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Blues Lyrics: Jeannie and Jimmy Cheatham


Jeannie and Jimmy Cheatham and the Sweet Baby Blues Band perform blues and jazz that is firmly rooted in the Kansas City tradition; "All I want to do is play the blues like Jay McShann" they sing on one of their albums. Jeannie (piano and vocals) and Jimmy (trombone) have recorded many "standard" as well as original blues on their albums (they are on the Concord label). One regular feature of their albums is the final number, a blues or boogie where everybody joins in in the final chorus; and that really means everybody - all the players, the producer, family members, anyone who happens to walk by... They call it the Glee Club. Examples of these are "Don't Cha Boogie With Your Black Drawers Off", its sibling "Meet Me With Your Black Drawers On", and "Sometimes It Be That Way".


This page contains lyrics to the following song(s):


Ain't Nobody's Business If I Do

From the CD "Sweet Baby Blues" (1985), this is the Cheathams's version of this classic that was recorded by Bessie Smith; another version here is by Saffire - The Uppity Blues Women.

See also:

AINT NOBODY'S BUSINESS IF I DO (Porter Grainger - Everett Robbins)

Lord, Lord, Lord
Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord
Ain't nobody's business what I do

If I should take a notion
Well I go right down and jump in the ocean
And it ain't nobody's business what I do
Nobody's business what I do

One day we got ham and bacon
The next day people ain't nothin' shakin'
Ain't nobody's business, whoo, what I do
Nobody's business what I do

Me and my man fuss and fight
The next day people we all right
Ain't nobody's business what I do
Nobody's business what I do

One day I'm goin' crazy
Get me a shotgun and shoot my baby
Ain't nobody's business, I said it ain't nobody's business
Lord it ain't nobody's business, hey!, what I do
It ain't nobody's business what I do
Nobody's!

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Baby Please Don't Go

A classic blues, here credited to McKinley Morganfield (Muddy Waters). From the CD "Luv in the afternoon" (1991).

Baby Please Don't Go (McKinley Morganfield)

Baby please don't go
Baby please don't go
Baby please don't go back to New Orleans
Because I love you so

Turn your lamp down low
Turn your lamp down low
Turn your lamp down low, my heart is beating so
So baby please don't go

Made me weep and moan
You made me weep and moan
You made me weep and moan, don't leave me all alone
Baby please don't go

[solos]

You got me way down here
You got me way down here
You got me way down here, you didn't shed a tear
Oh baby please don't go

Baby please don't go
Baby please don't go
Baby please don't go

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Brand New Blues

(Jeannie & Jimmy Cheatham). From the CD "Sweet Baby Blues"

I tried on a brand new blues this morning,
        Cause my old blues don't fit no more
I tried on a brand new blues,
        Cause my old blues don't fit no more
I changed my way of living,
        Ain't nothing like it was before

I got a new disposition
        Got me a new routine
Got a new disposition
        Got me a new routine
I got me a brand new washer
        To keep my laundry clean, keep my laundry clean

- solos -

I bought me a brand new hatchet,
        Cut down my weeping willow tree
I bought me a brand new hatchet,
        Cut down my weeping willow tree
No more bending over backwards,
        No more bitter tear for me

I ain't gonna be no playgirl,
        Don't need no diamond ring
Ain't gonna be no playgirl,
        Don't need no diamond ring
Just give me plenty room people
        To try my brand new everything
Just give me plenty room
        To try my brand new everything

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Don't Cha Boogie With Your Black Drawers Off

(Jeannie & Jimmy Cheatham)- from the CD Basket Full Of Blues (1991)

See also:

Went to see my baby,
        Said he had an awful cough
Went to see my baby,
        He said he had an awful cough
He almost caught pneumonia,
        Cause he boogied with his black drawers off

In the park, in the dark
        The mockingbird he sings so soft
In the park, in the dark
        The mockingbird he sings so soft
It make it oh so easy
        To boogie with your black drawers off

- solos -

Turn on the lights, pour a corn,
        Keep the music smooth and soft
Turn on the lights, pour a corn,
        Keep the music smooth and soft
You don't need the fire department
        If you boogie with your black drawers off

(everybody joins in this chorus, led by Snooky Young:)

Don't cha boogie, don't cha boogie, don't cha boogie with your black drawers off
Don't cha boogie, don't cha boogie, don't cha boogie with your black drawers off

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Goin' Down Slow

(Jimmy Oden). From the CD "Homeward Bound". See also Howlin' Wolf's version.

See also:

Well I done had my fun, if I don't get well no more
Yes I done had my fun, had my fun, if I don't get well no more
Well I been livin', lovin' and lyin', and now I'm goin' down slow

Please write my mother, tell her the shape I'm in
Please write my mother, tell her the shape I'm in
Tell her not to worry, just forgive me for my sin
(forgive me, forgive me, forgive me)

On the next train South, look for my clothes on
On the next train South people, look for my clothes on
And if you do not see my body, please don't weep and moan

Don't cry mother, oh this is my prayer
Don't cry mother, mother, oh this is my prayer
Just say your daughter is in another world somewhere

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Meet Me with Your Black Drawers On

(Jeannie & Jimmy Cheatham). From the CD "Sweet Baby Blues"

See also:

Woke up this morning, babe
        Reach for the telephone
Woke up this morning,
        Reach for the telephone
I got your message baby,
        To meet me with your black drawers on

You know I love you baby
        You know how to keep me hangin' on
You know I love you baby
        You know how to keep me hangin' on
All you have to do is say
        "Meet you with my black drawers on"

- solos -

You don't have to worry baby,
        I'll never leave you all alone
You don't have to worry,
        I'll never leave you all alone
Just call me and tell me baby,
        To meet you with my black drawers on

(everybody joins in the chorus:)
Baby, meet me with your black drawers on
Baby, meet me with your black drawers on
...

(until at the end Snooky Young exclaims:)
Baby, meet me with no drawers at all!

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Sometimes It Be That Way

(Jeannie & Jimmy Cheatham). From the CD "Homeward Bound".

I can hear young yuppies yellin',
"The blues just ain't for me"
But if you're drivin' a taxi,
And you got a PhD
You got the blues, young yuppy
Sometimes you have 'em every day
There ain't no doubt about it,
Sometimes it be that way

Your Visa's at the limit,
Your Mastercard is too,
Your second mortgage payment
On your condo's overdue
You got the blues, young yuppy
Sometimes you have 'em every day
There ain't no doubt about it,
Sometimes it be that way

(solos)
You're thirto-two and holding
Things are going from bad to worse
You better hug it while you can
There ain't no luggage on the hearse
You got the blues, young yuppy
Sometimes you have 'em every day
There ain't no doubt about it,
Sometimes it be that way

Sometimes it be that way
Sometimes it be that way
Sometimes it be that way
Sometimes it be that way
(all together:) Sometimes it be that way
(etc. till fade)

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Trouble In Mind

(Richard M. Jones) From the CD "Homeward Bound". There is another version of this song here by Muddy Waters.

See also:

Trouble in mind, I'm blue
But I won't be blue always
Cause the sun gonna shine
Lord in my back door someday

Well my man he done left me
Lord I almost lost my mind
Sometimes I feel like laughing
Sometimes I feel like crying

I'm goin' down by the river
Gonna take my rocking chair
If that man don't do right
Lord I'm gonna rock away from here

I'm goin' down by the railroad
Lord that lonesome railroad line
And if that man don't do right
Ease my worried mind

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You Don't Have To Go

(James Matcher Reed aka Jimmy Reed) From the CD "Homeward Bound". See also Muddy Waters' version...

See also:

Babe, you don't have to go
Babe, babe, baby, you don't have to go
I'm gonna pack my suitcase, down the road I go

Baby, try me one more time
Baby, try me one more time
You know I just can't make it without that sweet man of mine

Well I ain't never loved three men in my life
I ain't never loved three men in my life
That's my father, my brother, and the man who ruined my life-
man who ruined my life

So babe, you don't have to go
Babe, babe, baby, you don't have to go
Oh, I wanna pack my suitcase, down the road I go
Oh babe...

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