Oh. Thanks John. I can hear the verse that talks about raising sand, and the one you’ve noted about a man taking my money always slamming my back door. I also get the last verse where he came by me running smelling like a whiskey can.
The one I can’t hear properly is the one where the back door man had HIS hat in his hand and HIS overcoat too, as distinct from the last verse where he has MY hat and overcoat.
I think the second line is ‘couldn’t get through’ but I just can’t hear line one. The lyrics site say “oh I had to wanna kneel down, you couldn’t give the truth” but Little Walter is more coherent than that.
The original by Washboard Sam-Im sure Walter sang this verse modified to his liking.
Oh, Tell me Mama Who' that a while ago? Tell Me Mama Who's that a while ago? Yes, When I come in Who' that went out that Back Door? Now you don't come here Mama I'm gonna start in raising sand You been out boogly woogling That's something I can't understand Now Tell me Mama Who that a while ago? Yes, When I come in Who' that went out that Back Door? This is something I never seen before He broke down my bed, got a pallet on my floor Now Tell me Mama Who that here a while ago? Yes, When I come in Who's that went out that Back Door? Insrumental I had the windows nailed all down he couldn't get it through He had his hat in his hand and his underwear too So Tell me Baby Before I get sore Yes when I come in Who' that went out that Back door? He come by me a running, but he likely got his (chance?) With Thunder in his pants and his shoes in his hands NowTell me Mama Who' that a while ago? Yes, When I come in Who' that went out that Back Door?
little walter was awesome but preferred his slow blues instrumentals like sad hours,blue midnite,quarter to 12...….those were all soul stirrers......thank god for walter jacobs
The comedic elements of the song come through much stronger for me from the Washboard Sam record. Little Walter gives me a menacing vibe from his delivery. Groyster, as Little Walter songs go, for me this may be THE one that comes to mind first (after Juke probably) simply because it’s the opening cut from Boss Blues Harmonica, which for many years was my only LW record. For about 25 years, this was the first song I’d hear when I decided to listen to Little Walter.
I am a fan of those slow blues instrumentals too. I think Sad Hours is a real little gem, just a masterpiece of harp tone. I said as much to someone recently and they began raising lots of his other great instrumentals as worthy challengers, and I couldn’t argue. I still love Sad Hours though.
Last Edited by SuperBee on Sep 22, 2019 1:19 PM
Sad Hours, if I were with a 3 piece band or bigger, this is one show stopper song I'd work out to my best ability. Loved it first time and every time. The Chicago studio rhythm guys deserve so much credit too, and not "just" for what they did with LW but with a lot of others. Their groundwork made much possible. ---------- Music and travel destroy prejudice.
Thanks, Albey! I’m sharing this with my bass-playing fellow Little Walter fan and band colleague. Worryingly, he just told me he’s becoming a fan of the earlier approaches...
TMF714, thanks for that clip of Dennis and Doug. That’s a very young-looking DG! A shame about the sound but I can still tell it was a fine performance, and it’s good to see the guitar backing.
