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Hello friends! I wrote this today from a series of articles in the newspaper. No names of course. Sorry for the long length. I hope you will find it interesting. It's blues so no chorus or bridge. I am pairing the verses for the sake of space. A bit of explanation: The electric chair is called "Yellow Mama" here in Alabama. Thanks to anyone who takes the time to read.

Yellow Mama Blues

Intro: (Spoken)
Way down south in Alabama
Holman Prison's got a chair
They all call it Yellow Mama
When you walk that last mile...
She's waitin' there


Got a date with Yellow Mama
Twelve-oh-one on Friday morn
Guess she's had her eye on me
Since the day that I was born
Been doin' time on Death Row
In these walls for fourteen years
Yellow Mama gonna buy me
A one-way ticket outta here

Didn't care too much for schoolin'
Never learned to read or write
Livin' on the wrong side
Hard luck waitin' all my life
Walked hand in hand with trouble
Been that way since God knows when
Stuck closer than a brother
Trouble was my only friend

Couldn't stand to see my woman
Happy with another man
Shot 'em both in cold blood
Killed one more before I ran
Swam across that muddy river
Two hard weeks lived off the land
Because I needed money
Saw my chance and killed again

Caught up with me in Gainesville
On the run for forty days
Worked them sheriffs overtime
Most wanted man in seven states
Had me some decent lawyers
But that jury wouldn't budge
Got tried and convicted
A dozen people and a judge

Can't blame my home or family
They all did the best they could
Sometimes a man just goes bad
Guess my Daddy understood
Can't say if I'm really sorry
I'm a stranger to regret
When they strap me in that chair
Ol' Yellow Mama won't forget

Too late for me Sweet Jesus
Ol' Yellow Mama wants my soul
Though I never really knew you
Have mercy when my body's cold
Don't know what I'll see there
Over on the other side
If even hell don't want me
Ol' Yellow Mama knows she tried

(Tag)
Yellow Mama ain't no lady
Gonna feel her power to the bone
Paper's gonna call it justice
Twelve-oh-one on Friday morn




[This message has been edited by bama43 (edited 06-28-2001).]

Howdy gal, it's about time, lol. This is pretty good stuff Janice. Reminds me of some of Robert Johnson's work. You haven't been making any deals with anyone I hope, lol. At least not at a crossroads!

Don't see much to pic here. I liked it all. The part about Hell not even wanting him just blew me away. Good work!

David

Bama,
Damn.....WOMAN.....all those verses and I wouldn't change not one word.
Excellent writing......not my cup of tea for "subject matter" but hey someone has to do it right?!
You did an excellent job on this Kudos
and I'm glad you decided to post it. It was general enough not to make it too much of a downer. I never knew "Yellow Mama" was the chair.
Pam

Hello Bama

Been gone awhile myself, and its good to see you back on the board....and with a good one.

I like Haggards 'Branded Man, Mama Tried, and others of this type and this one is right up there with them.

Tried to pick out a part I like the best, But I like it all.

Yellow Mama, now thats a colorful name for the chair.
Couldn't help but think the expression 'Come to (Yellow) Mama' would be appropriate.
Would really like to hear it to music

Allen

Howdy Bama...this one is superb, sisth!! I love the blues and this one is there IMO. Didn't see any problems to nit. I never heard the chair referred to as Yellow Mama either..but it sounds like a great title. You did an excellent job with this story.

Bobbie

Wow bama. This is great! You captured all the grit necessary for a blues song...and the story kept my eyes glued to it. I do have one small nitpick...these two lines: "Sheriff's workin' overtime/
Most wanted man in seven states"...make it sound like the sheriff is wanted in seven states...if you read it literally (though I knew what you were saying, of course). I'd suggest "I'm wanted in six southern states" or something similar. It's just a nitpick and no one else caught it, so it may just be me being picky. I loved the lyric, anyhow. The first four lines are awesome and set a great tone for the song. Good writing!

Corey

Mornin' Bama,

Excellent song! The storyline and rhyme scheme were so tight they were crisp. Though is rolls easy off the tongue, this one has the snap that is a signature of a superb blues tune. Good job. Kudos.

dawg

Mornin Bama: This is such a good story and so well written in standard blues form that any blues player would have fun playing and singing this song.Good luck with it.

normanrock

Bless you David! Thanks for the comparison! Quite a compliment for any blues lover! No deals at the "Crossroads"!!
We gotta work on another blues number soon!

Thank you so much Pam! I always appreciate your support so much! I know what you mena about this subject. I was a bit hesitant to even write it but the words just kept on falling in place so I just had to do it!
Thanks again!

Allen it's so good to see you back! I have been absent a lot lately also and I have missed everyone. I am so glad you like this. Wow! comparison to a Haggard song. Now that is good company! Thanks so much for the support. Would have loved that "Come to Yellow Mama" line when I was writing this. If this is ever done live it could be kinda spoken at the end, huh? thanks for the suggestion!

Hey Janice, real nice!

Thought this was a real good treatment, totally non judgemental and objective, letting us make up, out own minds about this person and capital punishment.

Not a nit girl!
John

Damna Bama!! That's some powerful stuff. I had no idea what I was getting into when I saw the title. Still didn't know till I got right down deep in it!! That's a song that's gonna leave a mark!! Really really well written....

Good stuff! No nits,

Tink

Gotta ask Barma. I write no chorus blues and I get told i need one and now you tell me blues dont use em?????
Only things i am not sure of is yelow momma. I presume it is a name for a rope or the chair or the final needle. Again??????
Other thing was as pointed out by Corey. That line stuck some.
I like the overtime thing but can't se a way of tying it to the next line without blowing the melody.
Sheriffs' all huntin' for. Is best i can come up with here Barma.
It is a burster song.
Thanks for the look at SDpirit Barma. Think yo and Sharon fixed what ailes here.
Regards.
Graham


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http://artists2.iuma.com/IUMA/Bands/Graham_Henderson/

Miz Bobbie thanks so much for your time and your kind words. I am so glad you liked this since I had reservations about posting it. Your good opinion means a great deal to me!

Corey thanks so much for your kindness! So glad you found this interesting. Big Time thanks for pointing out that "iffy" line. I believe I have a fix for it. How about:

"Worked them sheriffs overtime"

I think that will work out and doesn't lose anything. Thanks again!!

Mornin' Dawg! Thanks SO much for your kind words. That means a lot coming from a master story teller such as yourself. I'm glad you enjoyed this!

Mornin' Norman! Thanks so much for taking a look and for your gracious comments. I am glad you enjoyed this!

Bama, I like this! Very bluesy, very earthy! No nits and I’ve learnt about Yellow Mama.

Good stuff!

Nigel

Well. I looked Bama. Just skimmed over the comments. Not all that up on blues so can't comment on structure.
Subject matter might limit the "commercial" aspect but would still have a definite place Think you handled it well.
The rhythm flowed perfectly for me.
Couple words I would change, You may not.
In the second verse--Hard luck waitin--like he got by until this incident, butthen sounds like trouble all his life. Maybe--
Hard luck dogged me all my life --or something like that
In v 5 maybe "hope" in place of "guess" but might just be me.
I've seen some good stuff from you but IMO this might be one of your best.
The tag really put the finishing touch to it . Good work

Hi John! Thanks for taking the time to read and reply! You are always appreciated. Glad you liked this!

Cindy thanks so much for your support!! I am so glad you enjoyed it. I appreciate you taking the time.

Great job J,
I've never tried to write a song about a true story myself. I expect it would be pretty hard. A few people who post here seem to have a knack for it. I see that you do too.

GJ

Graham thanks for taking a look. You and Corey were absolutely right about that line. I have fixed it I hope. I am sending you an email with a link that will clear up all your unanswered questions and will explain Yellow Mama. Thanks again!

Hey Bama,
One grade "A" piece of writing! That title is cool as cool can be!

Thanks for the email Barma.
Was thinking of this last night and fel one thing that really bugs me with it is the fact this bloke is gunna get zapped and so it is never gunna be sung once they throw the switch.
So I think it should go to third person.
Got into blues mode and have done a cut and paste with offered sugestions where metre throws me and hopefully toward the third person thing.
Here we go. writing in the box.
Regards.
Graham
Yellow Mama Blues

Intro: (Spoken)I WOULD SING THIS MYSELF
IN HOLMAN Alabama
THE Prison's got a chair
YELLOW MOMMA IS HER NAME.
SHE'S ALWAYS WAITIN' THERE.
SO LISTEN TO THIS STORY.
I HAVE GOT TO TELL.
OF JUST ONE OF HER CHILDREN.
JUST ONE THROWN SWITCH FROM HELL

HE HAD a date with Yellow Mama
Twelve-oh-one COME Friday morn
MOMMA'D had her eye on HIM
Since the FIRST day HE was born
Been COUNTIN' time on Death Row
In these walls for fourteen years
Yellow Mama OWNED HIS TICKET
TO HELL AND OUT OF here

HE NEVER HAD NO schoolin'
COULDN'T read or write
ALWAYS LIVED on the wrong side
Hard luck DOGGED HIM all HIS life
Walked hand in hand with trouble
IT WAS HIS ONLY FRIEND
Stuck closer than a brother
AND WOULD RIGHT TO THE END

WHEN HE LOST HIS woman
TO another man
Shot 'em both in cold blood
Killed one more before HE ran
Swam across 'OL MUDDY.
LIVED TWO WEEKS off the land
BeFORE CHASIN' EASY money
HE TOOK A chance and killed again

THEY TRACKED HIM TO Gainesville
On the run for forty days
Worked them sheriffs overtime
'FORE THEY HAULED HIS ARSE AWAY
GOT HIMSELF GOOD lawyers
But that jury wouldn't budge
Got tried and convicted
BY A dozen people and a judge

COULDN'T blame HIS home or family
They did the best they could
Sometimes a man just goes bad
SOME NEVER WERE NO GOOD.
NEVER SHOWED ANY SORROW
HE WAS a stranger to regret
WHEN HE'S STRAPPED TO YELLOW MAMMA
SHE'LL COLLECT THE DEBT

Too late NOW Sweet Jesus
Yellow Mama OWNS HIS soul
Though HE never TRIED TO KNOW you
Have mercy when HE'S cold
THEY SAY THERE'S REDEMPTION.
On the other side
ONLY HE WILL KOW THE ANSWER
WHEN Yellow Mama TAKES HIS HIDE.

(Tag)
Yellow Mama ain't no lady
Gonna feel her to the bone
THE PAPERS'LL call it justice
Twelve-oh-one on Friday morn



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http://artists2.iuma.com/IUMA/Bands/Graham_Henderson/

Thanks so much Nigel for taking a look. Glad you found this one interesting. You must be a blues lover, right?

Wyman as always thanks so much for your expert tips and your MORE than kind words. Gonna print all this for study and revision. Good to see you on the board!


[This message has been edited by bama43 (edited 06-23-2001).]

Thanks so much GJ! Good to see you back in these parts. Glad you liked this. It's my first real effort at a "true story" song so thanks for the support!

Char where've you been girl?? Thought for sure you had forgotten us here! Good to see you here and looking forward to your next post! Glad you liked this. Thanks so much for the kind words!!

Yellow Mamas is making a killing here Janice! I was pickin' this one out last night after we talked about John Lee, lol. Good, very solid work! Just had to come back for more!


David

I found the image of yellow mama in the 2nd verse very very strong, almost haunting. I want to hear more of it, maybe treat it as a chorus. While I like the story, I don't think you need all of it. You could cut out some of the verses to repeat the 2nd one. Not sure how this suggestion works musically, though. That said, I like this a lot.

Graham thanks so much for returning and offering your always welcome tips! Glad you enjoyed the link I sent you.

David, special thanks to you my "blues brother" for your constant support!

Paul22 thanks so much for taking the time to read and comment! Each thought is appreciated!

'Bama...

I'm a fan of electric chair songs. (Don't read too much into that!) My absolute favorite is 'Mercy Seat' by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds. Johnny Cash just did an incredible cover of it on his new CD. I'd say Yellow Mama is right up there with it...don't know if I can give a better compliment than that.

Stac

Bama,
Yellow Mama is like the energizer bunny...it keeps going & going!!!!
Told ya!!
Now get a demo quick!!!!!
Pam

Well it is lyrics like these that keep me wondering why the hell I even bother!!! I loved it!!! Best of luck to you with this one!!!

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JMarie

Stacy thank you SO much for your kind words. I am glad you enjoyed this. I have not heard the song you mentioned but I love Johnny Cash so THANKS for the tip!

Pam thank you for your ALWAYS there support! After all I was hesitant to even post this! Thanks for your return visit!

JMarie what a gracious and kind thing for you to say! I can assure you though that you more than hold your own with lyrics as I have read some of your songs. Thanks again!

Hey Bama, I am sooooo late to this party that I bet all the snacks are gone! I guess by now all the attaboys (er attagirls) are kinda watered down, but I'd still like to toss my kudos in the ring anyway. This is absolutely terrific. I wouldn't change a thing here, nor leave any of it out.

Just two thoughts: One, I guess I'm the odd man out as far as "hearing" this as a blues song. Seemed more like folk rock to me. But I suppose actually hearing it will settle that matter.

And two, just out of curiosity, why did you have any hesitation about posting this lyric, or even writing it? I think any topic is fodder for good music, even if it makes some people uncomfortable. Just wondering. This IS top notch writing!

Greg

Greg thanks so much for taking the time to read and reply! I appreciate so much your kind words! Also the tip as to possible genre. I was hesitant because of the sensitive subject here and also I have never before written a "true story teller". This is my first effort. Thanks again for your response!!