61 Highway Blues 5:18 Trk 4
Fred McDowell
Mississippi Fred McDowell - vocal and guitar
Recorded Feb. 13, 1965, Como Mississippi
Album: You Gotta Move, Arhoolie 304
Transcriber: [email protected]



(guitar)

Lord, that 61 Highway
It's the longest road I know-whoa
Lord, that 61 Highway
It the longest road I know-oh
She run from New York City
Down the Gulf of Mexico

Lord, it's some folks said them
Greyhound buses don't run
Lord, it's some folks said them
Greyhound buses don't run
Just go to West Memphis, baby
Look down Highway 61

I said, please
Please see somebody for me
I said ple-eee-ase
Please see somebody for me
If you see my baby
Tell her she's alright with me

(guitar)

I'm gonna buy me a pony
Can pace, fox-trot and run
I'm gonna buy me a pony
Can pace, fox-trot and run
Lord, when you see me, pretty mama
I be on Highway 61

I started school one Monday mo'ning
Lord, I throwed my books away
I started school one Monday mo'ning
Lord, I throwed my books away
I wrote a note to my teacher, Lord
I gonna try 61, today

(guitar)

Lord, if I hap'n a-die, baby
'Fore you think my time have come
Lord, if I hap'n a-die, baby, Lord
'Fore you think my time have come
I want you bury my body-yeah
Out on Highway 61

Lord, if yo' man
Should have you get *boogied', baby
Lord, don't want you to have no fun
If your man should have you get boogied'
Baby, don't want you to have no fun
Just come down to my little cabin
Out on Highway 61.

(guitar to end)

~

*boogied - pronounced more like 'bo-gee'd or 'bo-gin'
Refers to mean and/or cheap boyfriend, man or husband.
As in old blues lyrics 'My Man Is Boogan Me'
Lucille Bogan. (few lines below)
..'He won't buy me no shoes, he won't buy me no clothes
And he's got so lowdown, he wants to put me outdoors,
You know that's boogin' me'.