Lyr Req: Last Fair Deal Gone Down (Robert Johnson)

Subject: robert johnson lyric
From:
Date: 16 Dec 97 - 12:50 AM

Need lyrics to Robert Johnson's "Last Fair Deal Gone Down". Can you help?

Subject: Lyr Add: LAST FAIR DEAL GONE DOWN (Robert Johnson)
From: Max
Date: 16 Dec 97 - 12:00 AM

LAST FAIR DEAL GONE DOWN
Robert Johnson

It's the last fair deal goin’ down.
Last fair deal goin’ down.
It's the last fair deal goin’ down, good Lord,
On that Gulfport Island Road.

Eh, Ida Belle, don't you cry this time.
Ida Belle, don't you cry this time
If you cry about a nickel, you'll die about a dime.
She wouldn't cry, but the money won't mine.

I love the way you do.
I love the way you do.
I love the way you do, good Lord
On this Gulfport Island Road.

My captain's so mean on me.
My captain's so mean on me.
My captain's so mean on me, good Lord,
On that Gulfport Island Road.

*Take camp tain he and see
*camp ain't he and see
*At scal ain’t be at seen, good Lord,
On that Gulfport Island Road.

Ah, this last fair deal goin' down.
It’s the last fair deal goin' down.
This' the last fair deal goin' down, good Lord,
On this Gulfport Island Road.

I'm workin' my way back home.
I'm workin' my way back home.
I'm workin' my way back home, good Lord,
On that Gulfport Island Road.

And that thing don't keep a-ringin' so soon.
That thing don't keep a-ringin' so soon.
And that thing don't keep a-ringin' so soon, good Lord.
On that Gulfed and Port Island Road.
________________________________

* "phonetic approximations of what Johnson sings" - (but I think the common imagination could do a better job)
Quote and lyrics, liner notes The Complete Recordings, Columbia Records - Copyright by... that mean guy.

Subject: RE: robert johnson lyric
From: Jon W.
Date: 16 Dec 97 - 10:41 AM

For the lines with asterisks, I hear:

Let's count a beat and sing
Count a beat and sing
Let's count a beat and sing, Good Lord,
On that Gulfport Island Road.

I have also seen in print:

Let's count A, B, and C....

Robert's statacco delivery on the first two lines of this verse make it difficult but if you listen closely to the third line there is definitely the hint of an "ng" on the word I have transcribed as "sing." It also seems to make sense in the context.

Subject: RE: robert johnson lyric
From: Max
Date: 16 Dec 97 - 11:34 AM

I like your lines Jon. I always heard A, B and C, or at least found it easier to sing that way.

Subject: RE: robert johnson lyric-Last Fair Deal Goin Down
From: Roberto
Date: 13 Jan 08 - 12:48 PM

I've always heard the lines with asterisks : The captain he can't see (or sing), but now I see it is not what Robert Johnson sings, especially in the third line, although it makes more sense then the transcription offered. R

Subject: RE: robert johnson lyric-Last Fair Deal Goin Down
From: Lowden Jameswright
Date: 13 Jan 08 - 02:47 PM

'E' 'calp a bi' and si'-'calp a bi' and si'-
Le's scalp a bit and sing, good Lord -
on that Gulfport Island Road

"Johnson's reference to scalping may be related to another Delta expression 'getting your head cut,' which was employed when a musician was flamboyantly outplayed by another musician and consequently lost the attention (and the tips) of the crowd. The winner of the spontaneous competition was said to have cut the loser's head and the loser was essentially 'finished.'"

(Robert Johnson - At the Crossroads - The Authoritative Guitar Transcriptions - Scott Ainslie & Dave Whitehill)

May or may not be correct - but a great story line for introducing the song!