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The Spike [or Victoria University College Review 1961]

[Three Blues]

1. Fiddling Blues

I started playing the fiddle when I was seventeen,
Yes, I started playing the fiddle when I was seventeen,
My boss's wife she taught me how to play it, and I was mighty green.

And then I met a housemaid, she played the fiddle all night,
I'd wait outside her bedroom till she turned out the light,
I brought my bow for company so she could do it right.

I've played on many a fiddle, and now I'm sixty-two,
When your fiddling days are over there's damn all else to do,
My bow's got a bend in the middle and I reckon that I'm through.

If you want to play the fiddle, you've got to pluck the string,
If you want to play the fiddle, you've got to pluck the string,
And when your bow is broken —

(in a sharp sour voice) I guess you've just about had it, boy!

page 65

2. Wellington Blues

When you're beside me, baby, the sun will never go down,
When you're beside me, baby, the sun will never go down,
But when I'm walkin' up Haining Street alone
I get those blues, baby, I get those Wellington blues.

On Friday night I got me a bottle of gin,
Came to your house, baby, they wouldn't let me in:
Saturday races, I had no money to lose,
I got those blues, baby, I got those Wellington blues.

Sunday morning early, you came up to my room,
Sunday morning early, you came up to my room,
Told me that you loved me, baby, helped me to lace my shoes,
Beat those blues, baby, beat those Wellington blues.

3. Sally Ann Blues

I wouldn't want a palace; I'd live in a railroad van,
No, I wouldn't want a palace; I'd live in a railroad van,
If I could get me a decent kind of man.

Workin' in that old hash shop, ain't no lousier dive in town,
Workin' in that old hash shop, ain't no lousier dive in town,
Dirty old boss won't let me be, always smellin' aroun'.

Don't know where I'm goin' to lay my head tonight,
Don't know where I'm goin' to lay my head tonight,
All day drinkin' by myself, and still I don't get tight.

Don't know why the flowers grow, why the moon keeps shinin',
Don't know why the flowers grow, why the moon keeps shinin',
All day drinkin' by myself, I can't keep from cryin'.

I wouldn't want a palace; I'd live in a railroad van,
No, I wouldn't want a palace; I'd live in a railroad van,
If I could get me a decent kind of man.

James K. Baxter