Song: Turpentine Blues. Words by W.C. "Dub" Tomlinson, performed by Candler Tomlinson, 2003 [Audio File]
Dates
- 2003
Summary
Turpentine Blues. Words by W.C. "Dub" Tomlinson, performed by Candler Tomlinson, 2003. This song was written by Dub Tomlinson especially for the Traditions of Turpentining project. Tomlinson (born 1931) typifies the old-time Wiregrass lifestyle of farmer, rancher, and turpentiner during the period of the open range in South Georgia. A life-long resident of Echols County--with the exception of a stint in military service-- Tomlinson has worked timber all his life, first in turpentine, then a heavy equipment operator and harvesting supervisor. Many of his personal experience narratives are recounted in his self-published memoir A Lad in the Piney Woods (2002). Throughout his career, he performed with his band The Suwanee Troubadours, a traditional country group for which he was lead vocalist, and lead and rhythm guitar player. He also wrote numerous songs for the group, but never anything about his life experience with turpentine.
Lyrics
Woe is me, Woe is me Going From Tree To Tree Troubled Mind, in the hot sunshine Working this turpentine
Hole in my pockets Holes in my shoes Got them working this turpentine blues
Boss Man, Boss Man Have a Good Heart Don’t shorten my pay Cause my skin is dark Boss Man, Boss Man Get my pay right Gonna go juckeing This Saturday night
Ain’t Got no house Just a little ole shack
But that’s how it is when your face is black Got a little woman waitin in the shack Come sun down she’s gonna wash my back
Eat blackeyed peas and combread too
Done run outa bacon
Done run outa stew
Woe is me, it’ll have to do
Got them workin this turpentine blues
Woe is me
Got trouble and strife
Been workin this turpentine all my life
Ain’t got no money
Ain’t nowhere to go
Workin this turpentines all I know
Set on a log sharpen my hack
Pain in my neck pain in my back
Boss man, Boss man
I ain’t too bright
Cause I can’t read and I can’t write
Holes in my pockets
Holes in my shoes
Got them workin this turpentine blues
- South Georgia Folklife Collection | Series 14: PRJ 1014 Online Oral Histories (Electronic Records), 1999 - 2001 | Interview with William Candler Tomlinson, July 15, 2003
- South Georgia Folklife Collection | Series 1: PRJ-1002 Turpentine | Box 1 | CAS-1002.16 Dub Tomlinson, Turpentine Blues [musical recording], 2003
Repository Details
Part of the Valdosta State University Archives and Special Collections Repository
Valdosta State University Archives, Odum Library
1500 N. Patterson St.
Valdosta GA 30601 United States
7063728116
229-259-5055 (Fax)
archives@valdosta.edu