High Sheriff Blues
by Charley Patton recording of 1929-1934 from Charley Patton: Founder Of The Delta Blues (Yazoo L-1020) Get in trouble at Belzoni , there ain't no use a-screamin' and cryin' Get in trouble in Belzoni, there ain't no use a-screamin' and cryin' Mr. Will will take you, back to Belzoni jailhouse flyin' Le' me tell you folksies, how he treated me Le' me tell you folksies, how he treated me An' he put me in a cellar, just as dark as it could be There I laid one evenin', Mr. Purvis was standin' 'round There I laid one evenin', Mr. Purvis was standin' 'round Mr. Purvis told Mr. Will to, let poor Charley down It takes booze and blues, Lord, to carry me through Takes booze and blues, Lord, to carry me through But it did seem like years, in a jailhouse where there is no boo' I got up one mornin', feelin' awe, hmm I got up one mornin', feelin' mighty bad, hmm An' it might not a-been them Belzoni jail I had (spoken: Blues I had, boys) While I was in trouble, ain't no use a-screamin' When I was in prison, it ain't no use a-screamin and cryin' Mr. Purvis the onliest man could, ease that pain of mine