Blues Song Lyrics
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BLUES SONG LYRICS “Three O’clock Blues,” by B.B. King “If I Had Possession Over Judgment Day,” by Robert Johnson Well now it’s three o’clock in the morning And I can’t even close my eyes If I had possession Three o’clock in the morning baby over judgment day And I can’t even close my eyes if I had possession Can’t find my baby over judgment day And I can’t be satisfied Lord, the little woman I'm lovin' wouldn't I’ve looked around me have no right to pray And my baby she can’t be found And I went to the mountain I’ve looked all around me, people lookin' far as my eyes could see And my baby she can’t be found And I went to the mountain You know if I don’t find my baby lookin' far as my eye could see I’m going down to the golden ground Some other man got my woman and the -'a That’s where the men hang out lonesome blues got me Goodbye, everybody And I rolled and I tumbled and I I believe this is the end cried the whole night long Oh goodbye everybody And I rolled and I tumbled and I I believe this is the end cried the whole night long I want you to tell my baby Boy, I woke up this mornin' Tell her please please forgive me my biscuit roller gone Forgive me for my sins Had to fold my arms and I slowly walked away “Stones in My Passway,” Robert Johnson spoken: I didn't like the way she done Had to fold my arms and I I got stones in my passway slowly walked away and my road seem dark as night I said in my mind, "Yo," I got stones in my passway trouble gon' come some day and my road seem dark as night Now run here, baby I have pains in my hearts set down on my knee they have taken my appetite I wanna tell you all about the I have a bird to whistle way they treated me and I have a bird to sing Have a bird to whistle “I Believe I'll Dust My Broom 1936,” by Robert and I have a bird to sing Johnson I got a woman that I'm lovin' boy, she don't mean a thing I'm goin' get up in the mornin', I believe I'll dust my broom My enemies have betrayed me I'm goin' get up in the mornin', I believe I'll dust my broom have overtaken poor Bob at last Girlfriend, the black man you been lovin', girlfriend, can get my My enemies have betrayed me room have overtaken poor Bob at last I'm gon' write a letter, telephone every town I know An ' 'ere's one thing certainly I'm gon' write a letter, telephone every town I know they have stones all in my pass If I can't find her in West Helena, she must be in East Monroe I know Now you tryin' to take my life I don't want no woman, wants every downtown man she meet and all my lovin' too I don't want no woman, wants every downtown man she meet You laid a passway for me She's a no good doney, they shouldn't allow her on the street now what are you trying to do I believe, I believe I'll go back home I'm cryin' please I believe, I believe I'll go back home plea-ease let us be friends You can mistreat me here, babe, but you can't when I go home And when you hear me howlin' in my passway, rider And I'm gettin' up in the mornin', I believe I'll dust my broom plea-ease open your door and let me in I'm gettin' up in the mornin', I believe I'll dust my broom I got three legs to truck home Girlfriend, the black man you been lovin', girlfriend, can get my boys, please don't block my road room I got three legs to truck home I'm gonna call up Chiney, see is my good girl over there boys, please don't block my road I'm gonna call up China, see is my good girl over there I've been feelin' ashamed 'bout my rider 'F I can't find her on Philippine's island, she must be in Ethiopia babe, I'm booked and I got to go somewhere __________ Note 1: both West Helena and East Monroe are in Arkansas, some 30 miles apart. “Dust My Broom 1951,” by Robert Johnson, Elmore James I'm gonna get up in the mornin', I believe I'll dust my broom (2x) Girlfriend, the black man you been lovin', girlfriend, can get my room I'm gon' write a letter, “John Henry,” by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee Telephone every town I know (2x) If I can't find her in West Helena, When John Henry was a little baby, She must be in East Monroe, I know Sitting on his daddy's knee, I don't want no woman, Pointed he figured out a little piece of steel, Wants every downtown man she meet (2x) Steel's gonna be the death of me, Lord, Lord, She's a no good doney, Steel's gonna be the death of me, They shouldn't 'low her on the street Well, now steel's gonna be the death of me, Lord, Lord, I believe, I believe I'll go back home (2x) Steel's gonna be the death of me. You can mistreat me here, babe, John Henry told his captain one day, But you can't when I go home A man ain't nothin' but a man, And I'm gettin' up in the morning, Before I will let you steam drill beat me down, I believe I'll dust my broom (2x) Would die with this hammer in my hand, Lord, Lord, Girlfriend, the black man that you been lovin', Die with this hammer in my hand, Girlfriend, can get my room I would die with this hammer in my hand, Lord, Lord, I'm gon' call up Chiney, Die with this hammer in my hand. She is my good girl over there (2x) John Henry had a little woman, If I can't find her on Philippine's Island, Her name was Polly Ann, She must be in Ethiopia somewhere John Henry got sick and had to go to bed, You know Polly, she drove steel like a man, Lord, Lord, Polly, she drove steel like a man. How she drive? “The Weary Blues,” Langston Hughes John Henry drivin' on the right hand side, Steam drill drivin' on the left, Droning a drowsy syncopated tune, Before I will let your steam drill beat me down Rocking back and forth to a mellow croon, I will drive my poor self to death, Lord, Lord, I heard a Negro play. Drive my poor self to death. Down on Lenox Avenue the other night John Henry drove steel on the Southern By the pale dull pallor of an old gas light He drove steel on the C&O. He did a lazy sway . He drove steel for that Big Ben Tunnel He did a lazy sway . Steel drivin' kill John you know, To the tune o' those Weary Blues. Steel drivin' kill John you know, With his ebony hands on each ivory key Well, now steel drivin' kill John you know, Lord, Lord, He made that poor piano moan with melody. Steel drivin' kill John you know. O Blues! Some says John Henry was born in Texas, Swaying to and fro on his rickety stool Some people thinks he was born in Maine, He played that sad raggy tune like a musical fool. John Henry was born down in Tennessee, Sweet Blues! He was a leader of a steel-driving-gang, Lord, Lord, Coming from a black man's soul. Leader of a steel-driving-gang, O Blues! Was a leader of a steel-driving-gang, Lord, Lord, In a deep song voice with a melancholy tone Leader of a steel-driving-gang. I heard that Negro sing, that old piano moan-- Well, the captain loved to see John Henry, "Ain't got nobody in all this world, One of all loved to hear him sing, Ain't got nobody but ma self. But most of all that the paymaster loved, I's gwine to quit ma frownin' He just loved to get John Henry's hammer ring, And put ma troubles on the shelf." He just loved to get John Henry's hammer ring, Thump, thump, thump, went his foot on the floor. He just loved to get John Henry's hammer ring, Lord, Lord, He played a few chords then he sang some more-- Loved to get John Henry's hammer ring. "I got the Weary Blues They carried John Henry on the mountain, And I can't be satisfied. Upon a mountain so high, Got the Weary Blues Last words I heard that poor boy say: And can't be satisfied-- Give me a cool drink of water 'fore I die, I ain't happy no mo' Give me a cool drink of water 'fore I die, And I wish that I had died." Give me a cool drink of water 'fore I die.