Atlanta 6:03 Trk 20 Bukka White (Booker T. White) Recorded: Memphis, Tennessee Parchman Farm Blues - Roots RTS 33055 [email protected]
Bukka
is song Atlanta Special, here Runnin' all down Georgia All down the south An all through the Gulf of
When I was a boy I was startin' to this train And I never forget, I fifteen old.
I hear'd that train mo'nin That 8:45 was that rail I had my goin' to the field To do some for my old grandfather.
But when this train was comin' the line She up wit' it.
(guitar - comin' the line)
I say, 'Whoa!' My mule I 'cide to leave, I'd try the
I eased on out And I caught the old freight went on down
All down through Gulf of And else.
Oh, I got to about Atlanta, Georgia. I say, 'I I go back where my old live at.'
Oh, one night I was sittin' some corn down on the railroad track. I thought what my old grandmother told me ago. son: 'You got to reap you sew. If you be a good boy, you gon' bad luck.'
I me a record (they'll it) (This way Atlanta, Georgia)
This
I'm sorry, sorry, sorry, my home Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord!
When I back in Atlanta, Georgia Old lady lived, last name Ester. She said, 'Son, I one of your records Atlanta, Georgia. Said, 'Can you it, now?'
I reached back in my guitar and pulled raggedy guitar out. So to get back home I commenced to playin' this for Aunt Ester.
Lord, oh Lord, Lord, Lord! So glad I headed home
Old lady at me, did I want anything to eat? I was sittin' there lookin' out toward the track. I will forget it, she brought me ham an egg, an toasted an hot cup-a-coffee.
that straight line ten mile a-goin' to
I dropped my head an I my food. I said, 'Now, I got to ride this back'. She said, 'Son, is wrong?' I said, 'Well, Ester.' I said, got to go.'
train was turnin' tight that mo'nin.
(guitar- tight)
Aunt Ester 'Would I know that train if I could it?' She said, 'You're too young, you know nothin' too about hoboin'.
I said, 'Well, I ya Aunt Ester, if I can hear the bell on train I could tell you mo' it.'
When that train jumped to the mile curve, a bell will give you a like this:
(guitar- tolling)
Made me thought when my baby got sick n' she died. She's, they me up.
When she run in her mile curve She throw'd on the for la't ten mile.
(guitar - airbraking)
So, E. stops me. She says, you was born at?'
I said, 'Atlanta,
She said, 'That why you can that ol' guitar, can't cha!'
While we was talkin' she that train comin' into fifteen mile curve.
Two old was on that train, cryin' an supperin' pullin' the blind. A man give him a signal from the to the coach to slow down. You could hear him chokin' that train down comin' through Lou'siana this:
(guitar - train)
When the man throw'd that red on Him sho' know it come, fifteen mile curve.
I ease on off to the station I Aunt E stop, thank her for her food. She said, 'Son, forget what your mother, now, used to you Now, she said, Take easy.'
I jumped on out and got in the blind. That train on outta town.
(I was jumpin' down) (Hauled Georgia, Lou'siana)
on down to a place he called Port (?) (That's in Lou'siana)
(They was strippin' and ev'rything I done got in)
I get off the freight For a job aks the man for me to eat
He said, you strip sorgham? I said, I read it, but I ain't never did it He said, 'If you eat anything, you strip it!'
I 'cided to do a little a-work for him He in there an got me sorghum, molasses cornbread, cheese, hot cup a-coffee.
My train was in the The blowed! When I hear train blow, gettin' on I said I'm fixin' to t'stripin 'em.
(guitar to end)
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