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Black Dress Blues
Traditional blues arranged by Nimrod Workman
ARTIST: Nimrod Workman;
CATEGORY: Jazz, blues and Tin Pan Alley songs; DATE: circa 1976;
RECORDING INFO: Black Dress Blues
Workman, Nimrod. Meeting's a Pleasure: Folk-songs of the Upper South (MTCD341-2 and MTCD343-4)
SOURCES: Meeting's a Pleasure: Folk-songs of the Upper South (MTCD341-2 and MTCD343-4)
NOTES: Black Dress Blues comes from Nimrod Workman and appears on Meeting's a Pleasure: Folk-songs of the Upper South (MTCD341-2 and MTCD343-4). It was recorded by Mark Wilson and Ken Irwin, Chattaroy, WV on 3/01/76.
Liner notes: Nimrod said that long ago he and a mining buddy heard black workers singing in this fashion out in the fields and decided to create up their own version. In fact, he supplies a quite credible account of an old-fashioned field holler, which isn't surprising, for much of Nimrod's singing possessed this mournful cry in any case. The first two verses seem original, whereas the rest represent that peculiar blend of broadside commonplace with African-American expression that characterize early blues lyric.
Got up this morning, baby, blues all on my mind
Well, I heard that rooster crowing, well, the blues was all on my mind.
Oh, if you stay out tonight, baby, please wear (carry?**) your black dress long (x2)
'Cause the devil's going to be your man, honey, hell'll be your brand new home.
Well, I seen that hearse a-coming, six white horses all in a line
Six white horses all in a line
They gonna carry me away, baby, to my burying ground.
Go dig my grave with a silver spade
Go dig my grave, baby, with a silver spade
And with every ring you can call my name
'Cause I'm going to be gone, gone, baby, a long, long time.
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