Lyr Req: Ida Red (Land Norris)

Subject: Lyr Req: Ida Red (Land Norris)
From: GUEST,rattyrattera
Date: 29 Apr 20 - 08:55 PM

I've been trying to decipher the lyrics of some of Land Norris's songs and this one has given me the most trouble. Any help would be appreciated

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ida Red (Land Norris)
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 29 Apr 20 - 09:20 PM

What do you have so far? What recording are you listening to? That info would be most helpful.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ida Red (Land Norris)
From: GUEST,rattyrattera
Date: 30 Apr 20 - 11:57 AM

I'm using this recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgiyJF6H7T4

So far this is what I can make out:

Ida Red, Ida ?Roo?
I got stuck on Ida ?Roo?

Down the line, down the line
I ??? down the line ???

Down the road and across the street
Can’t get a letter but once a week

I asked little Ida to be my wife
She run at me with a butter knife

A Shanghai rooster, a ???
Poor little Ida’s got no home, a ha-ha

I asked ol’ Ida to be my bow
She ran at me with a goose-necked pole

A big jug of liquor makes a poor man a ?load?
I kept a ? down the road

Not a gonna have that lousy man
I’m not a gonna have that lousy man
Lousy man, lousy man!
Not a gonna have that lousy man

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ida Red (Land Norris)
From: cnd
Date: 30 Apr 20 - 02:24 PM

Here's what I heard (from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgiyJF6H7T4

Ida red, Ida blue
I got struck on Ida, too

Down the line, down the line
I get to hit you down the line

Down the road and cross the creek
Can't get a letter but once a week

Asked little Ida to be my wife
She run at me with a barlow knife

A Shanghai rooster has got no comb
Poor little Ida's got no home

I asked little Ida to be my beau
She run at me with a gooseneck hoe

A big jug of liquor makes a poor man alone
I kep' a-hittin' it down the road

Not a-goin' to have that lousy man
I'm not a-gonna have that lousy man

Lousy man, lousy man
Not a-gonna have that lousy man

...........................

I will comment, this is a very unique version of Ida Red. A lot of the verses I've never heard anywhere else before (believe it or not, the Shanghai rooster one is not one of those unique ones). Instead of breaking up the lines into equal parts, Norris tends to make the first half of the line a lot longer, and seems to sing the lyrics essentially independent of the rhythm of the rest of the song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ida Red (Land Norris)
From: cnd
Date: 30 Apr 20 - 02:26 PM

I also forgot to mention, in the first stanza, while it's not uncommon to hear "I got stuck on Ida too" (and that's what I had at first), I think there's a pretty clear r sound in his pronunciation

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ida Red (Land Norris)
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 30 Apr 20 - 02:41 PM

Thanks, cnd. Was just listening to the take and I am glad you got to it first :-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ida Red (Land Norris)
From: GUEST,rattyrattera
Date: 30 Apr 20 - 03:05 PM

Thanks so much!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ida Red (Land Norris)
From: Bugsy
Date: 02 May 20 - 06:36 AM

A couple of versesfrom woody Guthries version,

Ida Red big and plump
Eighty four inches around 5he rump.

Ida Red jumped the fence
I ain't seen our Ida since.


Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ida Red (Land Norris)
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 04 May 20 - 04:48 PM

Jeff Warner sings "Ida Red".

Lyrics from his version --

Ida Red

Long as the meat’s been a-layin’ on the shelf,
I been sitting here by myself.

Chorus:
Ida Red, Ida Red,
I’m getting tired of eatin’ that shortenin’ bread.

Long as the grass grows in the field,
Gotta cook old John a solid meal.

Ain’t but one man that I do fear,
Big Jack Johnson, and he ain’t allowed here.

Going down town ain’t a-gonna stay long,
Might as well put on your bonnet and gown.

Captain, oh Captain, has my money come?
Be here today or tomorrow one.

Big old boat comin’ ‘round the bend,
Ain’t doing nothing but killing men.



Linn