Sweet Potato Blues by King David's Jug Band?

**taterbugman** · Jun-19-2011, 3:05pm

Theres an old recording from the 20s or 30s (?) by King David's Jug Band called Sweet Potato Blues, but I can't find the lyrics anywhere. If anyone knows this song and would post or email me the lyrics, it would be much appreciated.

I'll attach an mp3 as well, and maybe someone out there can figure it out for me. Thanks.

**Amandalyn** · Jun-19-2011, 8:55pm

Originally Posted by taterbugman

Theres an old recording from the 20s or 30s (?) by King David's Jug Band called Sweet Potato Blues, but I can't find the lyrics anywhere. If anyone knows this song and would post or email me the lyrics, it would be much appreciated.

I'll attach an mp3 as well, and maybe someone out there can figure it out for me. Thanks.

There's a version on you tube by Pokey Lafarge, but I can't understand him either. Maybe could put it in a slow down program to figure it out....something about taters on the vine, da da daa da
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSq2s...e_gdata_player

**taterbugman** · Jun-20-2011, 9:58am

Whew, that was pretty cool. Thanks for sharing!

**Steve Davis** · Jun-20-2011, 10:54am

Apparently by Lonnie Johnson in 1927: http://lonnie-johnson-sweet-potato-b...t.net/_/145853

**taterbugman** · Jun-20-2011, 11:31am

Lonnie Johnson wrote a completely different song by the same name..

**allenhopkins** · Jun-24-2011, 2:59pm

Trying to decipher LaFarge's lyrics:

No more taters, frost done killed the vine (2X)
No more good times, with that gal of mine.

I never loved her, and I hope I never will (2X)
For that desperate proposition, will get a good man killed.

There's another verse or two, which I find unintelligible. Free download of LaFarge's version here. Possibly your hearing's more acute than mine.

**MandoSquirrel** · Jun-24-2011, 5:44pm

adding to allenhopkins:
(first verse, each line starts "Ain't" *& I hear "potaters" and "girl" rather than "gal"; I don't hear "her" in the second verse)

I swear little puppy can be shaggy hound(?)
I swear little puppy can be shaggy hound(?)
Take it up with you(?) to run my brownskin down

My brownie caught a passenger left me a mule to ride
My brownie caught a passenger & left me a mule to ride
When the train pulled out the mule fell down and died

There's one thing certain, I sure can't understand
There's one thing certain, I sure can't understand
????
I can't get the last line yet, maybe later.
It's not an easy one to hear, & I'm sure it helps if you listen to a lot of recordings of this style and era. King David's were one of a bunch of great bands with their own sounds in the 1920's-30's.