Sugar Baby

Lyrics: Traditional/Dock Boggs
Music: Traditional/Dock Boggs

Played by the Hart Valley Drifters, with Jerry Garcia, in 1962:.

I ain't got no sugar baby now
Ain't got no sugar baby now
Oh, me, it's some old lordy mine (note 1)
But I ain't got no sugar baby now

I'm leaving on that early morning train
I'm leaving on that early morning train
Oh, me, it's some old lordy mine
And I'm leaving on that early morning train

Well who'll rock the cradle when I'm gone
Who'll rock the cradle when I'm gone
Oh, me, it's some old lordy mine
Who'll rock the cradle when I'm gone

I'll send you to your mother next payday
I'll send you to your mother next payday
Oh, me, it's some old lordy mine
I'll send you to your mother next payday

Who'll be your baby when I'm gone
Who'll be your baby when I'm gone
Oh, me, it's some old lordy mine
Who'll be your baby when I'm gone

I ain't got no sugar baby now
Ain't got no sugar baby now
Oh, me, it's some old lordy mine
But I ain't got no sugar baby now
Notes
(1) this line is very hard to make out - any suggestions gratefully received.

Recordings
     Date Album
     1962 Hart Valley Drifters Hart Valley Drifters (note 1)

Notes
(1) also released on Before The Dead


This song is part of a family of trditional songs, including Red Rocking Chair. I'm not sure of the source for the Jerry Garcia version. The Hart Valley Drifters CD credits it to Dock Boggs, and while the Jerry Garcia version has some obvious similarities to Boggs' version, there are considerable differences:
Got no sugar baby now
I've got no honey baby now
All I can do is to seek peace with you
I can't get along this a-way
I can't make a living this a-way

I've got no sugar baby now
I've got no honey baby now
All I can do, I've said all I can say
I can't make a living this a-way
I can't get along this a-way
I've got no honey baby now
I've got no sugar baby now

I got no use for the red rockin' chair
I got no sugar baby now
I've got no honey baby now

Laid her in the shade
Gave her every dime I made
What more could a poor boy do
What more could a poor boy do

All I can do, I've said all I can say
I'll send it to your mama next payday
Send you to your mama next payday
I got no sugar baby now
I've got no honey baby now

Who'll rock the cradle, who'll sing the song
Who'll rock the cradle when I'm gone
Who'll rock the cradle when I'm gone
I'll rock the cradle, I'll sing the song
I'll rock the cradle when you're gone
Got no sugar baby now
I've got no honey baby now


 


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