Lyr Req: Steve Phillips

Subject: Lyr Req: Steve Phillips
From: GUEST,Peter A
Date: 23 Jun 04 - 02:15 PM

Can anybody help me with some Steve Phillips lyrics. I have searched for the lyrics but with no success. He does some wonderful stuff on a CD with a collection of songs dating back to 1970. I am looking for the lyrics to a blues where the refrain is "I thought I had a good home, baby, but I couldn't stay there..". I have transcribed half of the lyrics, but the rest is too complicated for my ears. That's the problem when english is not your native tongue; everday language may be OK but when you want to perform you need to have the lyrics 100%. I appreciate any help!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Steve Phillips
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 24 Jun 04 - 10:44 PM

Maybe it would help if you told us the song title and the album title.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Steve Phillips
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Jun 04 - 05:15 AM

Of course, Jim! I am on a short vacation and have no access tho the CD right now. I only remember the album title; "Just Pickin'". I think Mark Knopfler appears on a couple of tracks.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Steve Phillips
From: C-flat
Date: 25 Jun 04 - 04:37 PM

The only thing I can find is this piece, which lists three of the tracks...........


Steve Phillips, Just Pickin'. A pleasing mix of tunes that evoke the days when old-time jazz, country, and blues crackled over the airwaves. The collection features 18 tunes recorded between 1969 and 1981 in a range of styles reminiscent of Lonnie Johnson, Eddie Lang, and the Delmore Brothers. In addition to originals and a frenetic duet by Phillips and Mark Knopfler, Phillips plays convincing renditions of blues tunes like "Bullfrog Moan," "Moon Going Down," and "Blue Guitars." (Revival/ Batsville, 37 Colwyn Rd., Hartlepool, Cleveland, TS26 9AS, England)
--Kermit Pattison

and this list which looks like a more complete list.
I hope it helps.

I've seen Steve Phillips a couple of times (he's quite local to me) and he's a fine guitarist.
C-flat.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Steve Phillips
From: GUEST,pearn
Date: 25 Jun 04 - 06:04 PM

Thanks, C-flat. I looked at the list but unfortunately it did not cover all the 21 tracs on the record. I agree on the pleasing mix - it makes me feel good, strange enough, this music was composed long before my time. Somewhat similar to the impression I get while listening to Leon Redbone. Nostalgia? But I like to perform some of the tunes, and the one I am looking for goes like;

>I couldn't stay there

I went home last night, baby, I found my good girl out
I gotta leave you baby, travellin' everywhere
Sayin', ain't hard to leave you, ooh, lord, got to travellin' everywhere
I'd a good home, woman, lord, but I couldn't stay there

I was down in jail, baby, I was down on my knees ....>

At this point my ability to understand what he sings collapses, and I hope someone can help me.

Pearn

Subject: Lyr Add: DON'T DRINK IT IN HERE (Frankie Jaxon?)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 27 Jun 04 - 12:31 PM

Copied from http://www.heptune.com/dontdrin.html

DON'T DRINK IT IN HERE
(Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon?)

Now, here!
Now, I'm not gonna let you break up my flat!
Take your time now, easy now!
Here! Here, here, here, here!
Take it down, now!
I ain't gonna have that!
I ain't gonna have it!
I mean I ain't gonna have it in here!
You takin' too much liberties!

Don't drink it in here!
Don't drink it in here!
(Well, I bought it in here!)
Well, I'll sell you this booze, and I'll sell you this beer,
But take it outside, don't drink it in here!
Don't drink it!
Don't drink it in here!
I ain't gonna let you drink it in here!
Get your coat, get your hat,
This ain't that kind of a flat!
This ain't that kind of a flat!

Don't you drink it in here!
I mean, don't drink it in here!
I'm gonna tell you, I respect your maw,
But you gotta respect the Jones's law!
I mean, don't drink it in here!
Gotta drink it in here!
No, you can't drink it in here!
Why can't I...
Five years, ten thousand fine,
Now, you know I ain't gonna let you get out of line!
Can't let you get out of line!

[Muttering, shouting, arguing in background, behind kazoo in foreground]

Wait a minute, I hear the law coming...
Uh-oh! Uh-oh! Uh-oh!

I told you not to drink it in here!

[As recorded by Bill Johnson's Louisiana Jug Band, 1929.]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Steve Phillips
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 27 Jun 04 - 01:04 PM

A few of the songs on Steve Phillips' album have already been posted in old threads:
MOON GOING DOWN by Charley Patton.
COOL DRINK OF WATER BLUES by Tommy Johnson.
YOU MAY LEAVE, BUT THIS WILL BRING YOU BACK by the Memphis Jug Band.
BLUES, STAY AWAY FROM ME by the Delmore Brothers.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Steve Phillips
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 27 Jun 04 - 02:21 PM

It looks like most of the songs or tunes on Steve Phillips' album "Just Pickin'" were previously recorded by someone else. I have identified many of them, but some elude me.

The following seem to be instrumentals, as far as I can tell from the sound samples that I was able to find:
BLUE GUITARS (Lonnie Johnson)
BULLFROG MOAN (Lonnie Johnson)
DALLAS RAG (Dallas String Band)
DEEP MINOR RHYTHM (Eddie Lang & Joe Venuti)
HAWKINS' RAG (The Skillet Lickers)
LET'S GO TO TOWN (Memphis Minnie & Kansas Joe McCoy)

I couldn't find a sound sample of SWINGIN' WITH LONNIE (Lonnie Johnson)

I found a sound sample of MY WASH WOMAN'S GONE (Memphis Minnie & Kansas Joe McCoy) but it was mostly unintelligible.

AMG - All Music Guide lists several songs (or tunes) called JUST PICKIN'. Likewise GUITAR RAG, HILLBILLY BOOGIE, CHIMES, and BOOGIE WOOGIE WOMAN. If you can identify which version you want, and if they're not instrumentals, I might be able to help you find the lyrics.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Steve Phillips
From: GUEST,Pearn
Date: 28 Jun 04 - 05:09 AM

Jim, you are a friend! You really have put a lot of effort into this. Thanks! Funny thing about this CD (Just Pickin'), the track lists on the net do not contain the last songs - included the one I am looking for. The song I am looking for is # 20 on the record. It is called "I couldn't stay there" and is written by Jordan/Manson. I have no information about previous releases.
Besides, it is to some relief to hear an english-speaking person saying that he finds a particular piece of lyrics "unintelligible". It adds a new perspective to my own efforts of transcribing lyrics. I find it really difficult some times.

Subject: Lyr Add: I COULDN'T STAY HERE (Charley Jordan)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 29 Jun 04 - 11:54 PM

From a fascinating web page called Blues Lyrics and Hoodoo:

I COULDN'T STAY HERE
By Charley Jordan
As sung by Charley Jordan [with Charlie Manson, spoken interjections]

I went home last night, baby, found my good girl there
I'm goin' to leave you, baby, travelin' everywhere
Well, I said, ain't hard to leave you,
Ooh, Lord God, I've traveled everywhere
I had a good home, mama, Lord, but I couldn't stay there

I was down in jail, baby, I went down on my knee.
Babe stood up and the judge is hollerin', "Good meat for me!"
I said, "Oh, I'm gonna leave you, oh Lord, travelin' everywhere"
I had a good home, mama, Lord, but I couldn't stay there

Have you ever been down, baby, way down in Polack Town?
She's scratchin' and she's twistin' till she tore my damper down
I says, "Ain't hard to leave you, oh Lord, goin' everywhere"
Lord, you had a good old woman, Lord, but that fool wouldn't stay there.

(Spoken) Ah, play that thing, boy. No one does that good as you.

Won't you tell me, baby, who can your good man be?
I woke up this mornin', baby, with the jinx all over me.
I says, "Now I'm gonna leave you, oh Lord God, I've traveled everywhere"
Lord I had a good home, mama, Lord, but I couldn't stay there

I can do more for you than the good Lord ever done.
I can buy you a Ford car, baby, when the Lord ain't give you none
I said, "Now I'm gonna leave you, oh Lord God, I've traveled everywhere"
Lord, she had a good home, baby, Lord, but she wouldn't stay there.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Steve Phillips
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Jun 04 - 04:06 AM

Thanks Jim. Had a look at the page you mentioned. I agreee. Really a fascinating page. Some years ago I read about this topic in a book, but this page was more sophisticated and updated. Thanks for helping me.