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This is a transcription made by Chris Smith and corrected by Davis Evans



MISSISSIPPI COUNTY FARM BLUES

Wish I was a babe in my mama's arms,
Wish I was a babe in my mama's arms,
Wish I was a baby in my mama's arms,
Wouldn't-a been here working on the County Farm.

I'd rather be broke and out of doors,
I'd rather be broke and out of doors,
I'd rather be broke, lord, and out of doors,
Than to be here working on the police roll.

Some got six months and some a year,
Some got six months and some a year,
Some got six months, lord, and some a year,
Poor me, poor me got lifetime here.

They put me in jail, wouldn't let me be,
They put me in jail, wouldn't let me be,
Put me in jail, would not let me be,
They said I killed old Leroy Lee.

(Moaning)

Yeah, lord, oh lordy lord,
Oh lord, oh lord, lordy lord,
Oh lord, oh lord, oh lordy lord,
They downright, lord, treat me like a dog.

(Moaning)

And I hate to hear that big bell dong,
I hate to hear that big bell dong,
I hate to hear, lord, that big bell dong,
'Poor boy, poor boy, you're going on.'



CLARKSDALE MOAN

Clarksdale's in the South, and lays heavy on my mind,
Clarksdale's in the South, lays heavy on my mind,
I can have a good time there, if I ain't got but one lousy dime.

Clarksdale, Mississippi always gonn' be my home,
Clarksdale, Mississippi always gonn' be my home,
That's the reason you hear me set right here and moan.

(Moaning)

Every day in the week, I goes to Midtown Drugs,
Every day in the week, I goes to Midtown Drugs,
And get me a bottle o' snuff, and a bottle o' Alcorub.

Nobody knows Clarksdale like I do,
Nobody knows Clarksdale like I do,
And the reason I know it, I follows it through and through.

I can't remember reading a discussion about these two transcriptions, but every time these and other great specialists exchanged guesses about hardly audible lyrics, I was surprised to see how careful they were not to assert anything. I think we should consider this as a useful reference, not as a definitive transcription.

Patrice