Bukka White - Atlanta Special Lyrics
Atlanta Special 6:03 Trk 20Bukka White (Booker T. Washington White)Recorded: 1963 Memphis, TennesseeAlbum: Parchman Farm Blues - Roots RTS 33055Transcriber: Awcantor@aol.comNote - spoken story with few lines sungw/other male vocalist & toward end comments)Bukka begins:This is song Atlanta Special, hereRunnin' all down through GeorgiaAll down through the southAn all through the Gulf of MexicoWhen I was a little boyI was startin' to catchin' this trainAnd I never forget, I fifteen years old.I hear'd that train that mo'ninThat 8:45 was hittin' that railI had my mule goin' to the fieldTo do some plowin' for my old grandfather.But when this train was comin' down the lineShe picked up wit' it.(guitar - comin' down the line)I say, 'Whoa!'My mule stoppedI 'cide to leave, I'd try the worldI eased on out thereAnd I caught the old freight trainThat went on downAll down through Gulf of MexicoAnd ev'rywhere else.Oh, I got to thinkin' about Atlanta, Georgia.I say, 'I b'lieve I go back where myold grandmother live at.'Oh, one night I was sittin' downBoilin' some corn down on the railroad track.I thought about what my old grandmothertold me years ago.Said son:'You got to reap what you sew.If you don't be a good boy, you gon'have bad luck.'I made me a record(they'll buys it)(This way Atlanta, Georgia)This song:Sung:I'm sorry, sorry, sorry, left my homeMm-mm-mmLord, Lord, Lord, Lord!When I fell back in Atlanta, GeorgiaOld lady lived, last name Miss Ester.She said, 'Son, I heard one of your recordsabout Atlanta, Georgia.Said, 'Can you play it, now?'I reached back in my guitar caseand pulled m'old raggedy guitar out.So glad to get back homeI commenced to playin' this song for Aunt Ester.Sung:Lord, oh Lord, Lord, Lord!Mm-mm-mmSo glad I headed back homeOld lady starts at me, did I want anything to eat?I was sittin' there lookin' out toward the railroadtrack. I never will forget it, she brought me haman egg, an toasted cheese an hot cup-a-coffee.When that straight line ten mile a-goin' toI dropped my head an I dropped my food.I said, 'Now, I got to ride this train back'.She said, 'Son, what is wrong?'I said, 'Well, Aunt Ester.'I said, 'Booker got to go.'That train was turnin' tight that mo'nin.(guitar- turnin' tight)Aunt Ester ask-ed'Would I know that train if I could hear it?'She said, 'You're too young, you don'tknow nothin' too much about hoboin'.I said, 'Well, I tell ya Aunt Ester, if I canhear the bell on this train I could tell youmo' about it.'When that train jumped to the fifteen milecurve, a bell will give you a toll like this:(guitar- bell tolling)Made me thought about when my babygot sick n' she died. She's, they called me up.When she run in her fifteen mile curveShe throw'd on the airbrake for la't ten mile.(guitar - airbraking)So, Aunt E. stops me.She says, 'Where you was born at?'I said, 'Atlanta, Georgia'She said, 'That why you can play that ol' guitar, can't cha!'While we was talkin' she heard that train comin'into that fifteen mile curve.Two old ladies was on that train, cryin' an supperin'pullin' down the blind. A man give him a signalfrom the engine to the coach to slow down.You could hear him chokin' that train 'specially downcomin' through Lou'siana like this:(guitar - chokin' train)When the man throw'd that red light onHim sho' know it come, that fifteen mile curve.I ease on off back to the stationI tol' Aunt E stop, thank her for her food.She said, 'Son, don't forget what yourmother, now, used to told youNow, she said, Take life easy.'I jumped on out there and got in the blind.That train jumped on outta town.(I was steady jumpin' down)(Hauled through Georgia, Lou'siana)Right on down to a place he calledPort Teht (?)(That's in Lou'siana)(They was stripin' sorghumand ev'rything I done got hauled there)I get off the freight trainFor a job aks the man for meSomethin' to eatHe said, 'Can you strip sorgham?I said, I read about it, but I ain't never did itHe said, 'If you eat anything, you gon' strip it!'I 'cided to do a little piece a-work for himHe went in there an got me sorghum, molassescornbread, toasted cheese, hot cup a-coffee.My train was in the yardThe train blowed!When I hear that train blow, gettin' onI said I'm fixin' to stop t'strippin 'em.(guitar to end)~
