Essential

The Last Dime Trk 6 Disc 1 3:18
Peetie Wheatstraw (William Bunch)
(Bunch)
Mar 25, 1934 Vocalion 92712
Peetie Wheatstraw - vocal, prob Charlie Jordan - gtr
Album: Peetie Wheatstraw Essentials Album
Allego Classic Blues CBL 200037
Transcriber: Awcantor@aol.com



I believe, I believe that I'll go back home
Umm-um-um
I believe that I'll go back home
Well now I'm goin', hardly matters
Ooo-well-brown, than if I be treated wrong

Well, now this not my home
Mama, an I sure don't have to stay
Umm-mm-mm
Babe, I sure don't have to stay
Well now-now, give me a good going
Hoo-hoo-well-well, then I believe I'll go away

Please now don't never give
The woman you love, dime
I said, please don't never give
The woman you love, dime
Well then after you do it
Hoo-hoo-well now
She gon' mistreat you all the time

(piano)

Well, my little woman now she called me
An asked me for my last dime
Well, my little woman she called me
An asked me for my last dime
Well, well now when she get it
Hm-mm, 'Now', she said, 'You is no man a-mine'

You been a-lyin', baby
You been a-lyin'
I don't know how I love you what you do
Hmm-mm-mm
Feedin' me lies will hurt you, too
Well now the same old thing
Hoo-hoo, now is gon' come creeping after you.

~

Working On The Project Trk 15 Disc 1 3:02
Peetie Wheatstraw (William Bunch)
(Jordan)
March 30, 1937 Decca 7311
Peetie Wheatstraw - vocal & piano
with Kokomo Arnold - gtr
Album: Peetie Wheatstraw Essentials Album
Allego Classic Blues CBL 200037
Transcriber: Awcantor@aol.com




I was workin' on the project
Beggin' for relief for shoes
I was workin' on the project
Beggin' for relief for shoes
Because the rock an concrete
Hoo-well-well, now they giving my feet the blues

Workin' on the project
With holes all in my clothes
Workin' on the project
With holes all in my clothes
Tryin' to make me a dime
To keep the rent man from puttin me outdo's

I am workin' on the project
Tryin' to make both ends meet
I am workin' on the project
Tryin' to make ends meet
But the payday is so long
Woo-well-well, until the grocery man won't let me eat

Workin' on the project
My gal spending all my dough
Workin' on the project
My gal spending all my dough
Now I have waked up on her
Ooh-well-well, and I won't be that weak no mo'

Workin' on the project
With payday three or four weeks away
Workin' on the project
With payday three or four weeks away
Now, how can you make they meet
Ooo-well-well-well, when you can't get no pay?

~

I Want Some Sea Food Trk 12 Disc 2 2:37
Peetie Wheatstraw (William Bunch)
(Bunch, Smith)
Peetie Wheatstraw - vocal, pno, w/ poss Lonnie Johnson - gtr
Sept 14, 1936 Chicago, Decca 7657
Album: Peetie Wheatstraw Essentials Album
Allego Classic Blues CBL 200037
Transcriber: Awcantor@aol.com





I want some seafood mama
An I don't mean no turnip greens
I want some seafood mama
An I don't mean no turnip greens
I want some fish, ooo-well-well
An you know just what I mean

I want fish, fish mama
I wants it all the time
I wants fish, fish mama
I wants good fish all the time
The people calls it seafood, woo-well-well
All up an down the line

If you love your seafood
You is a good friend of mine
If you love your seafood
You is a good friend of mine
If you don't love good fish, woo-well-well
You better get on some kinda time

I want some seafood, mama
Because I am a seafood man
I want some seafood, mama
Because I am the seafood man
When I can't get my seafood
I goes to raisin' sand

So bye-bye, people
I hope this July will find you well
Hm-mm, bye-bye people
I hope this July will find you well
Because the seafood I'm talkin' about
Ooo-well now, I swear it is a-burnin' hell.

~

Crapshooters Blues Trk 1 Disc 1 3:09
Peetie Wheatstraw (William Bunch)
(Bunch)
Chicago, Mar 26, 1937
Decca 7292
Peetie Wheatstraw - vocal, unk acc.
Album: Peetie Wheatstraw Essentials Album
Allego Classic Blues CBL 200037
Transcriber: Awcantor@aol.com



My baby's a crap shooter
And she shoots 'em like a man
My babe, she's a crapshooter
And she shoots em' like a man
And ev' since she been shooting craps
Woo-well-well, she been going from hand to hand

Sometime she wins
But the most time she lose
Sometime she win
But now the most time she lose
But now when she lose
Woo-well-well, then I have the crap shooting blues

She told me to always
Bet that the dice won't pass
She told to always
Bet that the dice won't pass
But ev'rytime since I been bettin' that way
Woo-well-well, I been had a raggedy yas, yas, yas.

Since I have been shooting craps
I can't win a cent
Since I have been shooting craps
I can't win a cent
Well, I can't win enough dough
Woo-hoo-well-well, now to even pay my rent

I'm tellin' all you crapshooters
Now to let crapshooting go
I am telling all you crapshooters
Woo-well, to let crapshooting go
'Cause now you will be stone barefooted
Woo-well-well, then again and outta dough.

~

What More Can A Man Do Trk 5 Disc 2 3:02
Peetie Wheatstraw (William Bunch)
(Bunch)
Peetie Wheatstraw - vocal, w/Lonnie Johnson - gtr, unk acc.
April 1, 1938 Chicago, Decca 7479
Album: Peetie Wheatstraw Essentials Album
Allego Classic Blues CBL 200037
Transcriber: Awcantor@aol.com




Listen hear baby, ain't gon' be yo' dog all my life
Because yo' other man tried to take my life

So what more can a man do?
I'd give up my job, lay down my money to you

Listen here baby you ain't treat me right
You don't do nothin' but clown 'n fight
You know I love you don't care what you do
I'm gettin' tired of clownin' with you

What more can a man do?
Give up my job, lay down my money to you

You go out tonight no tellin' what I'll do
I'm gettin' tired of worryin' over you
What more can a man do?
I'll give up my job, lay down my money to you

'Now play at that girl'

(guitar & instrumental)

Now you know mama
I'm gettin' tired, gettin tired, gettin' tired
You're in St. Louis all disguised
Cried last night an night befo'
I leave you this time I won't have to cry no mo'

What more can a man do?
I'll give up my job, lay down my money to you

So bye-bye baby, I'm leavin' you now
I know you don't mean no good, no how
You did ev'rything a woman could do
You know about that, than I am through with you

What more can a man do?
I'll give up my job, lay down my money to you.

~

Separation Day Blues Trk 18 Disc 2 2:26
Peetie Wheatstraw (William Bunch)
(Jordan)
Peetie Wheatstraw - vocal, pno, poss/ Lil Armstrong or
Jack Dupree - piano, unk acc.
November 25, 1941 Chicago, Decca 7901
Album: Peetie Wheatstraw Essentials Album
Allego Classic Blues CBL 200037
Transcriber: Awcantor@aol.com




Ain't it hard to say goodbye on separation day?
Ain't it hard to say goodbye on separation day?
That the last thing my baby say
Ooo-well, now when she walked away

I couldn't hardly take it
But I had the debt to pay
I couldn't hardly take it
But I had the debt to pay
Because my baby said good-bye
Hoo-hoo-well, on separation day

It was a hard pill to swallow
On that going that way
It is too late to holler
When your good girl is gone away
It's a hard pill to swallow, hoo-well-well
When you think about separation day

(piano)

Wait here one hour, while I go an pray
Wait here one hour, whiles I go an pray
I wanna tell the people, hoo-well-well
I ain't seein' my cell today.

When you get up in the mornin'
You don't have nothin' to say
When you get up in the mornin'
You don't have nothin' to say, mm
Because your mind is restin'
Hoo-hoo, well on sparation day.

~

Machine Gun Blues Trk 8 Disc 2 2:47
(Peetie Wheatstraw)
Peetie Wheatstraw (William Bunch)
(Jordan)
Peetie Wheatstraw - vocal, pno.
March 30, 1939 New York, Decca 7778
Album: Peetie Wheatstraw Essentials Album
Allego Classic Blues CBL 200037
Transcriber: Awcantor@aol.com




Speak easy, speak easy
An let my machine gun rest
Speak easy, speak easy
An let my machine gun rest
It have been smokin' all night long
Ooo-well-well, an you sho' knows the rest

My woman stayed out last night
With the man that lives next do'
My woman stayed out last night
With the man that lives next do'
But when I get through with my machine gun
Ooo-well-well, she won't stay out no mo'

I know so well
She is givin' my lovin' a-way
I know so well
She is givin' my lovin' away
But when I do find her, ooo-well-well
I'm 'onna to see what my machine gun goin' to say

(piano)

I had a little faror
Goin' to her other world of other men
I had a little faror
Caught her with another man
She looked at me an said
'Hoo-well-well, please leave your machine gun dead.'

~

The Good Lawd's Children Trk 13 Disc 2:45
Peetie Wheatstraw (William Bunch)
(Williams)
Peetie Wheatstraw - vocal, poss Lil Armstrong - piano
Robert Lee McCoy - hca
March 12, 1941 Chicago, Decca 7879
Album: Peetie Wheatstraw Essentials Album
Allego Classic Blues CBL 200037
Transcriber: Awcantor@aol.com



They say we are the Lord's children
I don't say that ain't true
They say we are the Lord's children
I don't say that ain't true
But if we all the same like each other
Ooo-well'well, why do they treat me like they do?

What's wrong with the Lord's children?
I don't understand
What's wrong with the Lord's children?
I don't understand
Some men got no use for woman
Ooo-well-well, some women got no use for man

I wanna live on children
Soon I would just like to see
I wanna live on children
I said I would just like to see
What will become of us
Ooo-well-well, by nineteen and fifty-three

Some of the good Lord's children
Some of them ain't no good
Some of the good Lord's children
Some of them ain't no good
Some of them are the devil
Ooo-well-well, and wouldn't help you if they could

Some of the good Lord's children
Is about to need some prayer
Some of the Lord's children
Needs about to kneel and pray
You serve the devil in the night
Hoo-well-well, and serve the Lord in the day.

~

Sinking Sun Blues Trk 16 Disc 1 2:54
Peetie Wheatstraw (William Bunch)
(Bunch)
Peetie Wheatstraw - vocal, with Sam Price - pno
poss. Teddy Bunn - gtr, O'neil Spencer dms
March 30, 1939 Decca 7578
Album: Peetie Wheatstraw Essentials Album
Allego Classic Blues CBL 200037
Transcriber: Awcantor@aol.com



The evening sun is beginning to sing low
The evening sun is beginning to sink low
Just a few more hours
Ooo-well-well and I will have to go

Once I was going down the lonesome road
Once I was going down the lonesome road
I met a man, hoo-well-well
And he was bound with heavy load

By then the sun had turned now, the whole world red
By then the sun had turned the whole world red
Poor me didn't have no place
Ooo-well-well, now to lay my worried head

Darkness fell upon me and I couldn't hear a sound
Darkness fell upon me and I couldn't hear a sound
I let fate be my pillow, hoo-well-well
My bed be on the ground

When I think about all the bad deeds I have done
When I think about all the bad deeds I have done
I say to myself, ooo-well-well, I'm no good son-of-a-gun.

~

Pete Wheatstraw Trk 11 Disc 1 3:15
(Wheatstraw)
Peetie Wheatstraw - vocal, piano w/ Charlie McCoy - gtr
Recorded Sept 28,1931 Bluebird B5451
Album: Peetie Wheatstraw Essentials Album
Allego Classic Blues CBL 200037
Transcriber: Awcantor@aol.com



Now this is Peetie Wheatstraw, remember
People wanna know where do I prowl
This is Peetie Wheatstraw
People wanna know where do I prowl
Sometimes I prowl a far distant land
Sometimes I prowl on the rising clouds

An now I once was a good boy
Mama, I was good all over town
I say, I once was a good boy
Babe, I was good all over town
Well-well, nar' I don't see why
People tried to slam me down

When I first met you, little baby
Baby, this is the lie you told
I know when I first met you, baby
This is the lie you told
You said now you could get my money, baby
And then I will be made of silver and gold

(instrumental)

'What you gonna do, Charlie
You gonna play for me or just for money?'

'Money!'

Now what are you gon' do little baby, um-mm-mm
When your road gets dogged like mine?
Now what are you gon' do, baby
Now when your road gets dogged like mine?
Honey, now you would be worried
Mama now an bothered all the time

Now if anybody ask you baby, hmm
Honey, now who compose this song?
Well-well-well, now if anybody asks you
Mama, who compose this song?
Now-now, will you please tell 'em this is, Peetie Wheatstraw
Well now he have been here and gone.

~

Long Time Ago Blues Trk 3 Disc 2 3:13
Peetie Wheatstraw (William Bunch)
(Bunch)
Peetie Wheatstraw - vocal, w/poss Charley Jordan - gtr
Sept 7, 1934 Chicago, Vocalion 02810
Album: Peetie Wheatstraw Essentials Album
Allego Classic Blues CBL 200037
Transcriber: Awcantor@aol.com




This very mornin', long time ago
Um-hm-well-well
Been a long time ago
Well now I got in trouble
Ooo-well, brown babe now I've gotta go on

I gotta leave here
Now I can't stay here no mo'
Ooo-hoo-well-well
Said I can't stay here no mo'
Well now trouble now have got me
Hm-hm-well now, an I gotta go on

Ain't it hard to have a home
An you can't go there no mo'?
Now ain't it hard to have a home
An you can't go there no mo'?
Well, but now I've gotta travel on
Ooo-well brown babe, now an I got to go

(guitar)

Well, when I got up this mornin'
Babe I walked out in the street
I tell ya, I got up this mornin'
Mama, I walked out in the street
Ah, you know I met a man, hoo-well brown
An he's got a razor in both his hands

Well now you know about the reason
I'm away from home today
Um-hm-well, now that's the reason
I'm away from home today
Well-well-well, 'till my bailiff caught me
Ooo-well-brown, now I be away today.

~

Tennessee Peaches Blues Trk 2 Disc 1 3:00
Peetie Wheatstraw (William Bunch)
(Fields, Bunch)
vocal by Peetie Wheatstraw and 'Neckbones'
Chicago, Aug 13, 1930 Vocalion #1552-A
Album: Peetie Wheatstraw Essentials Album
Allego Classic Blues CBL 200037
Transcriber: Awcantor@aol.com


(Neckbones vocal vrs1-3)

I was born in Mississippi
Raised in Tennessee
I was born in Mississippi
An I's raised in Tennessee
But there wimens in Missour-a
Picks on over me

My babes have something
I don't know what it is
My babes have something
I don't know what it is
Ev'rytime she moves
Baby, now I can't be still

Said the peaches I'm loving
Don't grow on no trees
Lord, that peaches I'm loving
Don't grow on no trees
Lord, it's somewhere baby
Just above yo' knees

Well now, you said it's peaches you love
They don't grow on no trees
There another peaches you love
They'll grow on no tree
(Where they grow at?)
I b'lieve now you say
Peaches, now grow just above the knees

Well now, b'lieve I'll go
Back down in Tennessee
Right now I b'lieve I'll go
Back down in Tennessee
Well baby, that where the peaches grow, honey
Now just above the knee

Hoo-umm-umm
Hoo-well-well, so sweet
Hoo-hoo-umm
Babe, they're so smooth
Well-well-well, now
Hoo-hoo-ooo-ooo
In your grove

Peaches, growin' on no tree
Like the big wild peaches
Don't grow on no tree
Well, I b'lieve to my soul, now
'At's down in Tennessee.

(piano and guitar to end)

~

Whiskey Head Blues Trk 7 Disc 1 2:44
Peetie Wheatstraw (William Bunch)
(Bunch)
Jul 17, 1935 Decca 7111
Album: Peetie Wheatstraw Essentials Album
Allego Classic Blues CBL 200037
Transcriber: Awcantor@aol.com



I am drunk now
Will be sober after a while
Well, now I am drunk now
Will be sober after a while
Well now, if I don't get sober
Hoo-ooo-brown, please why don't you let me die?

My fairasee made me mad
Whiskey now is all I known
Well, my baby made me mad
Whiskey, I said is all I've known
Well, now if you don't want me, brown babe
Hm-mm-well, why in the world don't you let me go?

You known I drink whiskey
Now before we ever met
Well now she known I drink whiskey
Now before we ever met
And I'll guarantee, know right now
Um-um-well, that I'd been drinking whiskey yet

(piano)

Yes, I meant it, babe
Before I take this drink
Mm-mm, just remember babe
Before I take a drink
Well now, I wanna give you plenty time
Woo-well brown, now in this world to think

I am sorry, now
That I'm a whiskey-headed man
I say I'm sorry, now
That I'm a whiskey-headed man
But now I just want you go home
Hoo-well brown babe
Now do the best you can.

~

The Break I'm Getting Trk 3 Disc 1 2:53
Peetie Wheatstraw (William Bunch)
with Pretty Boy Walker
Album: Peetie Wheatstraw Essentials Album
Allego Classic Blues CBL 200037
Transcriber: Awcantor@aol.com



Now, listen here people
Think I'm tired of bein' a bum
For the breaks I'm gettin' now
I done got to be nothin' but a crumb

I've got tired
Of these breaks they givin' me
I'm gon' pack my grip
An I'm going back to Tennessee

Now, I walk all day
Can't find no work at all
I'm broke an' hungry all the winter
And ragg'dy all the fall
I walked all day
My feet got wet n' damp
I've been sufferin' two, three days
From the miss meal cramp

I was barefooted, naked
I was in the ice an snow
With all my yas-yas, out
You could see my big toe
I was barefooted
Didn't have on no shoes
And the rocks, gravel and concrete
Is givin' my soles the blues
An 'fore I'd let winter in St. Louis
Get the best of me
I'd get on a freight train an walk
Back to Memphis,Tennessee

'Cause I've done got tired
Of these breaks they givin' me
I'm gon' pack my grip
An I'm going back to Tennessee

Now other day I woked up
To a big healthy garbage can
And drugs my stiff back on it
Back of a natural man
I says, 'Razzy ham bone
And skanky muffin
Get back all your coffee grounds
Cause you know I ain't bluffin'
An 'fore I'd let winter in let St. Louis
Take advantage of me
I'd go back down south
Where all chumps oughta be

'Cause I've done got tired
Of these breaks they givin' me
I'm gon' pack my grip
And I'm goin' back to Tennessee

Now, I'm 'onna sing this verse
Now, ain't gon' sing any mo'
'Cause I'm gettin' kind-a warm
An you know I've got to go
I love to clown for ya'all
An I love to act a monkey
But I don't wanna get too hot
'Cause I'm scared I'm liable to get a bad cold

'Cause I done got tired
Of these breaks they givin' me
I'm 'onna pack my grip
And I'm goin' back to Tennessee.

~

All Night Long Blues Trk 9 Disc 1 3:12
Peetie Wheatstraw (William Bunch)
(Bunch)
Recorded: March 15, 1932
Aug 18, 1934 Decca 7081
Album: Peetie Wheatstraw Essentials Album
Allego Classic Blues CBL 200037
Transcriber: Awcantor@aol.com



Stay out all night long
Now just to keep you off my mind
Stay out all night long
Babe, now-now keep you off my mind
Well now you keep me worried baby
In an alley barefoot all the time

Once was a good girl
Ain't no be that way no mo'
Now don't forget a day, baby
You drove me from yo' do'

Once was a good girl
They don't preach that way no mo'
An don't forget a girl, now little may matter
Babe, now you drove me from yo' do'

How do you feel
When you drive a good man from yo' do'?
How do you feel
When you drive a good man from yo' do'?
Well-well, now you must stop, look an listen
Maybe your best friend, you don't know

(piano)

Spoken:
When it's hard sometime when you get in bad luck.
Sometimes that a man don't know just what to do.
But I'm 'onna tell you what I'm 'onna do for myself
I'm 'on get me one .45, now I take care of myself then.

What would you do now, little mellow?
You come walking to my do'
An I will tell you about this
'Please don't come here no mo'

What would you do
If you come walkin' to my do'?
Well then I tell you
'Bye-bye, you not 'onna come here, no mo'

There's something I'll tell you
Don't turn a good man from your do'
Now there's far something I tell you
Don't drive a good man from your do'
Well-well, now you may need his help someday, baby
Hm-well-well, you don't know.

~

Police Station Blues Trk 5 Disc 1 3:03
Peetie Wheatstraw (William Bunch)
(Wheatstraw)
March 15, 1932 Vocalion 1722
Album: Peetie Wheatstraw Essentials Album
Allego Classic Blues CBL 200037
Transcriber: Awcantor@aol.com



Well-oh-well
Mama, now on some old rainy day
Hoo-hoo-um-mm
Babe, I see you some old rainy day
Well-well now, you're gonna be sorry
Hoo-hoo-um-um
Babe, now you walked away

Well-well, sun did rose
Mama, now just before the trees
I said now when the sun broke
Ooo-um-mm, just a'fore the trees
Well, now I went to the police station, ask them
Plan on gettin' me my little girl, please

Now-now-now, your days so lonesome
Mama, yo nights so dreadful long
Hoo, times can run me down
Hee-hoo-umm
Babe, now yo' nights so dreadful long
Well-well, spent so many lonesome days
Hoo-hoo-well, babe since I been gone

(guitar)

Well, babe tomorrow is Sunday
Hoo-hoo-umm
Baby, you may see me Christmas Eve
Hoo-hoo-well, know the meaning
I said honey, now tomorrow Sunday
Hee-hoo-ooo, next day was Christmas Eve
Well-well, have I got a present mama, babe
Und' your lil' Christmas tree?

Baby now, when are you gon' give me
Hoo-hoo-umm
Mama now things you promised me?
(Know the kind) know now I mean it
Hee-hee-umm
Mama now things you promised me?
Well-well, you know I don't see why
Baby now, you so hard on me.

~

Cocktail Man Blues Trk 7 Disc 2 2:44
Peetie Wheatstraw (William Bunch)
(Bunch, Smith)
Peetie Wheatstraw - vocal, pno.
July 17, 1935 Chicago, Decca 7144
Album: Peetie Wheatstraw Essentials Album
Allego Classic Blues CBL 200037
Transcriber: Awcantor@aol.com




Good morning, people
Just got back from cocktail land
Good morning, people
Just got back from cocktail land
When I find my little woman
Ooo-well, we gonna raise some cocktail sand

When I got up this mornin'
Went down in old alley can
I got up this mornin'
Went down in old alley can
And the womens they was hollerin'
Hoo-well, 'Here come that little cocktail man'

They cry, 'Cocktails for two'
Now that is all it can be
Cryin', 'Cocktails for two'
Baby that's all it can be
Now if you got plenty of cocktail
Please save a 'tall' for me

(piano)

I'm a good cocktail monsieur
Well, you know I start it all with a feather
Um-hm, babe said I start it off with a feather
Now won't you come here little mama
Please now let's serve our cocktails together

Well now, it ain't no trouble
When I watch your crowd the best I can
I say, I ain't no trouble
I will watch your crowd the best I can
But now when it come to missing cocktails
Hoo-well, here's a little cocktail man.

~

Little House (I'm Gonna Chase These Peppers) Trk 12 Disc 1 2:42
Peetie Wheatstraw
(Bunch)
Peetie Wheatstraw - vocal, Kokomo Arnold - gtr, unk sbs
Recorded: Oct 26,1936 Decca 7257
Album: Peetie Wheatstraw Essentials Album
Allego Classic Blues CBL 200037
Transcriber: Awcantor@aol.com



The little house over yonder
With the do's all painted green
The little house over yonder
With the do's all painted green
That's my little woman's house near the corner
Woo-well-well, where you don't see no screen

My cat is got the measles
Dog is got the whooping cough
My cat is got the measles
An my dog got the whooping cough
You might as well to be's the woman
Ooo-well-well, because I'm gonna be you boss

You can always tell
When your woman is gonna throw you down
You can always tell
When your woman gon' throw you down
She's always got business
Woo-well-well, on the other side of town

Now, I ain't gon' marry
An I ain't gon' settle down
I ain't gon' marry
An I ain't gon' settle down
I'm going to stay right here
Woo-well-well, an run these peppers down

I am going to Chicago
To get my ham bone boiled
I am going to Chicago
An get my ham bone boiled
Because these St. Louis women
Woo-well, going to let my ham bone spoil.

~