Milkcow's Calf Blues (Milk Cow's Calf's Blues) (Robert Johnson, Traditional)

based on Kokomo Arnold

Sources:

Gissing, Werner: Mississippi Delta Blues: Formen und Texte von Robert Johnson (1911-1938). (Beiträge zur Jazzforschung. Studies in Jazz Research). Graz, 1986

Sheet Music:

King of Spades Music

Recordings:

1939 - Robert Johnson - Dallas, Texas - June 20, 1937 - AR 7-10-65 Vocalion 03665 (3 takes, take 1 unissued) - Robert Johnson (v,g) - guitar part similar to "Terraplane Blues", "Stones In My Passway" - listen on Wikimedia

1962 - Bob Dylan -- NYC - 70100-1,-3,-4 Columbia unissued, Sony, on: The 50th Anniversary Collection/The Copyright Extension Collection Vol. I (released 2012) - [The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan outtake]

1964 - John Hammond - Universe, on: Country Blues

2000 - Peter Green - on: Hot Foot Powder

2000 - Robert Lowery - on: Playing Out in the Street

2001 - Peter Green Splinter Group - on: Me & The Devil

2001 - Robert Palmer - on: Hellhound On My Trail: Songs of Robert Johnson

2004 - Eric Clapton - on: Me & Mr. Johnson

2004 - Pyeng Threadgill - on: Sweet Home - The Music of Robert Johnson

2006 - Rory Block - on: The Lady and Mr. Johnson

2009 - Paltàn Blues Band - on: Tuta Stanote - "El vedèlo"

 

 

 

 

 

see also: Good Morning Blues
Version take 2:

Tell me, milkcow,
What on earth is wrong with you?
Hooh, milkcow,
What on earth is wrong with you?
Now you have a little new calf,
Hooh, and your milk is turnin' blue.

An' your calf is hungry,
And I believe he need a suck.
An' your calf is hungry,
Hooh, I believe he need a suck.
But your milk is turnin' blue,
Hooh, I believe he's outta luck.

Now I feel like milkin'
And my, cow won't come.
I feel like chu'in'
And my, milk won't turn.
I'm cryin', please,
Please don't do me wrong.
If you see old milkcow, baby now,
Hooh, drive her home.

My milkcow been ramblin',
Hooh, for miles around.
My milkcow been ramblin',
Hooh, for miles around.
Well, she been followin' some other bullcalf,
Hooh, in this strange man's town.

Version take 3:

Tell me, milkcow,
What on earth is wrong with you?
Tell me, milkcow,
What on earth is wrong with you?
Well, baby, you have a new calf,
Hooh, 'n' your milk is turnin' blue.

Your calf is hungry,
An' I believe he need to suck.
(spoken: Well, you know, that calf done got hungry)
Your calf is hungry,
An' I believe he need to suck.
Well now your milk is turnin' blue.
Hooh, an' I believe he's outa luck.

Now, I feel like milkin',
An' my cow won't come.
I feel like churnin',
An' my milk won't turn.
I'm cryin', hooh,
Hooh, don't do me wrong.
You can get all that milk and butter now, baby,
Hooh, but stay at home.

My milkcow been ramblin',
Hooh, four miles aroun'.
My milkcow been ramblin',
Hooh, four miles aroun'.
She been followin' some other bullcalf,
Hooh, Lord, in this man's town.