I Need Lyrics to "Baby Please Don't Go" 1935, Big Joe Williams

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Blues Banjo Players

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This is a group for those of us who like to play blues on the banjo.

289 Members, Created 1/28/2011 -

Administrators: Marc Nerenberg (owner)

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From Lew H on 1/11/2016 5:24:34 PM

I'm trying to learn the song "Baby Please Don't Go," but I discovered that the early versions such as that recorded in 1935 by Big Joe Williams have more coherent lyrics (as well as I can decipher them) than the more recent recordings, so I want to work up a version reflecting the early version of the song, but sometimes the lyrics are not openly sensible.. Most every blues or blues rock group has recorded the song so there is a lot of variation in it. Wikipedia holds the song stems from imprisonment or enslavement and is related to songs such as "Another Man Done Gone" and other songs.

My take on the substance of Williams's 1935 recording is that it might be about the singer's having served time in prison, then cheated on by his lover while he was there. That's a big MIGHT BE, however, I have trouble understanding some lyrics--quite a few phrases in fact. While I don't hope to sing it word for word like this recording, I would like to get those basic themes in and something close to the original verses.

If anyone has the lyrics or a link to lyrics of this or another early version of the song, I would appreciate that information. Wikipedia summarizes the song's history (although the early phase is overly brief). Here is a link to Williams's 19935 song on youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g22l1hnAnlA

7 Comments
Big Tony says: 1/11/2016 6:45:50 PM Now, baby, please don't go Now, baby, please don't go Baby, please don't go back to New Orleans, and get your cold ice cream I believe that your man done gone I believe that your man done gone I believe your man done gone to the county farm Now, with them long chains on Turn your lamp down low You turn your lamp down low Turn your lamp down low, I cried all night long Now, baby please don't go I begged you the night before I begged you the night before I begged you the night before, turn your lamp down low Now, baby, please don't go I believe my baby done lied I believe my baby done lied I believe my baby she's lyin', sayin' she doesn't have a man Now, while I had my time Before I be your dog (Play it!) Now, before I be your dog Before I be your dog, I'll pack my trunk in the morning, baby Go back to Rolling Fork I believe I'll leave you here I believe I'll leave you here I believe I'll leave you here, 'cause you got me way up here And you don't feel my care Now, baby, please don't go Oh, baby, please don't go Now, baby, please don't go back to New Orleans, you know I love you so I believe you're tryin' to leave me here Tryin' to leave yor daddy here Tryin' to leave your daddy here, you got me way down here And you don't feel my care
Big Tony says: 1/11/2016 6:48:29 PM The second verse is probably not correct.
	Lew H says: 1/11/2016 7:44:47 PM Thanks, Tony. The second verse is close to what I hear. I couldn't understand the line. Also, I understood "Rolling Fork" to be "unknown? Farm." So I do appreciate your help. I heard other verses somewhere of the please don't go variety. "Please don't go down to New Orleans to get -----?" And, "Please don't go back to New Orleans, you know it hurts me so." I'll recheck my notes to see where I got these. Did you work these lyrics out on your own, or are they from some source? Thanks again! Lew
	Marc Nerenberg says: 1/11/2016 7:52:27 PM I think Big Tony's lyrics are all correct - except in the second verse I hear: "I believe a man done gone" instead of "your" man. Lighting Hopkins sings "shackles" instead of "long chains".
	Lew H says: 1/12/2016 7:13:04 AM Marc, Thanks. I'll recheck the Hopkins version. Lew
Big Tony says: 1/30/2016 4:03:04 PM @Lew: I worked out the lyrics on my own, so I'm the source. ;) Been transcribing blues lyrics for many, many years. @Marc: I think you are right about the second verse.
	Lew H says: 1/30/2016 7:08:19 PM My thanks to both of you. I've begun reading a bit of the scholarship on blues, and discovered my mistake: I came at this from a background of ballads sung by whites. They usually have a coherent story, but with some oddball phrases, ballad commonplaces (lilly white hand) and stock verses. The stuff I'm starting to read says that Africa and American blues never had a strong tradition of story-songs. Rather traditional blues is (was?) more spur-of the-moment, pulling verses, phrases, etc from other songs, experiences, etc. I was trying to make a ballad out of "Baby Please Don't Go." I'll give up on that foolhardy mission, and try to learn these suggestive lyrics.
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