Bald Headed Woman
Black Ghost Blues
California Mudslide
Catfish Blues
Cemetery Blues
Contrary Mary
Darling, Do You Remember Me?
Death Bells
Goin' To Dallas To See My Pony Run
Home In The Woods
Jailhouse Blues
Lonesome Graveyard
My Black Name
My Grandpa Is Old Too
Never Miss Your Water
No Education
Sail On Little Girl
Smokes Like Lightnin'
The Howling Wolf
Too Many Drivers
Trouble Blues
Vietnam War
Wonder Why
Your Own Fault Baby, To Treat Me The Way You Do
Give me - I'm gonna take it - back that wig I bought you woman, oh Lord let your doggone head go bald Give me back that wig I bought you woman - I'm mad at you as I can be - let your doggone head go bald You know the special del'vry brought me a letter this mornin', cryin', woman you don't need no hair at all Special delivery man said he seed you on the corner last night - You was talking with another man - He said you was tagging all around with a - Whiskey bottle in your hand - I say give me back that wig I bought you, oh Lord let your doggone head go bald Yes you know the news I got from downtown, woman you don't need no hair at all (what you want with a woman who ain't got no hair? What's the matter with you girl?) I'm just gonna tell you - Po' Lightnin' is fair - I'm just gonna cut out one of these - Little locks of my hair Cause don't be bothered with you no more Yes I want you to have pretty hair here, hair every place we go.Top of Page
Black ghost, black ghost, please stay away from my door Black ghost, black ghost, will you please stay away from my door Yeah you know you worry po' Lightnin' so now, I just can't sleep no more Yeah you know I go to dreaming first night, black ghost is all po' Lightnin' can see I go to dreaming first night, black ghost is all po' Lightnin' can see You know that's why I begin to wonder why you keeps on worryin' me Black ghost is a picture, and the black ghost is a shadow too Whoa black ghost is a picture, and the black ghost is a shadow too You just can see him, but you can't hear him talkin' Ain't nothin' else that a black ghost can do Black Ghost Blues!Top of Page
Take me out this bottom, take me out this bottom baby, Little girl 'fore this water rise Take me out this bottom, take me out this bottom, Little girl 'fore this water rise Why you know I must be born by the devil Po' Lightnin' don't wanna be baptised (You see it's raining in all California when I said - The hide is sliding down off the hills - Many, many, many friends have lost their home - Just because the water was falling so hard and the mudslide had taken their home - And I said -) [guitar chorus, over which:] Then you know how it's happening now Take me out this bottom, take me out this bottom baby Po' Lightnin' can't feel satisfied Take me out this bottom, take me out this bottom Po' Lightnin' just can't feel satisfied Did you know how many friends of mine lost their home By that old mudslide? Don't take me to be wrong people, Forgive me for my mistakes You know, please, please, please, Forgive me for my mistake But after all that flood come in California, do you know The good Lord's ground begin to shake (They said an earthquake it was comin') [guitar chorus, over which:] Have mercyTop of Page
You know I wished I was a catfish Swimming in that deep blue sea I'd have all the good looking women there boy Fishing after me Fishing after me Ooh ooh... I went down to my baby's house She said, Lightnin', come on in Ain't nobody here with me good Lord You know I'm your friend You know I went down to my baby's house Lord I sat down on them steps She said, Come on in this house Lightnin', Husband just now left My husband just now left Sho nuff I'm by myself He just now left You know I went down to the river Started jump overboard and drown I thought about that little mama, turned around I went walking back to town Back to town Back to town Sho nuff, back to town You know I wish I was a catfish Swimming, Lord in that deep blue sea I'd have all the good looking womens Fishing after me Fishing after me Sho nuff Ain't lying Mmm mmmmTop of Page
Poor grandpa, he died but that's the debt we all got to pay Yeah, we livin' now but every livin' people done, whoa Lord, he gotta died one day Lord I followed the hearse down to the burial ground, see four men when they let poor grandpa down Yes I followed the hearse down to the burial ground, see four men when they let poor grandpa down - couldn't stand it, mercy, Lord - Yes you know it hurtin' me so bad, till I almost had a nervous breakdown Yes she know it was sad when we got back home, po' Grandma That's who I felt sorry for, and myself too in a way When we got back home, this is what Grandma say She: "Son, where's my bonnet" and she had it on her head You know it was sad time, sad time when grandpa died Whoa, we didn't have no place to go Grandma said "your good times is over, Grandpa is gone You'll never have no good times no more."Top of Page
Contrary, she contrary, she won't do nothing she say She contrary, she contrary, she won't do nothing in the world she say She done been married twice and her first husband, man he just let her have her way But you know I won't do that! You better change your way woman, little girl, Johnny tells you again - good advice! - You better change your way, little girl, Johnny tells you again Then you'll have better times, little girl and you'll have much o'friend One more, one more time'll do One more, one more time'll do Yes I'm gonna get me somebody else darling, then I'll be through with youTop of Page
Just to say hello, my little darling Do you remember me? Now it's been a great long time, I just wanna let you see. Hello, speak to me I been wondering, where can my little darling be? But it's been such a great long time, Darling do you remember me? I've been places, way over sea That's why I know you done forgotten all about poor me But just to say hello, Darling do you remember me? Your face, somethin' I wanna see Just to know darling, you used to enjoy with me But hello, hello darling, baby, do you remember me?Top of Page
Sound like I'm hearing moaning, death bell ringing all in my head Sound like I can hear moaning, death bell ringing all in my head Yeah I know that I was gonna leave on a chariot but I didn't know What kind of chariot gonna take me away from here I want you to remember every living people, every living people bound to die I want you to remember every living people, every living people bound to die Yeah you know when that chariot come at you, they'll break running, try to hide You all know my mama told me, you know my papa told me too You know my mama told me, oh papa told me too He said you know one day son, that chariot, oh Lord, coming after you Yeah you know the life I'm living, I've been living it for a many year You know the life I'm living, I've been living it for a many year I know the chariot was coming for me but I didn't know What kind of chariot gonna take me away from hereTop of Page
I'm goin' to Dallas, see my pony run Goin' to Dallas, just to see my pony run I'm goin' to Dallas, just to see my pony run If I win any money, gonna bring my baby some She's a cold black mare, put on a racetrack anywhere She's a cold black mare, put on a racetrack anywhere If I get to the place and it's crowded, I'll say have you got any room to spare? I'm going to Dallas, see my pony run Going to Dallas, see my pony run I'm going to Dallas, just to see my pony run She wins every race and I can't see how it's done She got a long life to live, cold black way remains Long life to live, cold black way remains When that horse wins that race she don't look like she's ashamed I'm going to Dallas, see her run one more time Going to Dallas, see her run one more time If she wins this race for Lightnin', I'm gonna tell her she can retireTop of Page
I'm gonna find me another home, I'm gonna find it way out in the woods I'm gonna find me another home, find it way out in the woods So I can let all them no good women know, whoa, I don't mean them no good Yes everybody tells me- in my neighborhood- You mess with a woman she don't mean you no good- I'm gonna find me a home, way out in the woods So I can let all these old no-good women know, I don't mean them no good She used to be a good woman but she didn't do what she should And that's the reason I'm gonna find me a home out in the woods I don't mean them no good Still I want you to know I did the best I could.Top of Page
Well I wouldn't mind staying in jail, but I've gotta stay there so long Well I wouldn't mind staying in jail, but I've gotta stay there so long You know it seem like all my friends, you know they done shook hands and gone Thirty days in jail, with my back turned to the wall Thirty days in jail, with my back turned to the wall Yes you know some other skinner (?) must be kickin' in my stall Hey mister jailer please, will you please bring me the key Hey mister jailer, will you please sir bring me the key I just want you to open the door, cause this ain't no place for meTop of Page
Sleep on, sleep on, sleep on Little girl, sleep on, just sleep on Sleep on, sleep on, Little girl, just sleep on, sleep on Well I know you're dead and resting darling, but one day I know the graveyard's gonna be my home (every living people got to die, human beings) Mama was rocking by the window, Howling: my poor child is dead, yes she's dead Yeah you know my poor child is dead and gone (What made me feel so good, she said this:) Sleep on, sleep on son, Do you know your mother is coming on? Whoa the graveyard ain't too beautiful, But it will give you a home so long. I wouldn't mind dying, Po' Lightnin' would just have to lay dead so long Wouldn't mind dying, but I'd have to lay dead so long That I wouldn't have a chance to come back here and tell my friends, No nobody, what is going on. Told my baby, don't worry if I die, darling, I know I'm gonna leave your little bed warm Don't worry if po' Lightnin' lay down and die, 'Cause I'm gonna leave your little bed very warm Whoa you know, I can't worry when I'm dead and gone, but one thing, Little girl, I know you is coming home.Top of Page
I can hear my black name ringing, oh hurryin' down the line I can hear my black name ringing, oh hurryin' down the line Whoa she got another man now, little girl won't pay me no mind You know that woman said that she loved me, but now I believe she was lyin' Yes she said that she loved me, but now I believe she was lyin' Whoa, I don't believe she love me no more Spider*, I believe I'm driving away my turn Whoa, that woman done quit me, and I'm just about to lose my mind That black woman done quit me, and I'm just about to lose my mind Whoa yeah, my black name was ringing, oh hurrying down the line* (Spider Kilpatrick, the drummer)
I want all you young people to know what to do Leave my grandpa alone 'cause he done got old too That's my grandpa, that's my grandpa That's my grandpa, sweetest man I ever saw Mama told me, oh, day of old Your grandpa stood by, tell this is told Now don't bother my grandpa 'cause he done got old too I ain't jivin', I ain't jokin' Ain't gonna never bother you My grandpa he shouts for joy Been takin' care of me ever since I was a boy He getting old now And he really is Really I know it 'cause I'm old myself My grandpa says son, take me a walkin' Say I wanna go where's the coolest place you know I say why, grandpa? 'Cause grandpa's getting old Tell all you people, done want you to understand Grandpa once have been a young man He getting old now He's getting to be an old man He can't remember 'morrow, but he still understands He look at me and he say, what's this all about? Give me my pipe son, and he had it in his mouth He's an old man, you know he don't got the mind, You see he don't hardly know what he's doing But he's still my grandpa But he ain't nothin' else to turn Tell all you young people, I don't mean no harm I just want you to leave my grandpa alone He says I've got old now, have pity on me If you bother my grandpa, I'm the one you gotta see My dear old dad.Top of Page
Never miss your water till your well run dry Never miss your water till your well run dry You know you never miss your little woman until she says goodbye Whoa you know, I'm my papa's baby, I'm my mama's baby child You know I'm my papa's baby, oh mama's baby child Whoa you know you never miss your water, Lord until your well go dry You know I've been wonderin', what makes a well run dry? Whoa you know, I've been wonderin', wonderin', oh boy what makes a well run dry? You know that's when the earth done settle down on the water, Ain't no more water passing by.Top of Page
Got not education, I'm just a fool in your town No education, I'm just another fool in town Yes first day I went to school, yes that sucker burn it down I can't read, can't even write my name I can't read, can't even write my name Yes but that ain't none o' your fault, Po' Lightnin' is to blame Mama done all she could, yes she did boy, yes to send this black man to school Yes she done all she could, send this black boy to school Yeah the first day I went there do you know, boy I broke my teacher's rule Yes... I broke it Ain't it a shame, ain't it a shame, way things happened to me Ain't it a shame, way things happened to me I went to school only one day and I didn't, learn my ABC's Bad luck happened to me!Top of Page
Sail on, sail on, little girl, sail on Well you know you gonna keep on a sailing, Till you lose your happy home You know I can remember First day she sail away Cryin', I gotta go now, Lightnin' I ain't got no place to stay Sail on, sail on, little girl, sail on Well you gonna keep on a sailing Till you lose your happy home Sail on, sail on, little girl, sail on Sail on, sail on, little girl, sail on Well you know when you sail away Po' Lightnin' ain't gonna stay here long Sail on... I remember last word she had to say I remember last word she had to say She said, Lightnin', I'm figurin' to sail I'm sailing on today Sail on.Top of Page
Whoa it smoke like lightnin', yeah but shine like gold Don't you hear me talking pretty baby, Smoke like lightnin', yeah but shine like gold Yeah you know I see my little fair one Lying there on a cooling bowl Yes I see the hearse one morning backed up to our door Don't you hear me talking? Soon one morning, backed up to our door Well you know I could see my little baby Lying there on a cooling bowl Well my baby died and left me, Laid her on a cooling bowl Yes she died and she left me, They laid her on a cooling bowl Well they said, Lightnin' she's gone and left you now boy, You will never see her smiling face no more Well it was sad... Well I followed my baby, followed my baby Down to her burying ground Well I followed my baby, followed her Down to her burying ground Yeah it didn't hurt me so bad till I'd seen Poor miss when they let her down You know I done lost my little fair one I guess the next thing will be me I done lost my little fair one I guess the next thing will be me Whoa I ain't dead, no boys, But Po' Lightnin' sinking by degree By degreeTop of Page
(Sound like I hear that wolf howlin'...) Yeah I'm the wolf and everybody in the world, Trying to find out who I prowl I'm the wolf and everybody in the world, They're trying to find out who I hound Well you know they can't see me at night, But they can hear me when I howl (Howl, wolf... I said howl... Now you're howlin'!...) I take time when I'm prowlin', Wipe my tracks out with my tail (A lot of people wonder why I do this but I wanna tell you) I take time when I come prowlin', Wipe my tracks out with my tail That's in order that no one discover, Whoa Lord he can't cross my trail I'm that wolf, dig a hole, Stick my nose down in the ground (hound) I'm that wolf, dig a hole, Stick my nose deep down in the ground Yeah you know I'll be hiding right at you baby, You'll think I'm way out on the outskirts of town (That's that wolf)Top of Page
Baby you got too many drivers, Lord when you ain't got but just one wheel Baby you got too many drivers, oh Lord when you ain't got but just one wheel Yeah you know thinks look mighty funny when two mens, oh Lord, driving your little automobile Yeah you know I'd rather be rolling down, I'd be rolling down off a sandy hill Yeah you know I'd rather be rolling down, I'd rather be rolling down a sandy hill Yeah I know you got so many drivers, and you ain't got but one little wheel Baby you oughta go ahead on, I said and sell your little automobile Yes you oughta go ahead on, woman and sell your little automobile Yes you know out of all them drivers you've gotten, you're lucky if you don't get someone killedTop of Page
This is the trouble blues, that Lightnin' Hopkins is havin' at the present, which I hope it don't last all week. Trouble, trouble, trouble, Trouble is all in the world I see Trouble, trouble, trouble, Trouble is all in the world I see Yeah you know I often wonder What in the world gonna become of me Now when I wake up in the mornin' Blues and trouble all 'round my bed When I wake up in the mornin' Blues and trouble all 'round my bed Yeah you know I never will forget Last what I heard my baby said What did she say boy? She said "Lightnin' I'm leavin' you in the mornin' And you cryin' won't make me stay" She said "I'm leavin' you in the mornin' Lightnin' your cryin' won't make me stay" I just said "I hope, little girl, Po' Lightnin'll meet you again some day" And she got sad and I did too, we had to moan a little Well I had to tell 'r: "If you just gotta go Hope I'll meet you again some day If you just gotta go Hope I'll meet you again some day Yes when I do little girl You'll be done changed your evil way"Top of Page
Mama said Son, how can you be happy when your brother way over in Vietnam? How can you be happy when your brother way over in Vietnam? I told her - I said Mama he may got lucky and win some money Oh he got to may bring some money back home Mama looked at me She said that ain't no way to talk about your brother But he's my child too She said Mister Johnson is tellin' everybody Exactly what he want them to do All right my child What if Uncle Sam was to call you boy? (I would be so lonesome) Oh I would miss you so much I may die Yes if Uncle Sam should call you, Oh Lord I miss you so much I may die Yeah you know when you get over yon' and get to fightin' them soldiers, Yeah you know you're gonna be fightin' way upon my heart.Top of Page
Wonder why! You said you leavin', I couldn't see the reason why Baby you know you is in my life Yes you leavin', gonna leave Po' Lightnin' And I can't see the reason why But just as sure as heaven hand like hell above Baby I want you to remember little girl You're the one I love And you leavin', ain't tellin' me nothin' You won't say what for, You won't say what for You said you loved me, find out you were lyin' But it's gonna come a day, you gonna love me in your time You're gonna think about Po' Lightnin' In your lonesome time A many night, sit in my home alone Thinkin' about you woman, knowed you was gone That's all right, I'll sit here and moan I'll sit here and moan Look like the sun ain't gonna shine no more Darkness done caught me, no light in my door But that's all right, I'll forever worryin' Until I see you again tonight Again tonight A many day, I sit down and cry Thinkin' about you left me dissatisfied But that's all right, that's all right baby, Mmm that's all right, baby that's all right But that's all right.Top of Page
Your own fault, baby, treat me the way you do It's your own fault baby, treatin' me the way you do It's your own fault baby, darlin' in treatin' me the way you do You know I did everything for right, I did everything I could to help you Whoa you once said that you loved me, yes but I found out you were lyin' Yes you once said that you loved me, found out you were lyin' Well you know you can't quit me black woman, and there ain't no need in you tryin' Whoa but still you my baby, don't make no difference what you may do Yes you still my baby, don't make no difference what you may do Yes I know you know little woman, how long I been in love with youTop of Page