Singer - guitarist - songwriter Tab Benoit is a relatively newcomer to the blues scene, but he's built himself a solid reputation, quite rightly, based on his awesome guitar technique. As a blues singer he's not as convincing, in my opinion. On the other hand he's covered a couple of Lightnin' Hopkins numbers on his debut CD, and that earns him extra credit, of course.
This page contains lyrics to the following song(s):
(Written by Bernard Bessman & John Lee Hooker). This is from his live CD "Live: Swampland Jam" (1997) and here his guest star was Jumpin' Johnny Sansone on harmonica.
Yeah I'm a crawlin' king snake, and I rule my den Well I'm a crawlin' king snake, and I rule my den I don't want nobody hangin' around with my little girl now, I'm just gonna use her for myself You got me crawlin' baby when the grass was very high I'm just gonna keep on crawlin' now baby until the day I die Cause I'm a crawlin' king snake and I rule my den I don't want nobody hangin' around with my lady, I'm just gonna use her for myself I'm gon' crawl to your window baby, I'm gon' crawl over to your door You've got everything I want now baby, I wanna crawl up on your floor Cause I'm a crawlin' king snake, and I rule my den I don't want nobody hangin' around with my little girl, I'm just gonna use her for myself Yeah I'm a crawlin' king snake, and I rule my den Baby I'm a crawlin' king snake, and I rule my den I don't want nobody hangin' around with my little girl, I'm just gonna use her for myself
This song was written by Al Jackson, Jr. ; it's from the CD "Nice and Warm" (Justice Records, 1992).
I'm going down. My nose is in the sand I'm going down, down, baby. My nose is in the sand A cloud of dust just came over me And I think I'm drowning on dry land. You know, my father told me, son don't rush to be a man You know, my father told me, son don't you rush to be a man But I went ahead on, and now I think I'm drowning on dry land. You know my mother told me the story About that li'l dog that couldn't see too well He was crossing a railroad track one day When the train cut off a part of his tail He turned around but never looked up Just to peep over the rail And she said he lost his whole head Trying to find a little piece of tail That's why I'm going down. My nose is in the sand A could of dust just came over me And now I think I'm drowning on dry land.
One of Tab's own songs, recorded live in Louisiana and to be found on his CD "Live: Swampland Jam" (1997). It's a slow zydeco ballad, with Jumpin' Johnny Sansone on the accordion.
I wanna tell you just how I feel I had a dream baby, I thought it was real I woke up in love, now you're all I think of Every day I'm wastin' time I'm wonderin' how, to make you mine I'm just wishin' it could be, you feel the same for me Since that day I've been lost I jumped on a alligator, I thought it was a horse I took one hell of a ride, down on bayou side If I could take you to the fais-do-do We could dance on end, all across the floor And we could do it for a while, Louisiana style I wanna take you to the fais-do-do Where we can dance baby, until we can't stand no more I wanna do it for a while, Louisiana style
This Lightnin' Hopkins cover is included on the CD "Nice and Warm" Justice Records JR 1201-2, 1992.
SHINING MOON (Lightnin' Hopkins) Don't that moon look pretty Shining down through the trees? don't that shining moon look pretty, baby Shining down through the trees? You know I could see my baby, Lord, Lord When she don't see me Sometimes she calls me her little boy Sometimes I call her my little girl Sometimes she calls me her little boy Somettimes I call her my little girl You know, when she goes to kiss me She makes me feel out of this world Lord, I tiptoed to the girl's window Just to see how sweet she snored Lord, I tiptoed to the girl's window Just to see how sweet she snored You know she make me feel like jumping Lord, Lord Through the key hole in the door.
This song features on Tab's "Live: Swampland Jam" CD (Justice Records, 1997, where he welcomes many distinguished guest stars. On this number it's Henry Gray on piano. It was written by John Newton.
Here's an excerpt in RealAudio (last part of the song)!!
There's too many dirty dishes In the sink for just us two I say there's too many dirty dishes Baby in the sink for just us two Well you got me wonderin' baby Who's makin' dirty dishes with you I go to work in the mornin' I come right home every night When I leave the sink is empty And when I come back home, My baby got 'em stacked up out of sight There's too many dirty dishes Baby in the sink for just us two Well you got me wonderin', got me wonderin' baby Who's making dirty dishes with you (solos) I cleaned your dirty dishes How much more am I supposed to take? When I left I had fruit loops for breakfast Now there's a bone from a T-bone steak, y'all And there's too many dirty dishes Baby in the sink for just us two Well you got me wonderin', you got me wonderin' baby Who's makin' dirty dishes with you Well you got me wonderin', you got me wonderin' baby Who's makin' dirty dishes with you
From the CD "Nice and Warm", Justice Records JR 1201-2, 1992. It's an original Tab Benoit composition, although it owns a lot to "It hurts me too" (by Elmore James for example).
Standing in the doorway speaking your mind And then you're out the door, leaving me behind And every time something goes wrong You're up and gone You know I surely, surely would love to know Where you go when you walk out that door You know I would wait all night long For you to come home Oh yes I surely, surely would love to know Where you go when you walk out my door Lodr, every time something goes wrong You're up and gone
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