In this column: Tipple Blues, tipple, minecarts, Austin and Lee Allen, Tomcat Blues, Freddie Spruell, Caldwell "Mississippi" Bracey, Wilbur Joe "Kansas Joe" McCoy, Lightnin' Hopkins, Diamond Dust, hop, Cannon's Jug Stompers
Tipple Blues
Ain't gonna work on no tipple, ain't gonna load no coal,
Put my head out the window, watch my drive wheels roll, sweet mama,
REFRAIN: You can't read my mind
When you think I'm lovin' you, mama, I'll be quittin' you all the time
...
Ain't gonna marry, ain't gonna settle down
Stay right here, my mama, run these married women down, sweet mama
REFRAIN: You can't read my mind
When you think I'm lovin' you, mama, I'll be quittin' you all the time
Tipple =
1) drink alcohol, especially habitually (to drink liquor especially continuously in small amounts), those who liked to tipple and gamble
2) a device for overturning minecarts, so that they discharge their load
In Tipple Blues, 'tipple' has two meanings: it stands for hard work in a coal mine and the choice to live a free and 'loose' life.
Allen Brothers -Tipple Blues (1934)
The tipple
Tomcat Blues
It was late last night, I tried so hard to sleep
It was late last night, I tried so hard to sleep
When a mean old tomcat started on his midnight creep
Tomcat's in my window, tomcat's all around my door
Tomcat's in my window, tomcat's all around my door
I never heard so much moanin' and whinin' in my life before
...
Tomcat = a male domestic cat, but used here for a 'cat' looking for a sexual partner
Freddie Spruell – Tom Cat Blues (1924)
Wrong identity
Because there are often few photos of early blues musicians, an error is always lurking. The picture in the video is of Caldwell "Mississippi" Bracey. Wilbur Joe "Kansas Joe" McCoy is also sometimes mistaken for Mr. Freddie, and Sara Martin with Sylvester Weaver.
Lightnin’ Hopkins – Tomcat blues (1960)
Money never runs out - Cannon's Jug Stompers (1930)
Got a certain yellow joker lives around the town, yes he lays there as lazy as can be
Well as long as they shake it, then he hangs around, I love my hop, says he
Early one morning smoker ran away, to roam the world was said
Then I'll go back to bed for the pain in my head, I don't care if I never wake up
Now if my money was stacked high, I believe it to my soul 'twould touch the sky
I'd polish my teeth with a diamond dust, I don't care if the banks go bust
But my money don't never run out, rich fool, you're making me doubt
Well every good evening when the sun goes down I shout
Now I'm a living good all the time, I don't drink no cheap wine
Well it's always flirt, good money will never run out
...
Yellow joker, hop, smoker = a person addicted to smoking opium
Diamond dust = polish teeth, particular after smoking hop