'34 Blues
by Charley Patton
recording of 1929-1934

I ain't gonna tell nobody, '34 have done for me
I ain't gonna tell nobody what, '34 have done for me
Took my roller, I was broke as I could be

They run me from Will Dockery's, Willie Brown, I want your job
They ru

I'm gonna buy me a banty, put him at my backdoor
I'm gonna buy me a banty, put him at my backdoor
So when he see a stranger a-comin', he'll flap his wings and crow
What you want with a rooster, he won't crow 'fore day?
What you want with a rooster, he won't crow 'fore day?

Come on, mama, go to the edge of town
Come on, mama, go to the edge of town
I know where there's a bird nest, built down on the ground
If I was a bird, mama,
if I was a bird, mama, I would find a nest in the heart of town
(spoken: Lord, you know I'd build it in the heart

I'm goin' away, to a world unknown
I'm goin' away, to a world unknown
I'm worried now, but I won't be worried long

My rider got somethin', she's tryin'a keep it hid
My rider got somethin', she's tryin'a keep it hid
Lord, I got somethin' to find that somethin' with

I f

I'm goin' away, to a world unknown
I'm goin' away, to a world unknown
I'm worried now, but I won't be worried long
Her heart hurts so bad, she try to keep it hid
Her heart hurts so bad, she try to keep it hid
Ah, Lord, I got some, hmm, finer love somewhere
I feel li

Way down in Lula , hard livin' has done hit
Way down in Lula, hard livin' has done hit
Lord, your drought come an' caught us,
an' parched up all the tree
Aw, she stays over in Lula, bid that ol' town goodbye
Stays in Lula, bidding you the town goodbye
Fore I would co

Aah : she's long and tall
*The way she do the boogie* : makes a panther squall

I'm going to show you common women : how I feel
Going to get me another woman : before I leave

Say mama got the washboard : my sister got the tub
My brother got the whiskey : mama got the jug</

I see a river rollin' like a log
I wade up Green River, rollin' like a log
I wade up Green River, Lord, rollin' like a log
Think I heard the Marion whistle blow
I dreamed I heard the Marion whistle blow,
and it blew just like my baby gettin' on board
I'm goin' where

Gonna buy me a hammock,
carry it underneath through the tree
Gonna buy myself a hammock,
carry it underneath through the tree
So when the wind blow, the leaves may fall on me
Go on, baby, you can have your way
Ball on, baby, you can have your way
Sister, every d

My babe's got a heart : like a piece of railroad steel

If I leave you this morning : don't say dad how do you feel

I will leave her at the crossing : when the train pass by

She blowed for the crossing : then she started to fly

I got up this morning : something after five<

Get in trouble at Belzoni
there ain't no use a-screamin' and cryin'
Get in trouble in Belzoni,
there ain't no use a-screamin' and cryin'
Mr. Will will take you, back to Belzoni jailhouse flyin'
Le' me tell you folksies, how he treated me
Le' me tell you folksies, ho

Well, backwater done rose all around Sumner now, drove me down the line
Backwater done rose at Sumner, drove poor Charley down the line
Lord, I'll tell the world the water, done crept through this town

Lord, the whole round country, Lord, river has overflowed
Lord, the whole ro

Backwater at Blytheville, backed up all around
Backwater at Blytheville, done took Joiner town
It was fifty families and children come to sink and drown
The water was risin' up at my friend's door
The water was risin' up at my friend's door
The man said to his women folk

Goin’ home, goin’ home, goin’ home
If I never, never see you anymore
I'm goin’ home, goin’ home, goin’ home
I’ll meet you on that other shore

I’ve got his word, got hi, got his word
If I never, never see you anymore
Got his word, got his word, got his word
I’ll meet

I believe sweet mama : going to do like she say
Going to cook my supper : Lord put me in her bed
You ever go to Memphis : stop by Minglewood
You Memphis women : don't mean no man no good

She's got a man on her man : got a kid on her kid
Done got so bold : Lord won't keep it

If you got a good bullcow : you ought to keep your bull bull at home
Say may come along a young heifer : and just tow your bull from home
Oh my bull's in the pasture babe : Lord where there's no grass
I swear every minute : it seems like it's going to be my last

And my bull got

I love my stuff babe : I want to give it *a hop*
And my rider's got the ??? shivers : swear it just won't stop

Oh I know she want it hard babe : sure don't want it chawed
It would break my heart : if *the ??? need* no more

And I keeps on telling my rider : well she was *shive

It's a mean black moan : and it's lying front of my door
When I leave Chicago : Lord I ain't coming back no more

Ninety men were laid off : at the railroad shop
And the strike in Chicago : Lordy Lord it just won't stop

I'm tired of mean black moans : friends lying front of my

Sees a little boll weevil keeps movin' in the, Lordie!
You can plant your cotton and you won't get a half a bale, Lordie Bo weevil, bo weevil
Where's your native home? Lordie
A-Louisiana raised in Texas
Least is where I was bred and born, Lordie
Well, I saw the bo weevil, Lor

Oh well, where were you now, baby,
Clarksdale mill burned down.
Oh well, where were you now, baby,
Clarksdale mill burned down.
I were way down Sunflower,
With my face all fulla frowns.

Lord, I think I heard the Helena whistle,
Helena whistle,
Helena whistle blo