So this morning I found myself laying in the bed not really wanting to get up. Just being lazier than I shoulda been since I's got's stuff ta get done. I finally got up but then was moving slower than one who has stuff to get finish should be moving. Then I came across a video that a fellow blogger and dope photographer (shameless plug>>>check him out http://sirrealphoto.blogspot.com/) Mr. WordSmith had posted from August Wilson's 'Piano Lesson', and it got me thinking of how no more than sixty years ago black men didn't have the luxury to choose to be lazy and lay in bed just a few more hours. And I shouldn't be taking opportunity for granted. So I been getting work done and playing these songs all morning to keep me going and to be my reminder of what my people went through, but also to realize how even in the hardest of times they still were able to create something so beautiful.
Berta, BertaBerta, Berta
Go ahead and marry don't ya wait on me
oh, ha
Go ahead and marry don't ya wait on me
Well now
Might not want ya when I go free
oh, ha
Might not want ya when I go free
Well now
Oh Alberta, Berta, oh, Lord gal, oh ha,
Oh Alberta, Berta, oh, Lord gal, well now (2x)
Raise em up higher let em drop on down (2x)
Well, don't know no difference When the sun goes down (x2)
Well, Berta in Meridian And she livin' at ease(x2)
I'm on ol Parchment, got ta, work on lead
Oh Alberta, Berta, oh, Lord gal, oh ha,
Oh Alberta, Berta, oh, Lord gal, well now (2x)
When you marry don't-ya marry a farming man
Every day a Monday hoe-hammer in your hand
When you marry, marry a railroad man
Every day a Sunay dollar in your hand
Oh Alberta, Berta, oh, Lord gal, oh ha,
Oh Alberta, Berta, oh, Lord gal, well now (2x)
Early in the Mornin'
Well, it's early in the mor--in the mornin'
Baby, when I rise, Lordy mama,
Well, it's early every mor--in the mornin'
A-baby when I rise well-a.
Well-a, when I rise, well-a,
Well-a it's early in the mor-in the mornin'
Baby, when I rise, Lordy baby,
You have-it's I have a misery, Berta,
Wa-, in my right side, well-a,
R-in-a my right side, Lordy baby,
R-in-a my right side, Lordy sugar.
Well it's I have a misery, Berta,
R-in a my right side, well-a.
CHORUS:
Well-a, it's-a, Lordy, Ro-Lordy-Berta,
Well, it's Lord (you keep a-talkin'), babe,
Well, it's Lord, Ro-Lordy-Rosie,
Well, it's, o Lord, Gal, well-a.
Well-a, whosonever told it, that he told a-
He told a dirty lie, babe.
Well-a, whosonever told it, that he told a-
He told a dirty lie, well-a.
Well-a, whosonever told it, that he told a-
He told a dirty lie, babe.
Well the eagle on the dollar-quarter,
He gonna rise and fly, well-a.
He gonna rise and fly, sugar.
He gonna rise and fly, well-a.
Well the eagle on the dollar-quarter,
He gonna rise and fly, well-a.
(Chorus)
Well, rocks 'n gravel make-a,
Make a solid road, sugar.
Well-a, it takes-a rocks-a, gravel make-a--
To make a solid road, well-a.
It takes-a rocks-a, gravel make a--
To make a solid road, well-a.
It takes a good-lookin' woman to make-a--
To make a good-lookin' whore, well-a,
It takes a good-lookin' woman, Lord, Baby,
To make a good-lookin' whore, Lord, sugar,
It takes a good lookin' woman to make-a,
To make a good lookin' whore, well-a.
(Chorus)
Boys, the peckerwood a-peckin' on the--
On the schoolhouse door, sugar.
Well, the peckerwood a-peckin' on the--
R-on the schoolhouse door, well-a.
Well, the peckerwood a-peckin' on the--
On the schoolhouse door, sugar.
Well he pecks so hard, Lordy, baby,
Until his pecker got sore, well-a,
Until his pecker got sore, Lordy, baby,
Until his pecker got sore, Lord, sugar.
Well he pecks so hard, Lord, mama,
Until his pecker got sure, well-a.
(Chorus)
Well, hain't been to Georgia, boys, but,
Well, it's I been told, sugar.
Well, hain't been to Georgia, Georgia.
But, it's I been told, well-a.
Well, haint been to Georgia, Georgia.
But, it's I been told, Lord, mama.
Rosie
Rosie
Be my woman, gal, I be your man,
Be my woman, gal, I be your man,
Be my woman, gal, I be your man.
Every day is Sunday´s dollar in your hand.
In your hand, Lordy, in your hand.
Every day is Sunday´s dollar in your hand.
Stick to the promise, gal, that you made me.(3x)
Wasn´t gonna marry me till-a I go free,
I go free, Lordy, I go free,
Wasn´t gonna marry me till-a I go free.
Chorus: Wo -- Rosie, o Lord, gal, Wo -- Rosie, o Lord, gal.
When she walks, she reels and rocks behind,
When she walks, she reels and rocks behind,
Ain´t that enough to worry convict´s mind.
Ain´t that enough to worry convict´s mind.
Chorus: Wo -- Rosie, o Lord, gal, Wo -- Rosie, o Lord, gal.
Be my woman, gal, I be your man, (3x)
Every day Sunday´s dolar in your hand. (Chorus)
till next time
stay random
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This was a dope affirmation for me...word
ReplyDeleteinteresting. Just reminds mee of the struggle my people went through and no matter what we always found a way to pull through...look how far we have come despite the struggle.wow
ReplyDeleteMan this music pulls at my soul so deeply. When I first heard Berta Berta I felt like I was sucked out of my skin and hurled down into the dirt. So raw, so powerful...it's hard not to cry.
ReplyDelete