Hey, Ba-Ba-Re-Bop

Hey, Ba-Ba-Re-Bop Lyrics
by Johnny Shines
in G♭ Blues.

Hey hey, Ba-ba-re-bop
Hey, Ba-ba-re-bop
Hey, Ba-ba-re-bop
Hey, Ba-ba-re-bop
Hey, Ba-ba-re-bop
Here's your daddy now

Hey, Ba-ba-re-bop
Hey, Ba-ba-re-bop
Hey, Ba-ba-re-bop
Here's your daddy now

Ole bebop
told King Tut
Can't stop re-bop
Keep your big mouth shut
I said hey, Ba-ba-re-bop
Hey, Ba-ba-re-bop
Hey, Ba-ba-re-bop
Here's your daddy now

Hey, Ba-ba-re-bop
Hey, Ba-ba-re-bop
Hey, Ba-ba-re-bop
Here's your daddy now

Livin' In The White House

Livin' In The White House Lyrics
by Johnny Shines
in C Blues.

I'm living in the White House
just trying to help old Ike along
Now I'm living in the White House
just trying to help old Ike along
And trying to make an amendment
for things Harry left undone

I don't need no pilot to
chauffeur me in no jet
I don't need no chauffeur to
chauffeur me in no jet
Because I'm kind of in a hurry
I'll have to ride space cadet

I want to live in paradise
Make servants out of kings and queens
I want to live in paradise
Make servants out of kings and queens
Now don't shake me, please, darling
This is one time I want to finish my dream

---

Thanks to this source for providing accurate lyrics on this song.

Cool Driver (J.O.B. version)

Cool Driver Lyrics (J.O.B. version)
by Johnny Shines
in G♭ Blues.

I heard you had plenty money, baby
Brand new automobile
But you need a cool driver
if you scootin' under your wheel
See I'm a cool driver
Yes, and I know my way around
But I need a cool mama
that don't mind me rollin' around

Five and three, eight, baby
Eight and two are ten
I won't stop lovin' you, baby
'til you tell me when
I am cool driver
Yes, and I know my way around
But you see I need a cool mama
that don't mind me rollin' around

Well I ride you so easy, baby
You think you on a cloud
I let my daughters ride
and they really taught me how
I am a cool driver
Yes, and I know my way around
But you see I need a cool mama
that don't mind bein' rolled around

Ain't Doin' No Good

Ain't Doin' No Good Lyrics
by Johnny Shines
in E♭ Blues.

Well I ain't doin' no good
Haven't even got a lousy dime
Well I ain't doin' no good
Haven't even got a lousy dime
And the woman I love is way down south
She's way down in the delta pines

Though she stayed out from me
From sundown until daybreak
Well she stayed out from me
From sundown until daybreak
Well she had done me wrong
Yes, wrong for goodness sake

Well I ain't gonna quit her
Oh boy what a wonderful break
Well I ain't gonna quit her
Oh boy what a wonderful break
I'm gonna give her a chance
To try and mend her mistake

She got real tiny eyes
Something like a Japanese
She got real tiny eyes
Something like a Japanese
Well she has something else
That'd make any fool out of me

Delta Pines

Delta Pines Lyrics
by Johnny Shines
in E♭ Blues.

I ain't doin' no good
Haven't even got a lousy dime
Baby I ain't doin' no good
Haven't even got a lousy dime
And the woman I love she's way down south
Way down in those delta pines

Though she stayed out from me
From sundown until daybreak
Well she stayed out from me
From sundown until daybreak
That woman, she had did me wrong
Yes, wrong for goodness sake

Well I'm not gonna quit her
Oh boy what a wonderful break
Well I'm not gonna quit her
Oh boy what a wonderful break
I'm gonna allow her a chance
try and mend her mistake

Well I'm not gonna quit her
Oh boy what a wonderful break
Well I'm not gonna quit her
Oh boy what a wonderful break
I'm gonna allow her a chance
try and mend her mistake

No Name Blues

No Name Blues Lyrics
by Johnny Shines
in E Blues.

Oooh
Oooh
Well you know I love you, little girl
Well that's why you treats me like you do

Well number one is at the station
Number two is on the road
Well number one is at the station woohoo
Number two is on the road
Well I'd want to be your daddy if you'd let me woohoo
'less my baby get on board

Well la do da do da
Loo la do da do da
Well I used to be your baby, darlin'
But now you treat me like I'm a low down dog

Oooh
Oooh
Well I love you, little girl
But I don't like the way you do

Saddle My Pony

Saddle My Pony Lyrics
by Johnny Shines
in F# / G♭ Blues.

Hear my pistol
Saddle up my black mare
Hear my pistol
Saddle up my black mare
I'm gonna find my woman
Lordy if she were somewhere

Well I got me a pony
He's already trained
Got me a pony, mama
He's already trained
He don't saddle suit you baby, just
Tighten down on your reins

Well then tell me, mama
Who let one go
Wont you tell me, mama
Who let one go
Well when I come in
Who left in out my back door

Soon this morning
Blues came falling down
Well soon, soon this morning
My blues came falling down
Well I was locked up in jail, baby
That's what I was, prison bound

Tell me who
Who been fooling you
Now tell me who
Who been fooling you
Tellin' ya everything I do, mama
Let me, let me hang my own

I'm gonna leave you, baby
Just do the best you can
I'm gonna leave you, baby
Do the best you can
Well you said you loved me
You're having all the other men

Johnny Shines - Too Wet To Plow (1977 Album)

Johnny Shines
Too Wet To Plow
1977

1. Too Wet To Plow
2. Travelling Back Home
3. Hot Tomale
4. Moanin' The Blues
5. Red Sun
6. Winding Mind
7. You Better Turn Around
8. The Wind Is Blowin'
9. Trouble's All I See
10. 30 Days In Jail
11. Pay Day Woman
12. Epilog

Winding Mind

Winding Mind Lyrics
by Johnny Shines
in E Blues.

Well it was early one morning
I was on my way to school
Well early one morning
I was on my way to school
Well I met a little girl named Mary
She made me break my teacher's rule

Sometime I wonder, I wonder
Why don't you write to me?
Mmmm sometime I wonder
Little girl, why don't you write to me?
If I been a bad boy
Well I did not intend to be

Well goodbye, baby, goodbye
Sure hate to leave you behind
Mmmm goodbye, baby
Sure hate to leave you behind
Since I had, you haven't had nothing but trouble
And a winding mind

---

↩️ Back to Johnny Shines - Too Wet To Plow (1977 Album)

Red Sun

Red Sun Lyrics
by Johnny Shines
vocals by Louisiana Red
in A Blues.

I been locked up so long
I don't remember my mama's face
I been locked up so long
I don't remember my mama's face
I'm gonna tell all you people
And part of the human race

I wish that big, big sun
Melt these prison walls all down
I wish that big, big sun
Melt these prison walls down
I give the rest of my life
For one good drunken town

I get so weary
Living from day to day
My heart gets so weary
From living from day to day
In here the work ain't so hard
You just don't get no pay

I wish that big, big sun
Would melt these prison walls aside
I wish that big, big sun
Would melt these prison walls aside
And then I could drift on away
And I would not have to hide

---

↩️ Back to Johnny Shines - Too Wet To Plow (1977 Album)

Moanin' The Blues

Moanin' The Blues Lyrics
by Johnny Shines
in E Blues.

Mmmm
Mmmm
Well every now and then I wonder
Why you treat me the way you do

Well the blues came in this morning
When my baby walked out that door
Well the blues came in this morning
When my baby walked out that door
Well that's when it run across my mind
Well, lord she wouldn't be back here no more

Mmmm some people keep telling me
That the worried blues ain't bad
Mhmm some people keep telling me
That the worried blue ain't bad
But they must have not have been them
Whoa, low down blues I had

Mhmm, Mhmm
Mmmm, Mmmm
Well you know I love you, little girl
Well that's why you treat me the way you do

Well
Lord, my blues came falling down
Well I saw, see you this morning
Woo, my blues came falling down
Well I was locked up in jail
Lord, and I was prison bound

---

↩️ Back to Johnny Shines - Too Wet To Plow (1977 Album)

Hot Tomale

Hot Tomale Lyrics
by Robert Johnson
performed by Johnny Shines
in C Blues.

Hot tomale, red hot
Baby got 'em for sale
Hot tomale, red hot
Baby got 'em right here
It's one for a nickel
And it's two for a dime
I would sell you more
But they ain't none of mine
Hot tomale, red hot
Baby got 'em for sale, I mean
Baby got 'em for sale

Red tomato, red ripe
Baby got 'em for sale
Hot tomale, red hot
Baby got 'em right here
One for a nickel
And it's two for a dime
I would sell you more
But they ain't none of mine
Red tomato, red ripe
Baby got 'em for sale, I mean
Baby got 'em for sale

Hot tomale, red hot
Baby got 'em for sale
Hot tomale, red hot
Baby got 'em right here
I got a gal
She's six feet tall
Her head's in the kitchen
And her feet's in the hall
Hot tomale, red hot
Baby got 'em for sale, I mean
Baby got 'em for sale

Hot tomale, red hot
Baby got 'em for sale
Hot tomale, red hot
Baby got 'em right here
One for a nickel
And it's two for a dime
I would sell you more
But they ain't none of mine
Hot tomato, red hot
Baby got 'em for sale, I mean
Baby got 'em for sale

---

↩️ Back to Johnny Shines - Too Wet To Plow (1977 Album)

Too Wet To Plow

Too Wet To Plow Lyrics
by Johnny Shines
in C Blues.

Well I was standing here at my window
And I was looking out at the rain
Well I was standing at my window
People, looking out at the rain
Well, deep down in my heart
There was nothing but aching pain

Well it seemed like a million years
Since I sit down and wrote to you
Well it seemed like a million years
Woo, since I sit down and wrote to you
Well every now and then I wonder
Why I love you the way I do

Sometimes, sometime I think, babe
You don't love me anyhow
Woo, sometime I think, baby
You don't love me anyhow
Well, but it's too late, too late now, darling
Well is he too wet to plow

---

↩️ Back to Johnny Shines - Too Wet To Plow (1977 Album)

You Better Turn Around

You Better Turn Around Lyrics
by Johnny Shines
in F Blues.

If you don't, whoa, feel the spirit
You'd better turn around
If you don't feel the spirit
You'd better turn around
Well you, you'd better turn around
Go right back, go right back to your praying ground
If you don't, hooo, feel the spirit
You'd better turn around
Mmmm

Why you can yell, whoa, my god calling
You'd better turn around
Why you can yell, my god calling
You'd better turn around
Well you, you'd better turn around
Go right back, go right back to your praying ground
Why you can yell, hooo, my god calling
You'd better turn around

Why you can yell, whoa, mother's prayer
Son, you better turn around
Why you can yell, mother's prayer
You'd better turn around
Well you, had better turn around
Go right back, right back to your praying ground
Why you can yell, hooo, mother's prayer
Child, you'd better turn around
Mmmm

---

↩️ Back to Johnny Shines - Too Wet To Plow (1977 Album)

Your Troubles Can't Be Like Mine

Your Troubles Can't Be Like Mine Lyrics
by Johnny Shines
in G Blues.

What're you going through, baby, and your
troubles get like mine
What're you going through, baby, and your
troubles treat like mine
Well you got nobody
that your troubles kill

Well I went to the railroad
looked it up and down
Well I went to the railroad and I
looked it up and down
I ask for nobody
but my baby to be around

Bye bye little woman
I got to leave you now
Bye bye little woman
I got to
You're tryin' to quit me
You don't even know who nor how

Tryin' to tell you, baby, your
troubles can't be like mine
Tryin' to tell you, baby, your
troubles can't be like mine
Well I haven't had none of the trouble
Lord, since I've been gone

Evil Hearted Woman Blues

Evil Hearted Woman Blues Lyrics
by Johnny Shines
in G Blues.

I've got a little woman
And she lives upon that hill
Whooo hooo
And she lives upon that hill
Well she would already have slain me
Whooo, well it fouldn't the good master's will

She rather know I's in the sea
With a mist thrown on my back
Whooo hooo
With a mist thrown on my back
Rather than know that I've got another woman
Whooo, and I ain't goin' to take her back

She's an evil-hearted woman
And she want me out away
She's an evil-hearted woman
And she want me out away
But I know she will be happy
Whooo, when I'm six feet in the cold, cold clay

When you in love with a woman
You don't want nobody else
Whooo hooo
You don't want nobody else
When she's an evil-hearted woman
Whooo, you have to be careful yourself

Please Don't (Take 2)

Please Don't (Take 2) Lyrics
by Johnny Shines
in G Blues.

Well don't put your hand
where your money ought to be
Well don't put your hand
where your money ought to be
Cause if you do
you're liable to hear from me

Well you got beauty
And you got style
You even got a
great big smile
But don't put your hand
where your money ought to be
Because if you do
you're liable to hear from me

Well you got a car
And you got a home
When you're walking but
when you are really home
But don't put your hand
where your money ought to be
Because if you do
you're liable to hear from me

Please Don't (Take 1)

Please Don't (Take 1) Lyrics
by Johnny Shines
in G Blues.

Now don't put your hand
where your money ought to be
Well don't put your hand
where your money ought to be
Because if you do
you're liable to hear from me

Well you got beauty
And you got style
You got clothes, baby
With a great big smile
But don't put your hand
where your money ought to be
Because if you do
you're liable to hear from me

You got a car
And you got a home
When you're walking but
where you are really home
But don't put your hand
where your money ought to be
Because if you do
you're liable to hear from me

Well you in society
And you played the part
Even had a oil well
drilled in your back yard
But don't put your hand
where your money ought to be
Because if you do
you'll need something for your referee

When Your Troubles Get Like Mine

When Your Troubles Get Like Mine Lyrics
by Johnny Shines
in G# / A♭ Blues.

Tell me where were you, baby, when the
blues came
Tell me where were you, baby, when my
blues came down like rain
Well deep down in my heart
there was achin' pain

Well my mother, she dead and my
father don't care for me
Well my mother, she dead and my
...
And my brother's in the army
Way out 'cross the sea

What are you going through, baby, and your
troubles get like mine
What are you going through, and your
troubles get like mine
Wanna start a big joke just to
keep myself from crying

Well my blues fell this morning
my baby say goodbye
Well my blues fell this morning
my baby say goodbye
Well I couldn't do nothing but
hang my head and cry

Johnny Shines - Live in Japan 1975 Full Set (Video)

Delta Pine Blues

Delta Pine Blues Lyrics
in D Blues
by Johnny Shines.

Boys I ain't doin' no good
I ain't even got a lousy dime
Boys I ain't doin' no good
I ain't even got a lousy dime
And woman I love is way down south
She's way down in the delta pine

Though she stayed out from me
From sundown until daybreak
Well she stayed out from me
From sundown until daybreak
Well she had did me wrong
Yes, wrong for goodness sake

Well I ain't gonna quit her
Oh boy what a wonderful break
Well I ain't going to quit her
Oh boy what a wonderful break
I'm gonna give her a chance
for to mend her mistake

Baby did you get that letter
That I throwed in your back yard
Baby did you get that letter
That I throwed in your back yard
Well I would come to see you
But those hill captains got me barred

Epilog

Epilog Lyrics 

by Johnny Shines
in G Blues.

Note: This is not so much as a song as it is Johnny Shines playing slide in G while sharing some wisdom on the blues with Louisiana Red. On a personal note, this is one of my favorite recorded segments of Shines talking. I did my best to transcribe his speech, but on some parts I had to "round up" what he was saying, as Shines tended to slur his words in his songs and interviews. His speech is the following:

Well, Red, you know, uh, you being a, uh uh, much younger man than myself. There's lots that you don't know about it, but you'll learn. You've got to learn. And it makes no difference how long you do, you gonna always learn something. And when you get to the place you can't learn, it's time to quit then. Forget it. 

Now this is the way we used to do it a long time ago. You see a long time ago, people didn't know how to make chords: G, A, B, C, and so on like that cause they didn't know what to do wrong. And most people think the slide is something new, but it isn't. Slide was the first thing that was used on the guitar by the black man in America. Because he didn't know how to make these chords. I sell 'em and use 'em today. So effective, they make you cry. 

Just keep workin' with it. You'll make it.

---

Click here to hear the speech for yourself.

---

↩️ Back to Johnny Shines - Too Wet To Plow (1977 Album)

Down In Spirit (Fast Version)

Down In Spirit (Fast Version) Lyrics
by Johnny Shines
in A Blues.

Down in spirit
I've got those broken hearted blues
Mmmmm down in spirit
I've got those broken hearted blues
I can't stand and talk about the weather
I haven't got that kind of time to lose

I called up my baby
Tried to make a date
She said "I'm sold out, daddy"
"You always a little late"
Down in spirit
I've got those broken hearted blues
I can't stand and talk about the weather
I don't have no time to lose

Well when a rich man get the blues
He's trying to plan it right
Poor man get the blues
He just cry 'til he gets another satisfied
Down in spirit
I've got those broken hearted blues
I can't stand and talk about the weather
I don't have no time to lose

Well I never have been married
But I thought I'd give it a try
When I got around to poppin' the question
my baby waving me bye bye
Down in spirit
I've got those broken hearted blues
I can't stand and talk about the weather
I don't have that kind of time to lose

Baby Sister Blues

Baby Sister Blues Lyrics
by Johnny Shines
in G Blues.

Hey hey baby sister
Can I have a word with you?
Hey hey baby sister
Can I have one word with you?
If you be kind to me baby
Maybe we'll be good to you

Well I'm a stranger
And I just blowed in your town
I'm a stranger baby
I just blowed in your town
I hope you not the kind of woman
That'd let a stranger down

Well I wouldn't swear to it, baby
but you look like you own an ADC
I wouldn't swear to it, but you
look like you own an ADC
You're a kinda woman
That I want to look after me

Enjoy me while I'm here, baby
I can't stay in one place too long
Enjoy me while I'm here, mama
I can't stay in one place too long
I've got the railroad blues, baby
And I got to get movin' on

Coyote Slim - Delta Pines (Video)

Check this guy out. His name is Coyote Slim and he has a good feel for the blues!

Update 2018-2-15

As of now, I have currently transcribed the lyrics of 31 songs by Johnny Shines. That's quite a milestone for me, and I intend to keep on going. I will be updating this blog every Tuesday and Friday with either new lyrics or a YouTube video featuring Shines or another blues artist. Also, as of today, this blog is now on page 5 of Google when searching for "johnny shines lyrics" and page 4 when searching for "johnny shines blues lyrics".

I am 100% dedicated to transcribing every Johnny Shines song I can find. Some of them have been truly challenging, while others have been on the easier side. There are, however, some songs that I haven't even had the guts to start yet. Those songs will take much longer for me to finish and post, so I appreciate the patience of any Johnny Shines fans out there who are browsing this blog. And remember, you can always comment your own transcriptions to help me out and benefit this site.

Thanks for the views and support. Remember to subscribe to and follow this blog to keep up to date on lyric transcriptions and cool videos. Stay tuned for more updates ahead!

I Don't Know (Live in Europe 1975 Version)

I Don't Know (Live in Europe 1975 Version) Lyrics
by Johnny Shines
in D# / E♭ Blues.

Well I don't know, I don't know
Baby from here I really can't tell
Well I don't know, I don't know
Baby from here I really can't tell
But from where I stand, baby
I don't think you're doing so well

Well I'm going for the high road
up upon eastern side
Well I'm going for the high road
up upon eastern side
I'm gonna flag every passerby
'Til someone give me a ride

Then I'm going to Chicago
This is what I am going to do
I'm going to Chicago
This is what I am going to do
I'm gonna work and make a payday
Baby, send back here after you

When I'm gone if you get lonesome
and you think you wanna have some fun
When I'm gone if you get lonesome
and you think you wanna have some fun
Just go over West Memphis
that's where they barrelhouse all night long

---

Note: I owe a huge bit of help to this website for helping me complete the fourth verse. The last two lines of the fourth verse had me stuck for months. Other than mishearing "West Memphis" for "whistlin'", I was really thrown off by Shines using the word "barrelhouse" as a verb.

Being that these recordings are so old, the state of language and audio quality of the time can often make it a frustrating challenge for me to transcribe the lyrics. Sometimes it's just not obvious, to me, what Shines is saying, or my ears hear other words instead. To be honest, I'm not the best qualified person out there to be doing this kind of work. Nevertheless, I enjoy doing this. I want everyone to have a reliable resource to know what Johnny Shines was saying in his music.

Johnny Shines - Delta Bluesman (Video)

Don't Take A Country Woman

Don't Take A Country Woman Lyrics
by Johnny Shines
in A# / B♭ Blues.

Well, don't take a country woman and boy and carry
her to town
She'll turn on you like an ole
old mama lion
Don't take a country woman
Boy, and carry her to town
Well, she'll turn on you
Like an ole mama lion

Well, don't let a gorilla get by
to the pond, he'll
give more trouble than the
whoa, days are long
Don't let no gorilla, boy
Don't let the fool get back to the pond
Well he'll give more trouble
than the days are long

Well, don't take no wood nickel for
for goodness sakes, don't
Rest of your life you be fending
Frogs from snakes, well
Don't take no wood nickel
Boy, for goodness sakes
Do them, rest of your life you'll be
fending poor frogs from snakes

Well, don't let no whip know you still
gonna bite you
Get you up a tree, boy, and keep your eye on
on a limb all night
Don't let no whip know that you
afraid it'll bite
Do, she'll get you out on a limb, boy, and
Keep you up there all night

---

Note: The fourth verse was a struggle for me, so if anyone has a different transcription I'd be happy to see it.

Sweet Home Chicago (Video)

Tell Me Mama (Video)