Message Board Archive: Thread Number 121

I was fortunate enough to see Pat Donohue live recently. What a treat!
If you want to have a fun time and see some awesome acoustic fingerstyle
blues, check him out. He's definately keeping the blues alive. I bought
his latest CD, "Big Blind Bluesy" and it is great! One song he does that
I would love to find tab for is the Statesboro Blues. Can anyone help. I
found several versions with just the chords, but I want the tab to be
able to fingerpick. Thanks.

Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1998 20:42:53 -0400 (EDT)
From: hclewman@mindspring.com (Harry Lewman)
Subject: Feedback: Statesboro Blues
Message Number: 121.1

I don't have any tab, but I know that McTell played it in drop D tuning.
If you play bare fingered, unlike me, you have a better chance
replicating his delicate top string picking.

Do you have the McTell recording? Does anyone else think that this
recording is a little higher in pitch than McTell actually played?

One thing that makes the song come alive for me is getting all the
lyrics right, and in the right order. The words "Statesboro Blues" are
not sung until the song seems to be nearly over. I love the poetry of
the lyrics.

Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1998 11:26:56 -0400 (EDT)
From: andrewm@martlet1.lan.mcgill.ca (Andrew)
Subject: More: Statesboro Blues
Message Number: 121.1.1

Speaking of the lyrics to Statesboro Blues, what is
McTell singing in the second line of the "Big Ada left Savannah.."
verse:
Big Ada left Savannah you know he would not stop (or something)
You oughta see the ????? ???? ??? ????....
(I don't have a tab, but do play it in dropped D...)
Andrew

Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1998 12:08:18 -0400 (EDT)
From: ari@secondmind.com (Ari Eisinger)
Subject: Feedback: Statesboro Blues lyrics
Message Number: 121.1.1.1

As I remember (no McTell recordings handy at the moment), he seems to be
singing:

   Big Eighty left Savannah
   [Swore] she could not stop
   Oughtta seen that colored fireman
   When he got the boiler hot
   [Said] I'm going up the country
   Mama don't you want to go
   May take me a fair brown
   May take one or two more.

Any other interpretations?

Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1998 19:52:28 -0400 (EDT)
From: hclewman@mindspring.com (Harry Lewman)
Subject: Feedback: Lyrics, cont.
Message Number: 121.1.1.1.1

Big eighty left Savannah, Lord it did not stop You oughta saw that
colored fireman when he got them boilers hot. You can

reach over in the corner mamma and hand me my traveling shoes.

You know by that I've got them Statesboro Blues.

>From the version on Yazoo L-1005 1927-1933 The Early Years

Date: Fri, 30 Oct 1998 14:28:26 -0500 (EST)
From: criderb@exempla.org (Carbon Man)
Subject: Feedback: StatesBoro Blues tab
Message Number: 121.1.1.1.1.1

Hey, I learned this tune from Rory Block's audio lessons from HomeSpun
Tapes. This version is done in a drop d tuning. A fun arrangement.
Thanks for the lyrics!!!

Date: Mon, 19 Oct 1998 21:31:21 -0400 (EDT)
From: hclewman@mindspring.com (Harry Lewman)
Subject: More: Tab for Statsboro Blues Woody Mann
Message Number: 121.2

I was just looking at Woody Mann's web site and saw listings:
http://www.woodymann.com/products1.htm The book he has titled The
Anthology Of Blues Guitar has Statesboro Blues as one of its entries.
Suprisingly it says the author is Scrapper Blackwell, but I think this
must be a mistake in the web description. The book cover shows a photo
of Blind Willie McTell.

Looks like a good book, and he certainly has a good reputation. Anyone
have the book?

Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1998 23:16:28 -0500 (EST)
From: Owner-HyperNews@ComCAT.COM (DocJohn)
Subject: I have this book and the tab is helpful. Matches McTell's playing...
Message Number: 121.2.1

and the rest of the material in the book is a good representation of
various bluesmen's playing.

Regard John