Three Nights Experience- Earl Johnson (GA) 1927
[Earl Johnson's Dixie Entertainers featured guitarist Byrd Moore and banjoist Emmett Bankston and they recorded "Three Nights Experience" at their first recording session for Okeh Records on February 21, 1927. When Byrd Moore left, Johnson replaced him with guitarist Lee "Red" Henderson and formed The Clodhoppers. The new band became successful recording for Okeh Records in October 1927.
I assume the Bankston & Red Henderson's 1928 version (See: Six Nights Drunk) is an adaptation with different words of the one recorded in 1927 when Bankston was in Johnson's group. Johnson's 1927 version features a falsetto part (possibly copied from Gid Tanner) for the woman's part.
Gid Tanner's Skillet Licker version and Johnson versions are nearly identical. Unfortunately the 1926 Gid Tanner version was not issued and the 1934 version is a different group (still with Gid Tanner and Puckett).
R. Matteson Jr. 2013]
Three Nights Experience (W 30466-) - Earl Johnson & His Dixie Entertainers (vcl w/vln, bjo & gtr) - 02-21-1927. Atlanta, Ga.
OK45092 - 05-1927; Pa R3859
[Fiddle]
1. Well the first night when I come home
As drunk as I could be,
I found a horse in the stable
Where my horse ought to be. [1]
You come here my little wifie
Explain this thing to me.
How come a horse in the stable,
Where my horse ought to be?
You blind fool, you crazy fool
Can't you never see?
It's nothing but a milk cow
Your granny sent to me.
I've rambled this world over
For (a) thousand miles or more
Saddle upon a milk cow's back,
I never did see before.
2. The second night when I come home
As drunk as I could be
I found a coat a-hangin on the rack,
Where my coat ought to be.
You come here my little wifie
And explain this thing to me
How come a coat a-hangin' on the rack,
Where my coat ought to be?
You blind fool, you crazy fool
Can't you never see?
It's nothing but bed quilt
Your granny sent to me.
I've rambled this world over
For (a) thousand miles or more
But pockets upon a bed quilt
I never did see before.
3. (Well the) third night when I come home
As drunk as I could be
I found a head a-layin' on pillow
Where my head ought to be.
You come here my little wifie
Explain this thing to me
How come a head a-layin' on a pillow
Where my head ought to be?
You blind fool, you crazy fool
Can't you never see?
It's nothing but a cabbage head
Your granny sent to me.
I've rambled this world over
For (a) thousand miles or more
But (a) moustache on a cabbage head,
I never did see before.
[fiddle outro]
1. orter= ought to