Yes, I was a good man, but I was a poor man, you understand.
In a hospital, in Washington D.C. ,
Ain't got nobody, to see about me,
But I was a good man, but I was a poor man; you can understand.
All the doctors, and nurses too
They came and they asked me, "Who in the world are you?"
I said, "I's a good man, but I's a poor man; you can understand."
The doctors and nurses, they shaken my hand,
Said, "Take this poor man, and put him to bed,
Because he's a good man; we know he's a poor man; we can understand."
I didn't go hungry; I had a-plenty to eat.
I had good treatment, and a place to sleep,
Because I was a good man; they knew I was a poor man; they could understand.
I met a little dancer; she promised me
That she would love me, and always be sweet.
She find out I was a poor man, yeah, but I was a good man; she couldn't understand.
Now when she left me, she got in the door,
She waved me goodbye; I haven't seen her no more.
She found out I was a good man; she knew I was a poor man; she couldn't understand.
The doctors and nurses, they shaken my hand,
Say, "You can go home now, Skip; you's a sound well man,
Because you's a good man; you's a poor man; we can understand."
I taken my doctor, and I shaken his hand.
"I'm gon' play these Hospital Blues, 'till you's a wealthy man.
You took me; I's a good man; you knowed I was a poor man; you could understand.
You knowed I was a good man, but I's a poor man; you can understand."
In a hospital, in Washington D.C. ,
Ain't got nobody, to see about me,
But I was a good man, but I was a poor man; you can understand.
All the doctors, and nurses too
They came and they asked me, "Who in the world are you?"
I said, "I's a good man, but I's a poor man; you can understand."
The doctors and nurses, they shaken my hand,
Said, "Take this poor man, and put him to bed,
Because he's a good man; we know he's a poor man; we can understand."
I didn't go hungry; I had a-plenty to eat.
I had good treatment, and a place to sleep,
Because I was a good man; they knew I was a poor man; they could understand.
I met a little dancer; she promised me
That she would love me, and always be sweet.
She find out I was a poor man, yeah, but I was a good man; she couldn't understand.
Now when she left me, she got in the door,
She waved me goodbye; I haven't seen her no more.
She found out I was a good man; she knew I was a poor man; she couldn't understand.
The doctors and nurses, they shaken my hand,
Say, "You can go home now, Skip; you's a sound well man,
Because you's a good man; you's a poor man; we can understand."
I taken my doctor, and I shaken his hand.
"I'm gon' play these Hospital Blues, 'till you's a wealthy man.
You took me; I's a good man; you knowed I was a poor man; you could understand.
You knowed I was a good man, but I's a poor man; you can understand."
inviata da Pluck - 22/6/2025 - 11:52
Lingua: Inglese
Trascrizone della versione di "Washington D.C. Hospital Center Blues" di Skip James del 1966 tratta dall'Album “Skip James Live 1964 & 1966” - passibile di correzioni, sopratutto nella parte del parlato.
Spoken
I made two, three pieces in the hospital. I made one in Tunica, Mississippi, when I was first discovered. There was a boys firm* in the hospital there. And after I came to Washington, D.C.; after my first trip to Newport at the Folk's Festival, I came back and I made one show here in Philadelphia to The 2 nd Fret.** And I had to race on from there to Washington. I was stationed there then, going in the hospital there.
And while I was there, after I began to get a little better, after going through the second operation there at the D.C. General, D.C. Center Hospital there, once and then I was transferred to the D.C. General. And I made, I composed a song there while they were on the bed there, after I got a little bit better, because I didn't have no mind to do anything but just look forward , for a while there. And I composed that song.
So the doctor asked me : “Skip, are you going to make another one in the hospital?” I said : “ Why did you say to make another one?” .I said: “ No, man, every time I compose a hospital song, I have to go back there again. I won't never make another one”.
[Excuse me.] This is the last one. I'll play this one that I made late in Washington, D.C. there.I may play that one sometimes.
But this is an idea while I'm in this tuning.
I'm in a hospital in Washington, D.C.
I ain't got nobody to see about me.
Because I'm a good man, but I'm a poor man.You can understand.
All the doctors and nurses too,
They came and they asked me: “ Who in the world are you?”
I said: “ I'm a good man, but I'm a poor man. You can understand “.
The doctors and nurses, they shaken my hand,
”Take this poor man and put him to bed.
Because he's a good man. We know he's a poor man. I can understand ”
I didn’t go hungry,I had a-plenty to eat.
You had me a good treatment and a nice place to sleep.
Because I was a good man. You know I was a poor man.
You can understand.
There comes a little dancer to see about me.
She promised to love me and always be sweet.
She knowed I was a good man. She didn't know I was a poor man.
She could not understand.
Now when she left me, she got in the door,
Waved me bye-bye, "I won't be back no more.
Because you's a good man. I didn't know you was a poor man.
Well, I just can't understand ".
The doctors and the nurses come shaking my hand.
“You can go home now, Skip. You just sound well, man.
Because you's a good man.We know you's a poor man.
We all can understand ".
I've taken my doctor by his hand.
"I'll sing more pleased blues , tell you's a wealthy man.
You took me as a good man. You know I was a poor man.
You can understand. I want the whole world to understand ".
I made two, three pieces in the hospital. I made one in Tunica, Mississippi, when I was first discovered. There was a boys firm* in the hospital there. And after I came to Washington, D.C.; after my first trip to Newport at the Folk's Festival, I came back and I made one show here in Philadelphia to The 2 nd Fret.** And I had to race on from there to Washington. I was stationed there then, going in the hospital there.
And while I was there, after I began to get a little better, after going through the second operation there at the D.C. General, D.C. Center Hospital there, once and then I was transferred to the D.C. General. And I made, I composed a song there while they were on the bed there, after I got a little bit better, because I didn't have no mind to do anything but just look forward , for a while there. And I composed that song.
So the doctor asked me : “Skip, are you going to make another one in the hospital?” I said : “ Why did you say to make another one?” .I said: “ No, man, every time I compose a hospital song, I have to go back there again. I won't never make another one”.
[Excuse me.] This is the last one. I'll play this one that I made late in Washington, D.C. there.I may play that one sometimes.
But this is an idea while I'm in this tuning.
I'm in a hospital in Washington, D.C.
I ain't got nobody to see about me.
Because I'm a good man, but I'm a poor man.You can understand.
All the doctors and nurses too,
They came and they asked me: “ Who in the world are you?”
I said: “ I'm a good man, but I'm a poor man. You can understand “.
The doctors and nurses, they shaken my hand,
”Take this poor man and put him to bed.
Because he's a good man. We know he's a poor man. I can understand ”
I didn’t go hungry,I had a-plenty to eat.
You had me a good treatment and a nice place to sleep.
Because I was a good man. You know I was a poor man.
You can understand.
There comes a little dancer to see about me.
She promised to love me and always be sweet.
She knowed I was a good man. She didn't know I was a poor man.
She could not understand.
Now when she left me, she got in the door,
Waved me bye-bye, "I won't be back no more.
Because you's a good man. I didn't know you was a poor man.
Well, I just can't understand ".
The doctors and the nurses come shaking my hand.
“You can go home now, Skip. You just sound well, man.
Because you's a good man.We know you's a poor man.
We all can understand ".
I've taken my doctor by his hand.
"I'll sing more pleased blues , tell you's a wealthy man.
You took me as a good man. You know I was a poor man.
You can understand. I want the whole world to understand ".
Note .
* Skip si riferisce verosimilmente al gruppo [firm o farm ?] dei tre “ragazzi” appassionati di Blues : Henry Vestine (futuro Canned Heat), John Fahey e Bill Barth che lo scoprirono ricoverato all’ospedale di Tunica in Mississippi nel 1964
** The 2 nd Fret era il principale folk club di Filadelfia negli aa.’60 che ospitò numerosi cantanti folk e artisti jazz divenuti famosi.
* Skip si riferisce verosimilmente al gruppo [firm o farm ?] dei tre “ragazzi” appassionati di Blues : Henry Vestine (futuro Canned Heat), John Fahey e Bill Barth che lo scoprirono ricoverato all’ospedale di Tunica in Mississippi nel 1964
** The 2 nd Fret era il principale folk club di Filadelfia negli aa.’60 che ospitò numerosi cantanti folk e artisti jazz divenuti famosi.
inviata da Pluck - 6/7/2025 - 19:30
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Nel 1965 Nehemiah Curtis James presenta una ripresa della sua malattia gastrica neoplastica e viene ricoverato per un altro intervento chirurgico al Washington D.C. Hospital Center.
Ma la sua creativita’ non sembra esaurita in quanto Skip decide di raccontare l’evento in questo Blues in cui sottolinea desolato,iterativo,inquitante nel suo tipico falsetto, la sua poverta’ nonostante tutti sapessero che era una brava persona.
L’istituzione, lo staff medico ed infermieristico , lo trattano bene per tutta la degenza fino alla dimissione.
Ma il decorso infausto della malattia lo portera’ qualche anno piu’ tardi alla morte nel 1969.
Tematiche di questo Blues,analoghe al suo precedente “ Sickbed Blues “ del 1964 ( v.pagina di CCG ), sono il senso di solitudine , di abbandono,di rassegnazione, aggravato dalla consapevolezza di essere povero. Perfino un possibile amore lo lascia quando realizza il suo stato di povertà.
Pluck
THE MUDCAT CAFE'
Subject: Lyr Add: WASHINGTON D.C. HOSPITAL CENTER BLUES
From: Jim Dixon - Date: 23 Jan 13 - 08:28 AM
As sung by Skip James on "Vanguard Visionaries" (2007)