Rattlesnake Daddy

Here's an old country blues tune popluar with the novelty acts in the 40's and 50's. However, I think it must have originated in the Piedmont regions in the early 20th century, because Blind Boy Fuller recorded a similar-ish song by the name of "I'm a Rattlesnakin' Daddy." Though the lyrics and melodies are different in these two songs, they share similar motifs and song structure.

I play here in E, using E, A, B7, chords.

The lyrics are
E
I'm a rattlesnake daddy I rattle whereever i please
A E
i'm a rattlesnake daddy I rattle wherever I please
B7 E
when you hear me rattle you better get down on your knees (oh oh lawd)

when i fold my rattles across my back
look out my friend you better clear the track
cause i'm a rattlesnake daddy from Tennessee
i'm a rattle snake daddy, you better let me be (oh oh lawd)

i rattle on the fence, i rattle on the floor
i rattle and i rattle till my rattle got sore
i'm a rattlesnake daddy from Tennessee
i'm a rattlesnake daddy, you bedtter let me be

rattled down in Georgia, rattled down in New Orleans
rattle down in Georgia, I rattled down in New Orleans
got a diamond rattler, i'm a feeling so dog gone mean

i rattled last night, the night before
i rattled and i rattled, want to rattle some more
cause im rattlesnake daddy from Tennessee
oh i'm a rattle snake daddy, you better let me be (oh lawd)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Ian Picco
• Blind Boy Fuller
• Mike Seeger
• Resonator
• Country Blues

[rbseaver]

Nice work on this one! I happened to be listening to this one as I was transcribing the lyrics from the recorded version I have by a fella named Homer Callahan (recorded 1934). His lyrics match the ones you've used. Anyway, I enjoyed your version. You've got a good voice, and your playing is great as well!