Stoney Pony Blues
by Charley Patton recording of 1929-1934 from Charley Patton: Founder Of The Delta Blues (Yazoo L-1020) Well saddle my pony, saddle up my black mare Baby, saddle my pony, saddle up my black mare I'm gonna find a rider , baby, in the world somewhere "Hello central, the matter with your line?" "Hello central, matter, Lord, with your line?" "Come a storm last night an' tore the wire down" Got a brand new Shetland, man, already trained Brand new Shetland, baby, already trained Just get in the saddle, tighten up on your reins An' a brownskin woman like somethin' fit to eat Brownskin woman like somethin' fit to eat But a jet black woman, don't put your hands on me Took my baby, to meet the mornin' train Took baby, meet that mornin' train And the blues come down, baby, like showers of rain I got somethin' to tell you when I gets a chance Somethin' to tell you when I gets a chance I don't wanna marry, just wanna be your man __________ Note: Patton recorded two versions of this song. The first was entitled " Pony Blues " while the second changed to "Stoney Pony Blues" This is one of Patton's most popular pieces. Most Delta musicians had a version of "Pony Blues" in their repertoire, Son House recorded a "Pony Blues" in his 1942 Library of Congress recordings. Tommy Johnson's "Bye Bye Blues" and Willie Brown's "M&O Blues" are both derivatives from the same source. As to which came first has never been clearly established.