From the recording 5. Tar Paper Blues

During the summer I hurt my back and was forced to lie in bed for several weeks. I was feeling sorry for myself, so I decided that I needed to write a blues song. That's why the main character in the song has a messed-up back. I also became interested in developing a pick in which the fingers of my left hand would be moving continuously while the right hand is picking away. Finally, since it's a blues song, I added a harmonica track and then decided to play a second harmonica against the first one in a kind of "blues duet".

Lyrics

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TAR PAPER BLUES
Michael Dyer
© 2007

Got the blues, tar paper blues.
No daylight hues to these blues, dark tar paper blues,
Just pitch-black, midnight, no-light-in-sight,
Tar paper blues.

My baby done quit on me. She's gone an' split on me.
My baby done quit on me. She's gone an' split.

Thought we were twos, but love's gotta lose,
Thought we were paired. Now she's nowhere.
She jus' can't take no more,
Bein' so poor.

Racked my back liftin' stones, now I'm laid out on the floor.
Racked my back an' my bones, now I'm laid out on the floor.
So much I lack, 'cause I can't work no more.

Floor's cold and hard, unforgivin' as sin.
Floor's cold and hard, unforgivin' as sin.
Door's cracked and barred,
No way to be livin'.

Roof's cavin' in, on my tar paper shack.
Roof's cavin' in, on my tar paper shack.

Cut me some slack. All I lack.
Got no knack for livin'.
Guess I ain't got no knack,
For livin'.

My baby done split, She's called it quits.
I'm at my wits, wits end, with no money to spend.

Can't even manage to sit. Gotta lie down an' take it.
My playin' cards, I fold. My queen of hearts is cold.
My furniture, sold, an' no one to hold.

Got the blues, tar paper blues.
No daylight hues to these blues, dark tar paper blues,
Just pitch-black, midnight, no-light-in-sight,
Tar paper blues.