MJH Lyrics – Compiled by Ken Whitfield 4-2008
Email: mailto:khandu
When he performed his songs, Mississippi John Hurt often added,
omitted or rephrased his lyrics. Rather than copy the lyrics of different renditions separately, I will include all lyrics for each song under
the one title. As this is a work-in-progress, some of the songs transcribed at
this time may be amended as I find other verses.
This is
not yet a complete listing. In time I hope to transcribe all lyrics to each
song recorded by MJH. Be patient, as
this is not a quick work.
I, of
course, have tried to transcribe these as accurately as possible. Certainly,
mistakes occasionally may have been made. Corrections and suggestions are
welcomed.
AIN'T NOBODY
BUT YOU (Key of C)
C
Ain't nobody but you, Baby
F C
Ain't nobody but you
F C
Ain't nobody but you
G C
Ain't nobody but you
I got a
letter last night
I got a
letter last night
I got a
letter last night
How do
you reckon it read?
It said Ain't nobody but you, Baby
Ain't nobody but you
I went
down to the ball
Went
down to the ball last night
It ain't
nobody but you, Baby
Said Ain't nobody but you
AVALON BLUES (Key of E)
E
New York
this morning’ just about half past nine
A
New York
this morning’ just about half past
E
nine
B7 E
(Omitted
Verse...)
Avalon
my hometown, always on my mind
Avalon
my hometown, always on my mind
Pretty
mamas in Avalon want me there all the time
When I
left Avalon, they’s throwin’
kisses and waving’ at me
When I
left Avalon,
When I
left Avalon, they’s throwin’
kisses and waving’ at me
Says
come back daddy, stay right here with me
Says
come back daddy,
Says
come back daddy, stay right here with me
Hate to
tell you, pretty mama, but you have got to know
Hate to
tell you, pretty mama,
I’m leavin’ Avalon, won’t be back no more
It’s one thing I can’t understand
It’s one thing I can’t understand
Pretty
mamas in Avalon just want one man
Avalon
my hometown got no great big range
Avalon
my hometown
Avalon
my hometown got no great big range
Pretty
mamas in Avalon sure do spend your change
Pretty
mamas in Avalon
AVALON, MY HOMETOWN (Key of E)
E
Avalon
my hometown, always on my mind
A E
Avalon
my hometown, always on my mind
B7 E
Pretty
Mama in Avalon want me there all the time
Left
Avalon this morning’ ‘bout half past nine
Left
Avalon this morning’
Pretty
Mama in Avalon want me there all the time
When I
left Avalon, throwin’ kisses and waving’ at me
Left
Avalon this morning’ throwin’ kisses and waving’ at
me
Says
come back daddy, stay right here with me
Oh come back daddy
Oh come
back daddy, stay right here with me
Oh Mama
Hate to
tell you pretty mama
Hate to
tell you pretty mama, you’ve got to know
Hate to
tell you pretty mama
I’m leavin’ Avalon, ain’t comin’ back no more
Avalon
my hometown, always on my mind
Avalon
my hometown,
Pretty
Mama in Avalon want me there all the time
New Yorks a good town but it’s not for mine
New Yorks a good town
Pretty
Mama in Avalon want me there all the time
One
thing I can’t understand
One thing , man
Many
pretty mama’s in Avalon, and I’m just one man
Avalon
my hometown,
Avalon
my hometown,
Pretty
Mama in Avalon want me there all the time.
BABY, WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU (Key of A)
D
A
Oh baby
D A
Tell me
baby
E
Tell me
baby
E7 A
Honey
what’s wrong with you
You
don’t love me baby
You
don’t love me baby
You
don’t love me baby
Honey
like you used to do
Oh Baby
Oh baby
Tell me
baby
Honey
what’s wrong with you
Who, who
baby
Who been
here baby
Who been
here baby
Honey
since I been gone
Somebody,
babe
Somebody,
baby
Somebody
been fishin’ in my pond
Caught
all my perches
Caught
all my perches
Caught
all my perches
And now they’s gone
Oh Baby
Tell me
baby
Tell me
baby
Honey
what’s wrong with you
Who who baby
Who who baby
Tell me
baby, who’s been jiving’ you
Who’s
never told you
Who’s
never told you, baby
Who’s
never told you
Didn’t I
tell you true?
Asked
you this morning’
Asked
you this morning’, baby
Asked
you this morning’
Please
bake me some bread
You told
me
You told
me baby
Said,
Johnny, I’d rather see you dead
Oh baby
Tell me
baby
Tell me
baby
What’s
wrong with you
BEULAH LAND (Key of E)
E
I got a mother in Beulah Land
A E
I got a mother in Beulah Land
outshine the sun
E
I got a mother in Beulah Land
B7 E
Way
beyond the sky
Oh come
on and go over to Beulah Land
Come on
and go to Beulah Land
Come on
and go to Beulah Land
Way
beyond the sky
I got a sister in Beulah Land
I got a sister in Beulah Land
outshine the sun
I got a sister in Beulah Land
Way
beyond the sky
I got a father in Beulah Land
I got a father in Beulah Land
outshine the sun
I got a father in Beulah Land
Way
beyond the sky
C.C. RIDER (Key of D)
A
D A D
Oh CC
Rider you see what you have done
G D
You done
made me love you
G D
Made me
love you, now your man done come
A D A
D
You made
me love you, now your man done come
If I had’a listened to my second mind
Lord, I
wouldn’t be sittin’ here
Wringing
my hands and cryin’
I
wouldn’t be sittin’ here
Wringing
my hands and cryin’
I
wouldn’t be sittin’ here
Wringing
my hands and cryin’
(Repeat
Chorus)
It ain’t
no more potatoes, the frost have killed the vine
The
blues ain’t nothing but a good woman on your mind
The
blues ain’t nothing but a good woman on your mind
The
blues ain’t nothing but a good woman on your mind
I told
you, baby and your mama told you too
You
three times seven, you know what you wanna do
Three
times seven, you know what you wanna
do
You
three times seven, you know what you wanna do
(Repeat
Chorus)
CANDY MAN (Key of A)
A
All you ladies, gather round
A
The good
sweet Candy man’s in town
E7 A
It’s the
Candy Man. It’s the Candy Man
A
He’s got
a stick of candy that’s nine inch long
A
It sells
as fast a hog can chew his corn
E7 A
It’s the
Candy Man. It’s the Candy Man
Well, he
sold some candy to Sister bad
The very
next day, she took all he had
Oh the
Candy Man. Sweet Candy Man
Well his
stick of candy don’t melt away
It just
gets better so the ladies say
It’s the
Candy Man Sweet
Candy Man
A
E
Well you
and the Candy man, you getting’ mighty thick, um hmmm
A E
You Must be stuck on the Candy man’s stick
I
carried my baby to the Candy stand, Oh yeah, oh yeah
She got
stuck on the Candy man, um hmmm, um hmmm
CASEY JONES
G C G
Casey
Jones was a noble
engineer
G A D
He told
his fireman to not to fear
G C G
All I
want is my water and my coal
G
Look out
the window, see my drive wheel roll
Early
one morning’ came a shower of rain
Round
the curve, I seen a passenger train
In the
cabin was Casey Jones
He’s a
noble engineer but he’s dead and gone
Casey’s
wife, she got the news
She was
sittin’ on the bedside, she was lacing up her shoes
Said Go
‘way children and hold your breath
You’re
gonna draw a pension at your daddy’s death
Children
children, get your hat
Mama mama, what you mean by that
Get your
hat and put it on your head
Go down
in town, see if your daddy’s dead
Mama mama, how can it be
My daddy
got killed on the old I.C.
Hush
your mouth I said and hold your breath
You’re
gonna draw a pension at your daddy’s death
Casey
said before he died
Fix the
blinds, so the bums can’t ride
If they
ride, let’em ride the rod
Trust
they lives in the hands of God
Casey
said before he died
One more
road that he dread to ride (wanted to ride)
People
wondered what road could that be
The
Colorado and the Santa Fe
(The Gulf Colorado and the Santa Fe)
CHICKEN (key of C)
C
Oh
Chicken, chicken
G
You
don't roost to high for me
C
Chicken,
chicken
C G C
Come on outta that tree
F C
Chicken chicken chicken
C G C
You
can't roost too high for me
C
"C"
is the way to begin
F
"H"
the next letter in
C
"I"
am the third
C
"C"
butter season the bird **
F
"K"
is to fill him in
C
"E"
I'm near the end
C F
"C-H-I-C-K-E-N"
C G C
That's
the way you spell chicken
**(or "For to season the bird" and "For two
C's in the bird")
COFFEE BLUES (Key of A)
(Spoken)
Coffee time. I likes a
certain brand, that’s Maxwell House. Just like it says on the
can ‘Good to the last drop’. And if I can get just a spoonful of Maxwell
House, do as much good as two or three cups of this other coffee.
Two guys, one told me she had moved to
Memphis, the other’s said to Leland.
I said I
don’t care where she moved, I’m gonna find her!
A D
I’ve got
to go to Memphis
A
From
there to Leland
E A
I want
to see my baby, ‘bout a lovin’ spoonful
‘Bout a lovin’ spoonful
Well I
just got to have my lovin’ spoonful
Well,
good morning’ baby
How you
do this morning’?
Well,
please, ma’am, make me just a lovin’…
Just a lovin’ spoonful
Well I
just got to have my lovin’ spoonful
You can
bring me whiskey
You can
bring me tea
Nothin’
satisfies me, man
But my lovin’
But my lovin’ spoonful
Well I
just got to have my lovin’ spoonful
My baby
packed her suitcase
And she
went away
I
couldn’t let her stay for my lovin’
Well my lovin’ spoonful’
Well I
just had to have my lovin’
Oh the
preacher in the pulpit
Jumpin’
up and down
He laid
his Bible down for his lovin’ spoonful
(Ain’t
Maxwell House alright!)
He just
had to have that lovin’…
Well,
good morning’ baby
How you
do this morning’?
Well,
please, ma’am, make me just a lovin’ spoonful
I’ve done got crazy ‘bout my lovin’
Well I
just got to have my lovin’
I’ll
kill the policeman
Knock
down the sheriff
It’s all
about my lovin’
My lovin’ spoonful
Well I
just got to have my lovin’…
Well the
womens in Greenwood
They
raisin’ sand
It’s all
about that lovin’ spoonful
If your
baby get mad
And she
won't do right
Go to
bed at night
Give her
lovin'
CORINNA CORINNA (Key of C)
C
Corinna Corinna, where’d you stay last night
F C
Corinna Corinna, where’d you stay last night
G C
Come in
this morning’, the sun was shinin’ bright
I left
Corinna across the sea
I left
Corinna way ‘cross the sea
She
won’t write me no letters, she don’t care for me
Corinna Corinna, where’d you stay last night
Corinna Corinna,
I love
Corinna, tell the world I do
Don’t love nobody in this world but you
COW HOOKING BLUES ( Key of E)
E
Woke up
this mornin'
Just
'bout the break of day
A E
Woke up
this mornin'
B7
I hugged
my pillow
E
where my baby used to lay
The girl
I love
Give me
the blues and gone
The girl
I love
The girl
I love
Give me
the blues and gone
Went to
the river
The
river was runnin' up and down
Went to
the river
Had the
blues so bad
Started
to jump in and drown
Had the
blues so bad
Walked
out to the barn
Had the
blues so bad
That old
cow she hooked me
With a
great long horn
Lord she
hurt my heart
Might've
heard me cryin'
She hurt
my heart
Baby baby, please don't put me down
Baby
Please Baby,
Let me
change your mind
DO LORD REMEMBER ME (Key of G)
G
Do Lord do Lord, do remember me
C G
Do Lord
do Lord,
G G
Do Lord
do Lord,
G D
G
Do Lord remember me
When I’m
on my knees praying
When I’m
on my knees praying
When I’m
on my knees praying
Do Lord remember me
(Repeat
Chorus)
Oh when
I’m in trouble
Oh when
I’m in trouble
(Repeat Chorus)
Remember
all your died and gone
Then
remember me
Remember
all your died and gone
Then
remember me
Remember
all your died and gone
Do Lord remember me
FARTHER ALONG (Key of C)
C F C
Farther
along, we’ll know all about it
C G
Farther
along we will understand why
C F C
Cheer up
my brother, live in the sunshine
C G C
We’ll understand
it all by and by
When we
see Jesus coming in Glory
When He
comes from His home in the sky
And we
shall meet him in that bright mansion
We’ll
understand it all by and by
Faithful
till death say our lovin’ Master
A few
more days to labor and wait
Toils of
the ???? Will then seem as nothing’
When we
squeeze through the Beautiful Gate
FRANKIE AND ALBERT (Key of G)
G
Frankie
was a good girl, everybody knows
C G
She paid
a hundred dollar for Albert a suit of clothes
D G
He was
her man and he did her wrong
Frankie
went down to the corner saloon
She
ordered a glass of beer
She
asked the bar room keeper
Have my lovin’ Albert been here
He been
here, but he’s gone again
Ain’t goin’ tell you no story, Frankie Ain’t goin’
tell ya no lie
Says
Albert passed ‘bout an hour ago
With a
girl the call Alice Pryor
He’s
your man and he’s doin’ you wrong
Frankie
went down to the corner saloon Didn’t go to be gone long
She
peeked through the keyhole in the door Spied Albert in Alice’s arms
You’s my man and you doin’ me wrong
Frankie
called Albert Albert says I don’t hear
If you
don’t come to the woman you love Gonna haul you outta here
You’s my man and you doin’ me wrong
Frankie
shot Albert Shot him three or four times
Says
stand back out the smoke of my gun Let me see is Albert’s dyin’
He’s my
man and he did me wrong
Frankie
and the judge walked out of the stand Walked out side by side
The
Judge said to Frankie You gonna be justified
For killin’ you man and he did you wrong
Dark was
the night Cold was on the ground
The last
words I heard Frankie say Done laid old Albert down
He’s my
man and he did me wrong
FUNKY BUTT (Key of C)
C G
D G7 C
I
thought I heard somebody say
C G
D G7 C
F C
Funky Butt Funky Butt ,
take it away
F C
G C
Cause I
don’t like it no how
You see
that gal with the red dress on
She got
funky butt stinky butt sure as you’re born
Well I
don’t like it no how
You see
that gal with the blue dress on
She got
stinky butt funky butt let it alone
Cause I
don’t like it no how
I
thought I heard somebody shout
Open the
window let the foul smell out
Cause I
don't like it no how
GOT THE BLUES AND I CAN'T BE SATISFIED (Key of G)
G
Got the
blues, I can’t be satisfied
C (A
bass) G
Got the
blues, I can’t be satisfied
D G
Some old
day gonna catch the train and ride
Whiskey
straight will drive the blues away
Whiskey
straight will drive the blues away
That be
the case, I wants a quart today
Bought
my babe a great big diamond ring
Bought
my babe a great big diamond ring
Come
right back home and I caught her shakin’ that thing
I say
Baby why you treat me this a way
Baby why
you treat me this a way
She say you don't miss a thing I give away
Took my
gun and I broke the barrell down
Took my
gun and I broke the barrell down
I put
that joker six feet in the ground
Got the
blues and I still ain’t satisfied
I got
the blues and I still ain’t satisfied
Some old
day gonna catch the train and ride
HERE AM
I, OH LORD SEND ME (Key of G)
G
Don’t
you hear my Saviour calling
D G
I said,
who will go and work today
C G
The
fields are ripe and the harvest waiting
D G
Who will
go bear those sheaves away
Here am
I, oh Lord send me
Here am
I oh Lord send me
Here am
I, oh Lord send me
Here am
I oh Lord send me
If you
can not speak like angels
Well, if
you can not preach like Paul
Yes you
can tell the love of Jesus
You can
say that He died for us all
Hark,
the voice of Jesus callin’
I said
who will go and work today
Yes
fields are ripe and Harvest waiting
Who will
bear these sheaves away
HEY HEY, BABY, RIGHT AWAY
(Key of C)
C C+9
F
Hey
babe, Honey right away
C G
C
Hey
Honey right away
C C+9
F
Right Away, baby right away
C G
C
Hey
Honey right away
You told
me you’d marry, honey right away
Hey Baby
right away
I want
to go to the courthouse, get our license ready
Hey baby
right away
Hey babe, Baby right away
Hey
Honey right away
Hey hey honey right away
Hey hey Baby
right away
I SHALL
NOT BE MOVED (Key of G)
C G
I shall
not be I shall not be moved
G C
I shall
not be I shall not be moved
F C
Just
like a tree that’s planted by the water
G C
I shall
not be moved
I’m on
my way to Heaven
I shall
not be moved
I’m on
my way to Heaven
I shall
not be moved
Just
like a tree that’s planted by the water
I shall
not be moved
Oh preacher
I shall not be moved
Oh
preacher I shall not be moved
Just
like a tree that’s planted by the water
I shall
not be moved
I’m
sanctified and holy I shall not be moved
Sanctified
and holy I shall not be moved
Just
like a tree that’s planted by the water
I shall
not be moved
IF YOU
DON'T WANT ME (Version 2) (Key of E)
E
If you
don’t want me, got to have me any how
B7 E
If you
don’t want me Babe , have me any how
Well
tell me babe what you got on your mind
Well
tell me what
you got on your mind
You
can’t quit me and ain’t no use in tryin’
Honey,
You can’t quit me,
ain’t no use in tryin’
If you
don’t want me, got to have me any how
I'M
SATISFIED (key of C)
(chorus:)
C F
I'm
satisfied, tickled too
C
Old
enough to marry you
G
I'm
satisfied
C
It's goin' bring you back
F
I'm
satisfied, tickled too
C
Old
enough to marry you
G
I'm
satisfied
C
It's goin' bring you back
First in
the country then in town
I'm a
tow-da-low (total hole?)shaker
From my
navel on down
I'm
satisfied
It's goin' bring you back
I'm
satisfied, tickled too
Old
enough to marry you
I'm
satisfied
It's goin' bring you back
I pull
my dress to my knees
I give
my tow-da-low (total hole?) to who I please
I'm
satisfied
It's goin' bring you back
I'm
satisfied, tickled too
Old
enough to marry you
I'm
satisfied
It's goin' bring you back
JOE
TURNER (Key of G)
G
Oh they
tell me Joe Turner’s in this town
C G
They
tell me
D7 G
Oh they
tell me Joe Turner’s in this town
He’s
here to steal my high teasin’ brown
He’s
here to steal my high teasin’ brown
He’s the
man I hate, don’t want him hangin’ around
He’s the
man I hate, don’t want him hangin’ around
For He’s
here to steal my high teasin’ brown
Oh they
tell me Joe Turner’s in this town
I drove
Joe Turner, drove him from my door
I drove
Joe Turner
I drove
Joe Turner, drove him from my door
And I
hope to God that he won’t come back no more
And I
hope to God that he won’t come back no more
He’s
here to steal my high teasin’ brown
He’s
here to steal my high teasin’ brown
KEEP ON
KNOCKIN'
Keep on
Knocking’ and you can’t come in
Keep on Knockin’and you can’t come in
Doorbell
ringing and you can’t come in
Doorbell
ringing and you can’t come in