Alcohol Blues - Original - John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson

Chicago, September 19, 1947

with Eddie Boyd — piano, Willie Lacey — guitar

Ransom Knowling — sb, Judge Riley — drums

Album Complete Recorded Works Vol 5

October 19, 1945 — November 12, 1947

Document Records DOCD 5059

I went down 31st Street, now

Just to buy me a drink of alcohol, honey

I went down 31st Street, now

Just to buy me a drink of alcohol, now

I told the old man to cut it half full a-water

But that old man, y’know, didn’t-a put any drop at all in So, I’m drinkin’mine straight out-a-can

See, an I went jus’staggerin’on down the street, now

I drinkin’my straight out a-can, now

So I went jus’staggerin’down the street, now

Now but my head got so heavy

My eyes couldn’t even give a-peepin', now

Alright, Lacey

(guitar &instrumental) ee!

My baby tells me, 'Papa, Papa'

She says, 'Sonny Boy, you know you ain’t no good at all now'

My baby tell me, 'Papa, Papa’now

She says 'Sonny Boy, you know you ain’t no good at all'

She says, 'The reason you don’t make me happy

Because you drink too much of this old alcohol now'

I said, 'But baby won’t you go ridin’now

Oh, can I take you ridin’in my car now?'

I said, 'But baby won’t you go ridin’now

Can I take you ridin’wit me in my car now?'

She said, 'But I’m scared you gonna drink alcohol

Says, Sonny Boy, then we wouldn’t ride very far.