Careless Love- Lonnie Johnson (LA) 1928 REC
[Recording by Lonnie Johnson - Nov. 16, 1928 - New York City - 401337-B; OKeh 8635. Johnson b. February 8, 1899 played this in fingerstyle blues style. He won a recording contract with Okeh in a 1925 blues contest and became one of their leading artists from c. 1926-1929. When the depression hit-- it slowed sales although he continued recording for Okeh until 1932.
Johnson's version was covered by "Champion Jack" Dupree, an American blues and boogie-woogie pianist/singer and others.
R. Mateson 2017]
CARELESS LOVE- Sung by Lonnie Johnson of New Orleans, Louisiana, Nov. 16, 1928.
Love, oh love, oh careless love
Love, love, oh careless love
You have caused me to weep, you have caused me to moan
You have caused me to lose my happy home.
Don't never drive a stranger from your door,
Don't never drive a stranger from your door,
It may be your best friend knockin', on your door,
Then it may be your brother, you will never know.
Careless love, look how you carry me down,
Careless love, look how you carry me down,
You caused me to lose my mother and she's layin' in six feet of ground,
Careless love I can't let you carry me down.
Careless love, you drove me through the rain and snow
Careless love, you drove me through the rain and snow
You have robbed me out of my silver and all of my gold
I'll be damned if you rob me out of my soul.
You've worried my mother until she died,
You've caused my father to lose his mind,
Now damn you, I'm goin' to shoot you and shoot you four, five times
And stand over you until you finish dyin'.