sin Oh Lord, is in sin. Oh, what will, what will become of me? I say Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy on this family. (Spoken:) Yeah they shot him down Just like they done all the rest Shot on Abraham Lincoln, Shot on president Kennedy And they took poor Martin Luther King So you know I don't stand a chance I ain't nobody (Sung:) I know you people, I know you glad you ain't one of me I know you people glad, I know you glad you white and free Oh yeah, white and free, oh, what will, what will become of me? Oh I am begging, yes, I'm begging to be free.
From the CD "The Tricks", played by Champion Jack Dupree and Mickey Baker (1968).
Oh, now! Early in the morning! It really IS early in the morning, too, son! Early in the morning, Early in the morning, Early in the morning, Early in the morning, Early in the morning, I'm feelin' good Early in the morning, Early in the morning, Early in the morning, Early in the morning, Early in the morning, I feel so good I went down to my baby's house I knocked upon her doggone door She told me, daddy don't knock no more She go, I don't want you here no more I said, Early in the morning, Early in the morning, Early in the morning, Early in the morning, Early in the morning, And I'm feeling good (Mickey's Solo:) Oh yeah... All right there! Yeah! Let your hair down! I wish you had some... Yeah! Early in the morning, Early in the morning, Early in the morning, Early in the morning, Early in the morning, I'm feelin' so good, yes I do
Jack Dupree's version of this oft-recorded ballad is on the LP "Blues from the gutter" (re-released on CD by Atlantic). Dupree places the action in the French Quarter of New Orleans.
FRANKIE & JOHNNY Well Frankie, Frankie told Johnny Lord I want a diamond ring Poor Johnny told Frankie, I'll get you four diamond rings Now Johnny went to the German On Rampart and Dumaine He walked in the store, the German had a diamond in his hand Teena, teena na Teena, na ne na Teena na na na, teena na na ne na Oh Johnny Johnny shot the German Lord and he shot him through the head He ran out the door and he fell on the sidewalk dead When Frankie Frankie got the news That the jury marked him dead She come runnin' hollerin', Lord talkin' all out her head Well Johnny started to runnin' Lord and he didn't know where to go They found Johnny hidin' in the grocery store next door Till the police handcuffed and beat him And they took Johnny out of sight He said that's all right Frankie, everything gonna be all right Teena, teena ne na Teena na na ne na Teena na na na, teena na ne na ne na
From the CD "The Tricks", played by Champion Jack Dupree and Mickey Baker (1968). Mickey Baker's text is shown in emphasized type.
Well I'm goin' to Paris in the morning soon Well I'm goin' to Paris in the morning soon If I don't leave in the morning, I'm gonna leave in the afternoon I'm gonna see President De Gaulle, I know he will welcome me in I'm gonna see President De Gaulle, I know he will welcome me in Yeah he will shake my hand and say, Jack Dupree come on in Say I got a lot to tell you, I want you to listen close to me Say I got a lot to tell you, I want you to listen close to me Say why don't you leave your home town, come on here and join with me He said you know Lyndon B. Johnson, none of them don't mean you no good (And that's the truth!) He said Lyndon B. Johnson, or none of them don't mean you no good Said come on here to Paris, where you do yourself some good I said President De Gaulle, I said we'll make everything all right I said President De Gaulle, I know we'll make everything all right We got to sit down talking, and we drink the whole time that night (Jack's Solo:) All right... Look out now... Went down to the Eiffel Tower too... This is where I belong! What am I doing anywhere else?... Take one more, son... That's what you get paid for... Yeah when I come in town they had all the flags out for me Yeah when I come in town they had all the flags out for me I asked the people what's the celebration, they said that's for Jack Dupree (Yeah) I said, wonder, wonder, why the people think so much of me? Lord, I wonder, wonder, why the people think so much of me? Say you thank president De Gaulle cause he made everything all right with me
Recorded in 1941 in Chicago. This song can be found on the CD "Legends of the Blues: Volume Two" in the Columbia Roots 'n' Blues series.
Well I'm been to Louisiana and to the Gulf of Mexico Well I'm been to Louisiana and to the Gulf of Mexico Well I buy wine and women, most everywhere that I go My black woman said she loved me, but I believe she told a lie My black woman said she loved me, but I believe she told a lie When my heart get to achin', and then I'll sit right down and cry It's so cold in Chicago, till the mockingbird can't sing It's so cold in Chicago, till the mockingbird can't sing I say hurry down sunshine, see what tomorrow bring
From the CD "The Tricks", played by Champion Jack Dupree and Mickey Baker (1968). Mickey Baker's text is shown in emphasized type.
(Spoken:) Man, you know one thing I always dream... Yeah And that's the one thing in the world for a hard workin' man to do, you know... Yeah, you better see Sigmund Freud. Yeah, you know, that's bad, you know.... For you don't never dream nothin' nice. I don't know what you dream, but I know when I go to bed I dream about old wagon wheels, old boxcars, old broken down flat-clad chihuahua's(?). I ain't never dreamed nothin' about a pretty woman or a woman walkin' around nude or something like that, I can't get them dreams together you know. Too hard a work, you know. Not a hard-working man's dream. No, no, no. (Sung:) I had a dream, and what a dream was on my mind. (My, my) I had a dream, a dream was on my mind Lord I said to myself, how could a hard working man dream all the time? Well I dream my wife had ten babies, and every one of them looked like me (What?) Yes, man! (A sinful world!) Yes, I dream my wife had ten babies, and every one of them looked like me I know they was mine, man, I know that (In the dream you mean!) But when I woke up this morning, not a baby did I see Well I dream I got married, I got married to a millionaire Boy I was in the money, wasn't I? (A millionairess!) Yes I dream I got married, I got married to a millionaire She took me down to the bank (uh-uh), she said, Jack Dupree, all your money's in there! But I turned over in my bed and I grabbed my pillow and put it over my head (uh-uh) Yes, I turned over in my bed, grabbed my pillow and put it over my head Because that was the worst dream I hever had For a second I thought I was dead (Mickey's Solo:) Wake me up, son, wake me up! My my! Keep on don' it, keep on doin' it! You might do somethin'... Don't that remind me of them old corn whiskey days... Yes, it got soul, too. It got soul too, all right... You had a lot of soul too, when you left Alabama, then... Did you leave at night? I know they're looking like hell for you through the day, you know... (Sung:) I dream my mother-in-law got drownded (what a dream!), I dream she fell over in a creek (I was glad of that too, man!) Yes, I dream my mother-in-love got drownded, I dream she fell over in a creek (I was a happy man, too, man, happy) Yes, but when I woke up this morning, she was looking down on me as I sleep (That dream couldn't be true)
From the CD "The Tricks", played by Champion Jack Dupree and Mickey Baker (1968).
Everyday, everyday I think of you Everyday, everyday I think of you And I hope, pretty mama, you think of me too You make me weep, baby, you make me moan over you You make me weep, you make me moan over you You just ain't no good at all, for that's the way you do You's a good looking woman, but you're hell down in your face You's a good looking woman, but you're hell all down in your face You just lay there all night long, you ain't no good to the human race (Mickey's Solo:) All right now, son.... Ain't no good woman, you just ain't no good... Yeah, that's what I'm talkin' about... (Jack's Solo:) You ain't no good at all, that's it! I don't want you to put no sugar in my morning tea I don't want you to put no sugar in my morning tea Stick your finger in the cup, baby, and you know that's sweet enough for me Well I'm gonna leave here mama, I swear I can't take you Well I'm leaving heeeee, swear I can't take you 'Cause there's nothing now baby, a monkey woman like you can do.
From the CD "The Tricks", played by Champion Jack Dupree and Mickey Baker (1968). Mickey Baker's text is shown in emphasized type.
See also:
(Spoken:) Do you remember when this number first come out, man? Yeah, I was a young boy and you were an old man! The old master used to do this number... old man Roosevelt Sykes. He the first one I heard gassin' on with this number, "In the evening when the sun go down". And I used to be crazy about that number, you know? I used to have a gal in my arm, you know... a bottle of corn liquor on my left... (Moonshine, man). Oh, no moonshine man, corn whiskey! C.H.O.D.N., corn, man, real corn, you know! (yeah) And, and, I mean, I'd get in the groove, and... and this is what I would say, man, with that gal on my left... I'd let her know that I was no square, that I was hip. (Sung:) In the evening, in the evening In the evening, when the sun go down In the evening, baby when the sun go down Nighttime is the right time To be with the one you love In the evening, when the sun go down The sun rise, rise in the east And it sets down in the west The sun rise in the east, baby And it sets down in the west Well, well I love, love two women Ain't it hard to tell which one you love the best In the evening, when the sun go down (Spoken:) Look out there, Mickey, talk about it now Well I'll be doggone (Mickey's solo) Oh, you're really going in the sun there! Stay out of the sun, doc, you're goin' back to Mississippi... Yeah, that's bad! Mmmmm, I believe I'll try a little bit of that myself, man (Jack's solo) Well the sun goes sinking down with that one.... I got to sing a little bit more of that other man, 'cause that's somethin'! (Talk about it like a dog!) (Sung:) I'm a warn you, I'm a warn you one more time I'm a warn you one more time 'fore you go I'm a warn you baby, I'm a warn you one time 'fore you go Well well if you stay out all night long I don't want, I don't want you no more In the evening, when the sun go down
Like "Can't Kick The Habit", this blues about drug addiction is from the CD "Blues from the Gutter" (Atlantic 1992), recorded in the 1960's.
See also:
all right... I'm sick as I can be... Some people call me a junker, cause I'm loaded all the time I just feel happy and I feel good all the time Some people say I use a needle, and some say I slip cocaine But that's the best old feelin' that I ever need Say goodbye, goodbye to whiskey Lord and so long to gin I just want my reefer, I just want to feel high again oh yes I'm a junker I feel all right Some people, some people crave for chicken And some crave for a house steak But when I get loaded lord I don't want my milk and cake oh yeah that's what I want now... They call me a junker... Cause I'm loaded all the time... But that ain't nothin that I feel good all the time...
This song was recorded in Paris in January 1977. It is credited to Larry Martin, who was a member of his backing group for this session (with Michel Carras, Paul Pechenaert, "Zox", and Jacques Mahieux). Nevertheless it's a 100% pure Champion Jack Dupree original.
Alcohol was as assential to Champion Jack's concerts and recording sessions as the piano. "Shakespeare says: Men who play piano must drink beer" he used to say, before taking another drink.
In this song Champion Jack pleads, in a drunken man's voice, to his woman to let him in after he's been out all night, drinking gin.
It is included on the French CD "Walkin' The Road" (Blues Collection 1577112).
What you say woman? Yeees, I've been drinking! And I am... drunk again. And open the door and let me in! I said, let me in! Yes, I've been drinking gin, yeah, what the hell you gotta do with that, huh? Woman! Open that damn door and let me in. If you don't open that door, I'm gonna have to knock it down. But I'm comin' in. Yes, I've been drinkin' again, yeah, none of your business. Yeah. Open the door, I'm comin' in Drunk again Yes I'm drunk again Yeas I'm drunk Woman I'm drunk again I been out all night long Baby I been drinkin' gin Yeah.. wha... what do I care about what the people say next door! You tell all of 'em over there to do or shake this thing. Or all of them to go to hell. Go to hell! I'm drunk! That's what I mean! Damn, damn, I'm drunk. What the people gonna say? What the people gonna say? Yeah they talk and they talk every day Yeah when I get drunk Woman I wanna have my way All right now... Yeess I'm drunk again. And I'm gonna keep on drinkin'. I ain't gon' never stop. Yes open that door woman, open the door! Yeah... yeah... Come home in the mornin', just about half past ten Come home in the mornin', just about half past ten You'll be hospital bound woman, if you ax me where I've been Drunk again Drunk again Drunk again Ooooh I'm drunk again Yes and I'm good 'n drunk this time woman, open that damn door or I'll break it in. For I Am Coming In. Drunk again Drunk again Yeah drunk again Ooh drunk again Yeah I been out all night long, woman, drinkin' gin Drunk again!
From a session on 29 April 1976 in Paris that resulted in the LP "Shakespeare Says" on the small French label Saravah. You just got to love their motto: "Il y a des années oùu l'on a envie de ne rien faire", or: "There are years when you just don't want to do a thing". How true!
In line with this motto, the record's an easy going, relaxed, beer-fueled affair, and included the stunning "Big Legged Sally" where Jack Dupree duets with himself (without overdubbing!) and the solemn "Angola Here I Come" about the victims of the civil war in Angola.
The backing group on this session consisted of Larry Martin (guitar), "Zox" (bass) and Jacques Mahieux (drums).
Ah, that's what Shakespeare said: There would be days like this. Say you'll be in Paris, playing the blues. And I never believed it. Now I believe everything Shakespeare says. It is a mean old world, tryin' to get along all by yourself It is a mean old world whooo, tryin' to get along all by yourself When you have a lot of bad luck, don't think you have it all by yourself You know there's millions of people, haven't got no place to stay Yes there's millions of people whooo, haven't got no place to stay You know I ain't all by myself, millions of people livin' the same old way (guitar solo with comments by Jack: Do what Shakespeare said! All right there! Play it, play it! That's what he said!) I'm so glad to be in Paris, I'm glad the people have me around Yes I'm glad to be in Paris whooo, I'm glad the people have me around Although they have hundreds of people, sleepin' out on the ground
From the CD "The Tricks", played by Champion Jack Dupree and Mickey Baker (1968). Mickey Baker's text is shown in emphasized type.
(Spoken:) Do you remember that little black and white dog I had? Yeah, I remember the dog. The one they used to call Nix? Yeah, "Nix"! He was a bad dog, that son of a gun, boy he was so bad till the police got at him, you know. Yeah, he was somebody else! You know, he bit anybody! Yeah! And it was funny, when I went there and saw you sittin' there and he was laying on the floor asleep... Well I been around before you were... Yeah - I know you'd either been there before me or you'd been there after me or something, you know... Yeah, I knew your wife before I knew you! Oh, that was the thing, yeah... You know, I come home the other day and he was sitting up on that hind leg and some cat, an insurance man, was pattin' him on the head, you know... and he didn't say a word, and as soon as I opened the door the sonofa jumped at me you know The insurance man was paying the rent Yeah... and I say to him, I said looka here Nix, what the hell's the matter with you? You don't know me from the other man? You know, and he just kept growlin' at me you know. So I know what I'm gonna do... gonna change... I know I'm gettin' me a tiger... Or either a lion or something you know... if I don't do that I get a gorilla or a juju... You know, down in Alabama they don't drink Scotch whiskey... Yeah I know, especially black and white... No, No... They don't drink it, no... They threw the bottle away you know. They don't even allow blackbirds to fly over Alabama... The poor buzzards they can't alight around near the woods in Alabama... 'Cause they got a white collar around their head? Yeah... Nothing white down there you know... I had a white shirt on, you know, and I was coming out one day, you know, and I was going to have a good time in the sun you know, I had a white straw hat and a white shirt you know... You?... Yeah, man... And when I got down the street a fellow said, "You're violating the law!" he said, "you better get in there and gettin' that shirt black, you know, and get that hat black..." You know what I had to do? No, what you had to do? Man, I had to go in and dip the hat in ink and paint my shirt black! But you got your white complexion! Oh.... When I come out I was in the groove, man, I was in the groove! And you know what I told him then? No, tell me 'bout it. (Sung:) I say, you think I'm crazy, 'cause I look just like a fool (Yeah, I had to bluff, you know. And you know what he told me? What? He said, Well, well, hope there's a rope, you know. Where's me is a tree, you understand what he was talkin' about, don't you? Yeah. You understand what he mean, you know? I said ain't no use to worry 'Cos you will never, never get me (Mickey's Solo:) Play that, play that thing like you used to play that night I met you, you know when we were there down there to open the gamblers' house then? That's what I'm talking about... Boy wasn't we havin' a time? Yeah, we were all drunk like you The policeman even got drunk that night, do you remember? He put his hat on me, you know... And he was pleadin' to me not to arrest him. He was really drunk, he was Really Drunk, man! He didn't know what he was doing, you know... 'Cause you was playing that thing like that, you know... (Jack's Solo:) Then I'll take it up a little bit... That's why I'm calling that thing my little dog Nix... He mix with everything...
From the CD "The Tricks", played by Champion Jack Dupree and Mickey Baker (1968). Mickey Baker's text is shown in emphasized type.
Man you know, my next door neighbour, keep a borrowin' all the time My next door neighbour, keep a borrowin' all the time Borrow so much, about to lose my mind My next door neighbour, he keep a borrowin' all the time My next door neighbour, it worry me all the time It worry me so much, I'm bound to lose my mind (You didn't have much in the first place!) He wants to borrow a little sugar, want to borrow a little coffee, They borrow some sugar, make the coffee sweet They wanna borrow your broom, say they wanna sweep They wanna borrow the clock, they want it off the wall They wanna borrow the lawnmower to cut the grass Wanna borrow everything even down to our flat My next door neighbour, keep a borrowin' all the time My next door neighbour, really worries my mind Well they come to your home, about half past ten They wanna borrow your suit to bury their grandpa in I went to the door and I scratched my head Say these doggone neighbours will borrow from the dead My next door neighbour, keep a borrowin' all the time I believe one day, I'm bound to lose my mind (Mickey's Solo:) All right, daddy! Yeah, yeah! It worries me, man! Now they borrow two pounds, say they'll pay you back But borrowin's all right, it's a natural fact When they borrow your money they won't pay back They been borrowin' from me all way in fact Now they been borrowin' boy all of my life I believe one day they gonna borrow my wife My next door neighbour, keep a borrowin' all the time Next door neighbour, keep a borrowin' all the time (Mickey's Solo:) One more time, son! (yeah, do you see him walking over now?) Yeah, come right over and borrow somethin' else! Borrow the time off the wall, man! There they go, there they go, look... Here she come... Shut the door, man, shut the door, quick, shut the door!
Here Champion Jack Dupree gives his advice to president Gerald Ford, persuading him to begin a popcorn plantation after his presidency! This talking blues was recorded in Paris on 24 January 1977, round about the time of Jimmy Carter's inauguration. Champion Jack took on the American presidents - except Kennedy - on more than one occasion (see also his song "President Reagan"). Jimmy Carter owned a peanut plantation in the South. That led Champion Jack Dupree to make some sarcastic comments about white plantation owners and black (slave) laborers, as well as about Gerald Ford's reputation for not being the brightest of people.
This song was recorded in January 1977 in Paris and it's included on the French CD "Walkin' The Road" (Blues Collection 1577112)
See also:
(a phone rings. Somebody says "Phone call for Jack Dupree") Thank you, thank you. I wonder who could that be? Oh, yeah? Hello... who? Gerald? Well I'll be dog-... who? Gerald Ford? Well I'll be doggone! I thought you had left the White House. What? Oh, you're leavin' now. Yeah... Well... yeah... Well who... is Jimmy in there yet? Jimmy who? Jimmy Carter? Yeah, he's comin' in... Huh... he been doin' what? Sellin' peanuts all over the place? Yeah? He even sold you a bag of peanuts? Doggone! Peanuts must be good in the White House, hey? Yeah... Ah... eh eh now look here Gerald, ah, they tell me that ah, Jimmy Carter done changed Abraham Lincoln's shirt... Yeah, it used to be white, he's givin' him a black shirt... yeah I understand... What? He took the book out his hand? Well what did he put in his hand now? A bag of peanuts? I'll be doggone! Ah... hey Gerald ah... what you gonna do now since you're leavin' the White House? What? You and Kissinger gonna do what? You all gonna open up a plantation!?... Yeah... but, but... yeah... But look here Gerald, don't let trouble... you ain't got enough niggers there! Yeah! Because... yeah... you need a lot of niggers and Jimmy Carter got all of 'em, you understand. Yeah! What he doin'? Paintin' the front of the White House black? Oooh, I see! He gon' make it the Black House. Black And White House, yeah, I thought that, yes... yes... Well look Gerald, I tell you what you do. You take a tip from Jack Dupree... you go on down there... and if you can find you enough niggers to make your plantation, you won't have to sell no peanuts next time the election come around... You sell what? You try to... yeah, raise... popcorn! popcorn, yeah, that's good, yeah... yeah, cause they buys a lot of popcorn too... yeah... but if you throw a few peanuts in it, you understand, it be... what they call it... they call it Popcorn Peanut! Yeah! Look here, look here Gerald, I'm gon' come to the White House and... oh, you won't be there. Well, if you see Jimmy Carter,... oh he's there already, yeah... well, look... tell him I'll be there to see him because... I'm sorry I can't talk to you longer I'm right in the middle of a rehearsal now... yeah... all right yeah, okay... play it boy... To call me right in the middle of this rehearsal, now this is terrible ain't it? But old Ford he always do that ever since I knowed him he would call me somewhere. He even called me when I was in Sing Sing, yeah. Yeah, he called me anywhere. So ... so now boys we... we will do somethin' else now cause we was very interrupted with Ford, he always do that... Talkin' about Jimmy Carter, I know what Jimmy Carter's doin'. He got all them niggers with him over there, he's doin' good there. Okay now, we go...
This was recorded in 1983 in a session at Anagrame Studio, Ivry (France) with Louisiana Red on guitar, Gerhard Engbarth on harmonica, and local French musicians "Zox" (bass) and Jacques Mahieux (drums). It is included on the French CD "Walkin' The Road" (Blues Collection 1577112).
In this song once again Champion Jack expresses his sympathy for the poor and black people. This time it is Reaganomics that's to blame. He takes heart in the fact that Reagan "only got two more years" (but wasn't this before his re-election?)
In this song Champion Jack makes a mistake, singing "president Reagan" at some point where he sould be singing "president Kennedy"!
Lord Lord I wonder how long 'Fore I can change my dirty clothes I wonder how long 'Fore I can change my dirty clothes I haven't been doin' nothing Whoo Lord Lord but walkin' up and down the road People you know I know I know how the poor people feel You know I know Jus' how the poor people feel When you don't have nothin' I know your life don't feel real People call me black I know every word they say is true People call me black I know every word they say is true But there ain't nothin' in the world, whoo Lord Lord A poor black man could do President Reagan helped the rich And he never say nothin' 'bout the poor President Reagan helped the rich and he never say nothin' 'bout the poor But I'm so glad He won't be president no more What President Kennedy give us Old Reagan's took it back What President Reagan's [sic] give us Old Reagan's took it back He cut off the poor veteran, ooh Lord Lord And he even took on the tax But I'm so glad President Reagan only got two more years Yes I'm so glad He only got two more years And the world will be happy, ooh Lord Lod And we won't shed no more tears Got that woman on the White House, She's blindfolded holdin' two scales Got that woman on the lighthouse [sic], She's blindfolded holdin' two scales And they say the scales mean justice Ooh Lord Lord for the white folks it mean just them(?) (after the song somebody - Louisiana Red? - shouts "Good Night"!)
Champion Jack Dupree's version of this Southern folk ballad, also known as "Stagger Lee", or "Stagolee"; from the 1960's LP "Blues from the gutter" (CD re-release is on Atlantic).
STACK-O-LEE (Jack Dupree) Stagger Lee and Billy Lyon, they was gamblin' in the dark Stagger Lee told Billy, Billy Lyon let's take a walk Stagger Lee won Billy Lyon's money, and he took Billy Lyon's stetson hat Billy Lion said Stagger Lee, lord why do you do me like that Now Billy Lyon begged Stagger Lee, said please give me back my hat Cause you know you won my money, please don't take my hat Now Billy Lyon said to Stagger Lee, said please please don't take my life I got two little children and a poor little homeless wife Billy Lyon said to Stagger Lee, would you do your friend like that well you won all my money, and you took my stetson hat Stagger Lee shot Billy Lyon, and he fell down on his knees he said Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy if you please Stagger Lee run to the corner, and he look up and down said I'd rather see you Billy, six feet in the ground Now the people start to weepin', and some of them begin to moan Everybody was worried 'bout poor Billy Lyon was gone Teena teena na, teena na ni na Teena na na, teena ni na ni na Say I want Louis Armstrong and his band To play the blues as they lay my body down I want ten thousand women to be at my buryin' ground
From the CD "The Tricks", played by Champion Jack Dupree and Mickey Baker (1968).
You know I lost a good woman by stayin' out every night Well I lost a good woman by stayin' out every night Yes I thought I was doing good and I wasn't treating a good woman right Well I'm goin' back to my woman, I'm a fall down on my knees Well I'm goin' back to that woman, I'm a fall down on my knees Say take me back, take me back baby, forgive me if you please I say you was right, you was right, I just acknowledge that I was wrong You were right, you were right, I just acknowledge that I was wrong I know I have made a mistake baby, when I drove you from my home (Mickey's solo) All right there... I wanted to beg you back baby, but I was really ashamed of myself I wanted to beg you back baby, but I was really ashamed of myself But if you only come back good mama, I'll never be bad again
From the Saravah LP "Shakespeare Says" that included a.o. "Angola Here I Come" and "Million People Live The Same Way". Here Champion Jack Dupree is complaining about the "tax people" taking all his hard-earned money away...
Lord have mercy on these tax people! I don't see no more sense in workin' every day When you make a little money the tax people take it all away but How they expect you to live? But we'll make it, we'll make it somehow What's the use of workin', tax people take your money away What's the use of workin', tax people take your money away He'll take all your money, and don't care what you say Well the tax people watchin', for everything you do Yes the tax people watchin', most anything you do You can bet your life, that they got their eyes on you Tax people told me, my money would lead me astray The tax people told me my money would lead me astray Just to protect me they took all my money away Well they said they'd return it on some old rainy day Yes they said they'd return it on some old rainy day It been rainin' fifty years and they haven't returned it yet (guitar solo) Them tax people... (bass solo) Them tax people change your mind... I got to cut down, cut down on my overhead Yes I got to cut down, cut down on my overhead Way these tax people doin', I'm bound to lose my butter 'n bread All right... all right.... okay.... anything you say... I can tell you partner, they took all my money away
Louis Armstrong died on July 6, 1971. This tribute was recorded in Paris on July 21 of that year. Jack Dupree reminisces here about his childhood days in the New Orleans Colored Waif's Home for Boys, where Louis Armstrong also spent some years. Louis Armstrong was born in 1900 and was ten years older than Jack Dupree. Jack Dupree lost his parents when he was but one year old, when their house burned down, and he was put into the Waif's Home. Louis Armstrong was arrested on New Years' Eve of 1913 for shooting a pistol during a street party, and was subsequently placed in the same Waif's Home. So the Champ is not making things up when he speaks about Louis Armstrong "shooting pistols up and down Rampart Street"...
[spoken:] I remember when me and Louis Armstrong was in the same home And that was a place back in Chantilly in New Orleans He was a few years older than me, But I was in there from one year old And he came in, he was a big boy then But he come in from being bad around the street Shootin' pistols up and down Rampart Street But I was already there And he used to blow the bugle for us to go to bed at night And he used to blow a comb with a piece of paper But he is Mister to the world He was a black man, but a great black man He was the Trumpet King Some people call him the King and some didn't But regardless of what they call him he was still that: the King So he was a friend of mine and he was a friend to the world And a friend to the people So I'd love to sing this to him: [sings:] Go on Louis, fast asleep Go on, your soul to keep May the good Lord in heaven Have mercy, have mercy on you You done your best to the world Made people happy, all around the world But when the lights, come on again All over the world [sax solo by Hal Singer, over which Champion Jack speaks:] Go on Louis, I might join you one day Never can tell I say a little prayer for you Now lay me down to sleep I pray the good Lord my soul to keep If I should die before I awake I pray the Lord my soul to take [guitar solo by Mickey Baker, over which:] It's a hard road but I keep on walkin' I never give up You take all musicianers, old-timers Will go the same way Louis Armstrong went Because we never give up We'll go until the last breath leave us And that's our life Women, music, and whiskey That's what we live for [laughs] We don't have no money, no And we never will be rich But we'll always be happy WIth the blues, with jazz [sings:] But if I could live my life All over, all over again Yes I'd live, live my life Like Louis, like Louis Armstrong did Made people happy, made you glad Made you laugh, like you ever had Go on Louis, go on Louis I'll meet you someday
From the CD "The Tricks", played by Champion Jack Dupree and Mickey Baker (1968). Mickey Baker's text is shown in emphasized type.
(Spoken:) Don't you know Lily Mae? Yeah, I know Lily Mae One day they gonna find her froze to death standing in that door, you know! What door? Where she alway stand! Is she still standing there? Man, she done stood there so long she ain't nothing but bone, man. And it ain't doin' no good. You know what I told her? What? (Sung:) Don't you know, tricks ain't gonna walk no more (What they gonna do? Crawl?) No she got to get out and git them, man Don't you know, tricks ain't gonna walk no more Yes woman you gotta get out and get 'em, Or tricks ain't gonna walk no more (Spoken): You know I used to have a little money, and I used to pass all up and down that neighbourhood, you know. You know, one time I run into you down there, you know. But you never wondered where I saw you. Yes... I had been cleaned - I had been cleaned already, you know. That's why I didn't talk to you about wanting you to go there and get your dustbin out you know. Haha. Yes boy, it was a mess boy, you know... You know, she used to sit inside in the wintertime (yeah), sit right by the window glass, you know... Looking out. And when you pass by she'd knock on the glass like this, you know. And when you look - yeah! - she make two signs. You know what them signs were? What was it? Two and a half, man! Two and a half, yeah. And you know what I told her? (Sung:) Don't you know, tricks ain't gonna walk no more (She didn't believe me, though, you know, when I told her that) Don't you know, tricks ain't gonna walk no more (Not a bit!) Yes if you don't go out and get 'em, Tricks ain't gonna walk no more (Mickey's solo) Now go, man, go on and see how they walk, man... Man I believe you walkin' with the woman like that! Take it easy... Oh my goodness... Tricks ain't never walked like that man... You messed up that neighbourhood (Sung:) Don't you know, tricks ain't gonna walk no more Don't you know, tricks ain't gonna walk no more Well if you don't go out and get 'em, woman, Tricks ain't gonna walk no more
From the CD "The Tricks", played by Champion Jack Dupree and Mickey Baker (1968). Mickey Baker's text is shown in emphasized type.
(Spoken)
Boy that's some ugly woman, I'm telling you!
That woman's so ugly, she can draw a blister on a brick, man,
but she's all right! You seen a REAL ugly woman?
I've seen your wife!
That's her! That's her!
You know she was so ugly when she was a little girl.
Huh?
Her father used to take her to work with him every morning.
And I say, why do you take the poor kid out every morning that early,
you know? He says, She's so doggone ugly he hate to kiss her goodbye,
so he take her with him, you know.
Some ugly child!
(Sung)
You's some ugly woman, but you's all right with me
Yeah, you is some ugly woman, but you's all right with me
You're the woman I love and that is sweet enough for me
She's the woman that I love, she takes my appetite
She's the woman I love, she takes my appetite
She the sweetest woman I ever seen in my life
She got a face like a monkey, hair like a teddybear
She got a face like a monkey, hair like a teddybear
She the ugliest woman that I ever seen anywhere
(Instrumental break:)
Go on, get that ugly woman for me now, call her up!
Lord have mercy
She got pretty smooth skin, just like a elephant hide
She got pretty smooth skin, just like a elephant hide
When you see that ugly woman, honey you know that I ain't lyin'
An ugly woman, boy!
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