Week Six

Robert Johnson

Hellhound on my Trail

I got to keep movin’, I got to keep movin’
Blues fallin’ down like hail, blues fallin’ down like hail
Hmm-mmm, blues fallin’ down like hail, blues fallin’ down like hail

And the days keeps on worryin’ me
There’s a hellhound on my trail, hellhound on my trail
Hellhound on my trail

If today was Christmas Eve, if today was Christmas Eve
And tomorrow was Christmas Day
If today was Christmas Eve, and tomorrow was Christmas Day
Aw, wouldn’t we have a time, baby?

All I would need my little sweet rider just
To pass the time away, huh-huh
To pass the time away

You sprinkled hot foot powder, mmm
Mmm, around my door, all around my door
You sprinkled hot foot powder
All around your daddy’s door, hmm-hmm-hmm

It keep me with ramblin’ mind, rider
Every old place I go, every old place I go

I can tell the wind is risin’, the leaves tremblin’ on the tree
Tremblin’ on the tree
I can tell the wind is risin’, leaves tremblin’ on the tree
Hmm-hmm, hmm-mmm

All I need’s my little sweet woman
And to keep my company, hey, hey, hey
My company

Terraplane Blues

And I feel so lonesome, you hear me when I moan
When I feel so lonesome, you hear me when I moan
Who been drivin’ my Terraplane, for you since I been gone.

I’d said I flash your lights, mama, you horn won’t even blow
(Spoken: Somebody’s been runnin’ my batteries down on this machine)
I even flash my lights, mama, this horn won’t even blow
Got a short in this connection, hoo well, babe, it’s way down below

I’m gion’ heist your hood, mama, I’m bound to check your oil
I’m goin’ heist your hood, mama, mmm, I’m bound to check your oil
I got a woman that I’m lovin’, way down in Arkansas

Now, you know the coils ain’t even buzzin’, little generator won’t get the spark
Motor’s in a bad condition, you gotta have these batteries charged
But I’m cryin’, pleease, pleease don’t do me wrong.
Who been drivin’ my Terraplane now for, you since I been gone.

Mr. highway man, please don’t block the road
Puh hee hee, please don’t block the road
‘Cause she’s reachin’ a cold one hundred and I’m booked and I got to go

Mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm
Yoo ooo ooo ooo, you hear me weep and moan
Who been drivin’ my Terraplane now for, you since I been gone

I’m gon’ get down in this connection, keep on tanglin’ with your wires
I’m gon’ get down in this connection, oh well, keep on tanglin’ with these wires
And when I mash down on your little starter, then your spark plug will give me fire

Love in Vain

I followed her to the station, with a suitcase in my hand
And I followed her to the station, with a suitcase in my hand
Well, it’s hard to tell, it’s hard to tell, when all your love’s in vain
All my love’s in vain

When the train rolled up to the station, I looked her in the eye
When the train rolled up to the station, and I looked her in the eye
Well, I was lonesome, I felt so lonesome, and I could not help but cry
All my love’s in vain

When the train, it left the station, with two lights on behind
When the train, it left the station, with two lights on behind
Well, the blue light was my blues, and the red light was my mind
All my love’s in vain

Hoo-hoo, ooh, Willie Mae
Oh oh hey, hoo, Willie Mae
Hoo-hoo, ooh, eeh, oh woe
All my love’s in vain


Sources

“Hellhound on my Trail” by Robert Johnson is in the public domain. This version was retrieved from Genius.

“Terraplane Blues” by Robert Johnson is in the public domain. This version was retrieved from Genius.

“Love in Vain”

by Robert Johnson is in the public domain. This version was retrieved from Genius.

License

Icon for the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

Poetry and Poetics Copyright © 2021 by is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.