Tying One Off

from The Steamer Sides by Cleveland Steamer

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about

An early Cleveland Steamer track, probably recorded sometime before the War. This is a document of the Depression Era Steamer, raw acoustic blues, with few sidemen, as Steamer could ill afford them.

The lyrics document Steamers days as a talent-for-hire, selling his unique fecundity to Well-to-do suburban women who wanted a brief walk on the wild side.

lyrics

Lyrics:

Well I believe mama,
I believe Ive somethin that you need
When Im a walking down the sidewalk
I see you beg and plead
Through you fancy clothes mama, I see your tremblin' knees

That boy can buy you diamond rings
Make you a blushin' bride
That boy can sit you in his Cadillac
And take you for a ride
But you know theres somethin' missin'
And it burns ya inside

Chorus:

Chorus:
So Let me tie one off,
Let me lay one down,
You's lost sho'nuff
Till you've found de brown
Everybody needs a little nasty
On the South Side of Town

Well I know you do right mama,
Just like a good girl should
You gotta job and a house,
with a fence made of wood
Aind you aint gonna leave your family
That much is understood

Just get on the L train baby
Down to Steamer's place
Dont got to wear no fancy clothes
Or make up on your face
And come on down and lie
In my chocolate embrace

You walkin on the wild side baby
On the South side of town
ye best be hoping ya man stay gone
while Steamers a-layin' one down."
Cause Ill love you and leave you baby
And I dont stick around

Let me tie one off
Let me lay one down
Sometimes you gotta sream baby
and push the devil out
Cause you aint born for routine baby
Of that their aint no doubt.

credits

from The Steamer Sides, released May 7, 2010

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Cleveland Steamer Dublin, Ireland

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