Mississippi John Hurt

Ain't No Tellin'
Mississippi John Hurt

Don’t you let my good girl catch you here
Don’t you let my good girl catch you here
She might shoot you, may cut and starve you too
Ain’t No Tellin’ what she might do

I’m up the country, where the cold sleet and snow
I’m up the country, where the cold sleet and snow
Ain’t no Tellin’ how much further I may go

Eating breakfast here, my dinner in Tennessee
Eating breakfast here, my dinner in Tennessee
My breakfast here, my dinner in Tennessee
I told you I’m coming there won’t you look for me

Hey, hey, such lookin’ the class

The way I’m sleeping my back and shoulders tired
The way I’m sleeping babe my back and shoulders tired
The way I’m sleeping my back and shoulders tired
Gonna turn over try it on this side

PLAY: Ain't No Tellin'

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Participation Assignment 1: Blues Lyrics

1. Explain what this song is about.

2. Explain what may have motivated Mississippi John Hurt to write a song about subject matter as ordinary as, for example, "my back and shoulders tired" instead of something more poetic or profound.

3. What is the size (actual number) of Mississippi John Hurt's anticipated audience at the time he wrote this song?

4. In what ways do the lyrics of many early blues songs differ from the lyrics of popular songs of today?

Expected length 1-2 pages. Due next Monday at 11:59PM.