Murder In The First Degree

I'm flat-out guessing on some of these lyrics. They don't seem to be anywhere on the wide webs. The biggest question is, the first half of the last line in the third verse--"Any charge that I'm makin" makes the most sense, but it isn't what it sounds like she's actually saying. Let me know if you've got a different interpretation.

Well, I'm layin' here in this jailhouse, scared as any fool can be (2x)

I believe they're gonna hang me, from what my lawyer said to me

My man got runnin' around with a woman he know I can't stand (2x)

There's one notch on my gun, and the world's rid of one triflin' man

I scrubbed them pots and kettles, I washed and ironed them white folks' clothes (2x)

Any charge that I'm makin', I killed him, Judge, and that's all I know

Judge, if you had killed your woman, and had to come before me

If you'da killed a woman who trifled and had to come before me

I'd send her to the gallows, and, Judge, would let you go free

I said I ain't done nothin but killed a man what belonged to me (2x)

And here they got me charged with murder in the first degree

Any-Kind-A Man

Another song about a woman who's leaving her no-good fella, this time from Victoria Spivey.

Daddy, there's a big change in your life

Why you don't treat me like you should a wife

Why you stay out all night

And you don't come home for days

But daddy you know, that isn't right

And now I've changed my ways

Well, you dragged me around until I'd lost my pride

And when I lose you, I'll be satisfied

Cause any-kind-a man will be better than you

If he's got one leg, that'd be alright

Just so he brings that one leg home to mama every night

Cause any-kind-a man will be better than you

Well, I tried being good, I meant to live like I should

That didn't matter to you

Now my good days are done, man I'm having my fun

Don't care what I do

Aw, I'm really glad I found you out in time

I mean to get me a good man while I'm in my prime

Cause any-kind-a man will be better than you

Moaning the Blues

Pretty much the sexiest blues song of all time. I haven't figured out what the last intelligible word of the song is--strut would make more sense, but doesn't strictly rhyme with was. Of course, as Tom Lehrer put it, it sounds more ethnic if it ain't good English and it don't even gotta rhyme. From the crooning of Victoria Spivey.

ETA: Suzy Thompson suggests bug may be the mystery word at the end of the third verse. Sounds pretty good to me. She's also given the OK on the chords, although she suggests a C7, which seems solid to me.

[intro]

| G - G7 | C7 | G - D7 | G |

Now, you talk about the black snake blues

| G | G7 |

Well, you haven't heard no moaning yet

| G | G7 |

Moaning all day long

| C7 | C7 | G | G |

And when you hear this moaning

| D7 |

It's moaning you will never forget

| D7 | G | G |

Ahhhh-ohhh

| G | G | G7 | G7 |

Ahhhh-ohhh

| G | G | G7 | G7 |

Mmmmmmm

| C7 | C7 |

Ahh-ohh

| G | G |

Well, I know I can moan,

| D7 |

I don't see how I lost my happy home

| D7 | G | G |

Well, it was on a Sunday morning

I didn't feel so good

I felt like a cow when she had lost her cud

I began my moaning all day long

And when you hear me moaning

You can bet sweet mama feel good.

Ahhhh-ohhh

Ahhhh-ohhh

Mmmmmmm

Ahh-ohh

Lord, I know I can moan,

I don't see how I lost my home

Well, if I'm the only one in my family

To take a biscuit to pieces

And put it back just like it was

With my moaning all day long

Yes, I can kick my legs high

And you oughta see me do the bug.

Ahhhh-ohhh

Ahhhh-ohhh

Mmmmmmm

Ahh-ohh

Ahhh-ohhhhhhh

Ahhhhh-ohhhhhhhhhh

How Do They Do It That Way?

I think this song is totally sweet, and fie on you feminists. Men do bring good cheer (some do, anyway), and darn if it don't suck when you're clueless about how to get laid. Victoria Spivey.

Have you ever had the feeling

| G |

That someone could come out leading you?

| D | G | D |

If you had it's not so bad

| G |

Unless you find that it is all untrue

| D | G | G |

Take a good girl to keep her man

| Bm | Bm |

Some can't do it, others can

| Bm | Dº7 |

I'm no chump but I would jump

| G |

If I could find someone that's not unlike me too.

| D | G | D |

Oh, when the river runs, flowers are blooming in May

| G | G | G | G |

And if you get good business, how do you do it that way?

| D | D | G | D |

Street-walking women, they are happy and gay,

| G | G | G | G |

But I'm never happy, how do you get that way?

| D | D | G | G |

I want a man to be near because he brings good cheer

| C | C | E | E |

But the men don't like me, they don't seem to care

| A7 | A7 | D | D |

Well, they can come and go, to and fro everyday

| G | G | G | G |

But I can't make them like me, how do you do it that way?

| D | D | G | D |

[instrumental break]

Now, if you want something good, you mustn't knock on wood

Just get a good man to look up under your hood

And when the rooster and the hen go to the barn to play

Well, the hen has chickens, how do they do it that way?