Tuesday, February 27, 2018

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)

Friday, February 23, 2018

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

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

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

Thursday, February 15, 2018

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!

Sunday, February 11, 2018

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.

Thursday, February 8, 2018

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.