Buy you a Chevrolet (aka I want to do something for you)

[pebbledude]

This is wonderful. Mance would have loved it too! You folks rock!

[edb081904]

Donovan wrote this.... heard him in concert in the 60's when I was 16, GREAT concert!

[SongsterBlues]

Thanks for your message. Yes, Donovan was a good entertainer but I doubt he was first to write this piece. I suspect the song originated as a folk song from before the turn of the century. I first heard it from Bessie Jones and Georgia Sea Islander singers, who performed many songs dated before the Civil War. Search Internet for more on her and GSI singers.

The car lyrics date ~ 1930, when V8 Ford was exciting & coveted

[edb081904]

@SongsterBlues I'm sure that's a possibility. What type of car did they sing about at the turn of the century?

[SongsterBlues]

They had no car verses in the version I first heard from the Georgia Sea Island singers, which I assume arose from folk tradition.  In that version, there were other inducements and the girl accepts the ring (implication that he finally proposed marriage). I assume that Mance's version dates from the 1930s and had its lyrics added then, in the era when the V-8 Ford could out-race the police cars of its day. If you learn a specific origin for the song, let me know.

[elleboucher]

@SongsterBlues Thank you for informing me, I love that! I actually thought Donovan wrote it, sheesh!

[elleboucher]

@rastablues1 hahaha, sorry if I sounded that way! Oh yeah, not a dick... I'm the other gender, so take your pick of the name you want to call me.

[rastablues1]

@elleboucher what-evuh..Fuckin' Donovan would carry Mance Lipscomb's guitar case....and be proud to do it.

[elleboucher]

@rastablues1  okay, calm down....sheesh.

[ClassicRockStays116]

This is great! What are the chords to it?

[SongsterBlues]

Well, you should be able to see the chord changes pretty easily in the video. The song has 10 bars in the key of G.

G |G7 |G |G |G/G7 |C-C#-D G|C-D7-C7 G| G |C-D7-C7-G | G|

[ClassicRockStays116]

Thanks! Haha, I know, but I wouldn't be the one playing it. A friend wanted it.

[coolanddark]

FANTASTIC!!! LOVE this song!!! Great duet!!!

[lenaspieltblues]

You fix that special sound of Mr. Lipscomb's music so well and it is so much charming too. Wonderful!

[socaleigh]

Thanks for posting this. You had me from the start with the guitar arrangement, but I was completely charmed by the drive away at the end!

[daddystovepipe]

Very nice; Mance called this song 'I want to do something for you'