Western Union blues from 1926 + KSH from 32

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Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 9:41 pm

Just thought I wanted to share. I had an half hour to kill anyway.

Western Union appears in quite a number of pre war blues titles, maybe I´ll do a list at one time, usually it´s about receiving telegrams but at times also about getting (train) fares sent to; this time it´s about a long-distance phone call.
Nevertheless, some lines are actually quite fitting. Sorry for the bad quality.

Quote:

"Papa Freddie" Spruell: Way Back Down Home

I went to the Western Union just to turn up a telephone,
I´m going to telephone her in Memphis, I really mean I was dragged down home.

Some people say that I am right now, listen, some say I´m wrong,
You know I can´t have a darn steady when I ain´t doing anything but being dragging down home.

I mean I´m used to drinking and I´m used to a seeing a great good time,
Think I´ll be way back down home, Lord, where I sure won´t clog/cluck? my mind.

Now the ticket agent she told me when the Western Union agent gave me my number wrong:
"You sure can get your number but you can´t come when I will drag down home."

"Tell me now what´s the matter, darling, something must have been going all wrong!
Now you are just like get another girl here, I really mean here now from way back down home!"

"Now listen now, baby, now don´t you tell me wrong!
I must have been having the right number when I went to Western Union to have the telephone."

Kind of fitting, yes Smile

"Mister Freddie" Spruell : Way Back Down Home"

As for getting actual money sent to by Western Union, King Solomon Hill´s "The Gone Dead Train" comes to mind but I won´t post this, too, it´s on the web as public domain anyway. The singer asks the conductor "let me ride the blinds", he says "I´m sorry, this train ain´t mine." and continues with "You might go to the Western Union, you might get a chance, you might get some of your people sending you fare, you are asking me in vain."

Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 10:04 pm

He could see into the future!
I'm off to see if I can find a copy.

Voice drifting away singing: "Now the ticket agent she told me when the Western Union agent gave me my number wrong..."

Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 2:15 am

What a fantastic find for the ol' K7 hold music!!!!

Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 9:50 am

It´s on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sO1l41xvsUQ

LINK has the lyrics, the stanza of interest is:

Quote:

Oooo-ooh, I wanna ride your train
I said, "Look here, engineer, can I ride your train?"
He said, "Look here, you oughta know this train ain't mine and you're asking me in vain"

Said, "You go to the Western Union, you might get a chance"
(Spoken: I didn't know the Western Union run no train)
Said, "You go to the Western Union, you might get a chance"
You might get wire to some of your people and your fare will be sent right ahere
(Spoken: Hadn't thought that's the way it is)

I wanna go home, and that train is done gone dead
I wanna go, that train is done gone dead
I done lost my wife and my three little children, and my mother's sick in bed

Oooo-ooh please, help me win my fare
'Cause I'm a travelin' man, boys I can't stay here

Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2010 12:52 pm

How big is your collection? I'll bet it is hard to find old blues LP like that. Nice.

Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2010 7:29 pm

Hehe well I spent a big part of the 1990ies and early 2000s weeks for overseas parcels Smile

Some 150 CDs of this particular genre and maybe 50 LPs, it´s not that much. I have no original 78RPM records (of this genre) like the two label shots above, they go too high on ebay and would lose value with each playing.

There are a few more W U Blues but it´s like I said, usually centering around receiving (no) telegrams.

Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2010 8:44 pm

Maybe you saw

THIS ARTICLE

in the New York Times a few weeks ago. Badgerbait is right, it is hard to find old Blues LPs and EPs. And expensive.

Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2010 10:07 pm

Thanks

I read it on a specialized forum already.

Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2010 10:54 pm

Quote:

Said, "You go to the Western Union, you might get a chance"
(Spoken: I didn't know the Western Union run no train)
Said, "You go to the Western Union, you might get a chance"
You might get wire to some of your people and your fare will be sent right ahere
(Spoken: Hadn't thought that's the way it is)

After listening. That is still true to life now.
All those years...

Edit: Now I'm off on a tangent on YouTube listening to old blues (which I love).
See if I can find any "Mississippi John Hurt".
Finger picking good! Very Happy

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