This week Yulia and Boneapart talk, not sing, The Blues. We discuss some history and share two very fantastic Blues songs that come from different backgrounds.

Of course, we also play a song “Released on this Date In History.”

Songs

Irish Hearts

• Artist: Fred Van Eps (banjo solo, with orchestra)
• Composer: Henry Frantzen
• Arranger: Everett J. Evans
• Recorded: March 10, 1916, New York
• Label: Columbia, catalog number A2283
• Matrix: 46487, Take 00
• Format: 10-inch disc
• Other title: “March and Two-Step”
• Flip side: “Pearl of the Harem” (Harry P. Guy / Fred Van Eps), same session

Anticipatin’ Blues

Southern Negro Quartette

• Recorded June 30, 1921, New York
• Columbia A3444, Matrix 79920, Take 4
• Flip side: “I’m Wild About Moonshine” (Turner Layton / Henry Creamer)
• Composer: Billy James / Jean Harmon
• Format: Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied

Lyrics

I’ve been waiting ever so long, watching and praying for you, for you.
Say if you know that my love is gone.
What are you going to do?
Don’t keep me worrying you.
I’m tired of being alone.
You hear me stating, I’m tired of waiting.
You’d better worry back home, back home, of God’s laws.
Tired of waiting, gonna steal the pain.
It’s gonna flow, flow, flow.
I’m getting worried, I’m starting to hurry.
Hearing of my words, every so low, too low, too low.
But what you’re telling me, I always thought that.
I’ve been waiting ever so long, watching and praying for you, for you.
Say if you know that my love is gone.
What are you going to do?
Don’t keep me worrying you.
I’m tired of waiting, gonna steal the pain.
You hear me stating, I’m tired of waiting.
I’m tired of waiting, gonna steal the pain.
You hear me stating, I’m tired of waiting.
I’m tired of waiting, gonna steal the pain.
You hear me stating, I’m tired of waiting.
And there’s a pain now, flow, flow, flow, flow, flow.
Someday you’ll regret what you’ve done.
You’ll worry back, you’re my side, my side.
But you’ll find another someone, and blame on me as his bride.
Don’t keep me stalling around, waiting for what I don’t get.
Oh how I’m sighing, say that you’re trying.
So they can make me forget, forget.
I’ve got no words.
I don’t wait, sing those damn tears.
The pain is so blue, blue, blue.
I’m getting worried, it’s better to hurry, dear.
Stop my burning with the blue, blue, blue.
Those are what you tell me, always thought sad.
And there’s a pain now of fifty percent.
The others ain’t done.
And there’s a pain now of fifty percent.
The others ain’t done.
The pain is so blue, blue, blue.
I’m getting worried, it’s better to hurry, dear.
Stop my burning with the blue, blue, blue.
Oh how I’m sighing, say that you’re trying.
So they can make me forget, forget.
I’m getting worried, it’s better to hurry, dear.
Stop my burning with the blue, blue, blue.
Lose, lose, lose, lose, lose
When someone does me wrong I always face down
I’ve got the size of a thumb, no, why oh reason
I’ve got the size of a ring and just the fate ain’t
Lose, lose, lose, lose, lose
Don’t be rich, it ain’t on trick
I will join your life and I will kill you quick
I’ve got the size of a ring and just the fate ain’t
Lose, lose, lose, lose, lose, lose
Some loooooose

Crazy Blues

Recording details:

• Artist: Mamie Smith & Her Jazz Hounds
• Recorded: August 10, 1920, OKeh Records, New York
• Released: November 1920 on OKeh 4169
• Matrix/Take: S-7529, take C
• Flip side: “It’s Right Here for You”
• Composer: Perry Bradford (originally published as “Harlem Blues,” itself adapted from even earlier material)

Lyrics

I can’t sleep at night
I can’t eat a bite
‘Cause the man I love
He don’t treat me right

He makes me feel so blue
I don’t know what to do
Sometime I sit and sigh
And then begin to cry
’Cause my best friend
Said his last goodbye

There’s a change in the ocean
Change in the deep blue sea, my baby
I’ll tell you folks, there ain’t no change in me
My love for that man will always be

Now I can read his letters
I sure can’t read his mind
I thought he’s lovin’ me
He’s leavin’ all the time
Now I see my poor love was blind

Now I got the crazy blues
Since my baby went away
I ain’t got no time to lose
I must find him today
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Now the doctor’s gonna do all that he can
But what you’re gonna need is an undertaker man
I ain’t had nothin’ but bad news
Now I got the crazy blues

Now I can read his letters
I sure can’t read his mind
I thought he’s lovin’ me
He’s leavin’ all the time
Now I see my poor love was blind

I went to the railroad
Hang my head on the track
Thought about my daddy
I gladly snatched it back
Now my babe’s gone
And gave me the sack

Now I’ve got the crazy blues
Since my baby went away
I ain’t had no time to lose
I must find him today

I’m gonna do like a Chinaman
Go and get some hop
Get myself a gun, and shoot myself a cop
I ain’t had nothin’ but bad news
Now I’ve got the crazy blues