Spike Driver Blues

Spike Driver Blues

Mississippi John Hurt

( John’s version of John Henry. This also was on

The American Anthology of Folk Music )

Well John Henry, he had a little woman, named Polly Anne.

When John Henry got sick and couldn’t work, she drove like a man.

John Henry was a steel drivin’ boy, but he went down.

Its a long way to East Colorado, baby that’s my home.

John Henry, he left his hammer, lyin’ side the road.

John Henry, he left his hammer, painted in red.

Ain’t noone’s hammer on this whole mountain, rings like mine.

Take this hammer and carry it to my captin, tell him I’m gone.

Filed under: Show Notes & Song References , Mississippi John Hurt

Funky Butt…And Other Treasures

Well, just this week I am getting back into the groove of being at home.  I haven’t really picked up the mandolin in almost a month now, and that’s on purpose.  My fingers are really starting to itch for the mandolin, but I am making them wait.  I have found that it is a good thing to put down an instument, or any other activity of practice, and let yourself yearn for it again.  Many times, when I come back to the instrument, I find that I have improved.  I come back with a fresh approach to the instrument and renewed vigor.  This is what I am hoping will happen with the mandolin.

In the meantime I have been really exploring the world of Mississippi John Hurt.  I have gotten to the point where I have the technique down, and the so the songs are coming fairly easily and quickly.  Right now I am studing “Funky Butt” and “Let the Mermaids Flirt With Me”.  I am thinking that when I get the songs down well enough I might make a video and post them on youtube.com.  Right now, there are really no good videos of those songs on youtube.

Other than that, I have been looking into the possibility of riding a scooter or electric bike to work everyday.  These gas prices are killing me and my ‘95 Range Rover is relentless.

FUNKY BUTT

I thought I heard somebody say

Funky Butt, Funky Butt, take it away

Cause I don’t like it no how

You see that gal with the red dress on

She got funky butt stinky butt sure as you’re born

Well I don’t like it no how

You see that gal with the blue dress on

She got stinky butt, funky butt, let it alone

Cause I don’t like it no how

I thought I heard somebody shout

Open the window let the foul smell out

Cause I don’t like it no how

Let The Mermaids Flirt With Me

Blues all on the ocean

Blues all in the air

Can’t stay here no longer

Have no steamship fare

(CHORUS:)

When my earthly trials are over

Cast my body out in the sea

Save all the undertaker bills

Let the mermaids flirt with me

Wife controls our happy home

My sweetheart I cannot find

The only thing that I can call my own is a

Troubled and a worried mind

(Repeat Chorus)

I do not work for pleasure

Earthly peace, I’ll see no more***

The onliest reason I work at all is

Drive the wolf from my door

(Repeat Chorus)

Blues all in my body,

My darlin’ has forsaken me

If I ever want to see her face again

I have to swim across the see

Filed under: Music & Mandolin Meditations, My Journal, Practice Session Notes, Traveling Man , Funky Butt, Mermaids, Mississippi John Hurt