Phonograph Blues (Robert Johnson)

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:

1970 - Robert Johnson - San Antonio, Texas - Nov. 23, 1936 - ARC unissued (2 takes, take 1 first issued on Columbia C30034 1970, take 2 on Columbia 46222 1990) - 2'37 - Robert Johnson (v,g)
- guitar-part on take 1 very close to "Kindhearted Woman Blues", on take 2 similar to "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom"

1976 - Mike Wilhelm - on: Mike Wilhelm

1985 - Splinter Group - on: Supernatural

1988 - Alexis Korner, Colin Hodgkinson - on: Live in Paris

1994 - Johnny Nicholas - Topcat, on: Thrill on the Hill

1996 - Son Lewis - on: Next Train Smoking

1996- Terry Garland - Planetary, on: One to Blame

1999 - Ron Campbell - on: A Skinny White Man Sings the Blues

2003 - Little Toby Walker - on: Back in the Groove (various lyrics)

2004 - Pyeng Threadgill - on: Sweet Home

2004 - Vassar Clements - Livin' With the Blues

2007 - Brett Marvin and the Thunderbolts - on: Big City Beats

2007 - Richard Ray Farrell & Marco Pandolfi - on: Stuck On the Blues

2008 - Son Lewis - Dark Past

Version Take 1:

Beatrice, she got a phonograph,
And it won't say a lonesome word.
Beatrice, she got a phonograph,
And it won't say a lonesome word.
What evil have I done,
What evil has the poor girl heard?

Beatrice I love my phonograph,
But you have broke my windin' chain.
Beatrice I love my phonogra-ooo,
Honey you have broke my windin' chain,
And you've taken my lovin',
And give it to your other man.

Now we played it on the sofa, now
We played it side the wall.
My needles have got rusty babe,
They will not play at all.
Now we played it on the sofa,
And we played it side the wall.
But my needles have got rusty,
And it will not play at all.

Beatrice I go crazy,
Baby I will lose my mind,
And I go crazeeeee,
Honey I will lose my mind.
Won't you bring your clothes back home,
And try me one more time.

She got a phonograph,
And it won't say a lonesome word.
She got a phonograph,
Ooo, won't say a lonesome word.
What evil have I done,
Or what evil has the poor girl heard?

Version take 2:

Beatrice, she got a phonograph,
And it won't say a lonesome word.
Beatrice, she got a phonograph,
And it won't say a lonesome word.
What evil have I done,
What evil has the poor girl heard?

Beatrice I love my phonograph,
But you have broke my windin' chain.
Beatrice I love my phonogra-ooo,
Honey you have broke my windin' chain,
And you've taken my lovin,
And gave it to your other man.

And we played it on the sofa,
And we played it 'side the wall.
And we played it on the sofa,
And we played it 'side the wall.
But boys, my needles have got rusty,
And it will not play it all.

Mm, Beatrice, I love my phonograph,
Mm, baby, 'n' I'm 'bout to lose my min'.
Beatrice, I love my phonograph,
And I'm 'bout to lose my min'.
Won't you bring your clothes back home, baby,
Baby, 'n' try me one more time.

Now, my phonograph, mm-,
Baby, it won't say a lonesome word.
My li'l phonograph,
And it won't say a lonesome word.
What evil have I done,
What evil have the poor girl heard?

Now, Be-atrice,
Won't you bring your clothes back home.
Now, Be-atrice,
Won't you bring your clothes back home.
I wanna win' your li'l phonograph,
Just to hear your li'l motor moan.