Broke Down Engine (Blues) (Traditional?)

registered as composers for the copyright on the titel "Broke Down Engine" are Ernest B. McTell (sic!), Michael R. Dinallo and Ralph McTell

Sources:

Sheet Music:

Recordings:

1929 - Lonnie Clark - ? - Sept. 21, 1929 - 12871 Paramount P1582

1931 - Blind Sammie - Atlanta GA - Oct. 23, 1931 - 151905-1 Columbia 14632 - Blind Willie McTell (voc,g)

1933 - Blind Willie - New York City - Sept. 18, 1933 - 14036-2 Vocalion 02577 - Blind Willie McTell (voc,g), Curley Weaver (g)

1933 - Buddy Moss

1949 - Blind Willie McTell - Atlanta GA - c Nov., 1949 - A 323 Atlantic 891 - Barrelhouse Sammy (The Country Boy)

1968/69 - Tony McPhee - Sept. 7, 1968-June 1969

1969 - Johnny Winter - Razor & Tie Music, on: The Progressive Blues Experiment

1978 - John Hammond Jr. - Vanguard, on: Footwork

1981 - Martin Simpson - Fledgling, on: Special Agent

1991 - The Gibson Bros. - Sept. 1989,Dec. 1989 - Positive Music, on: The Man Who Loved Couch Dancing

1992 - Paul Eremia - Flying Fish, on: My Kinda Place

1993 - Bob Dylan - summer 1993 - Malibu CA - Columbia, on: World Gone Wrong - Bob Dylan (v,g)

1993 - Peter Case - Vanguard, on: Sings Like Hell

1994 - Spencer Bohren - Zephur Artists, on: Vintage

1998 - Tony McPhee - Sept. 7, 1968-June 1969 - BGO, on: Me and the Devil/I Asked for Water

2000 - Ernie Hawkins - Say Mo' Music, on: Bluesified

2000 - Dave Peabody & Brendan Power - Indigo, on: Two Trains Running

2003 - The Mercy Brothers - Gibraltar, on: Strange Adventure

2006 - Mare Edstrom - Spiritone, on: Shake 'em on Down

2006 - Colin Linden - Crosscut, on: Easin' Back to Tennessee

2007 - Hard Swimmin Fish - on: Knockin' On Your Door

2008 - Tony Bryant - 1957-March 2008 - Dust to Digital, on: Art of Field Recording, Vol. 2

Version Blind Willie McTell:

Feel like a broke down engine, ain't got no drivin' wheel,
Feel like a broke down engine, mama, ain't got no drivin' wheel.
You've been down and lonesome, you know how a poor man feel.

I been shooting craps and gambling, mama, and I done got broke,
I been shooting craps and gambling, honey, and I done got broke.
I done pawned my pistol, mama an' my best clothes been sold.

Lordy, Lord, Lordy, Lordy, Lord ...

I went down in my praying ground and fell on my bended knees,
I went down to my praying ground and fell on bended knees.
I ain't crying for no religion, Lord an' give me back my good girl please.

As you give me my baby, Lord, I won't worry you no more,
As you give me my baby, I won't worry you no more.
You don't have to put her in my house, Lordy, only lead her to my door.

Lordy, Lord, Lordy, Lordy, Lord ...

Don't you hear me, baby, rappin' on your door?
Don't you hear your daddy, rappin' on your door?
[?] ... across your floor.

Feel like a broke down engine, ain't got no drive at all,
Feel like a broke down engine, mama, ain't got no drive at all.
What makes me love my woman, she can really do the Georgia crawl.

Lordy, Lord, Lordy, Lordy, Lord ...

Feel like a broke down engine, ain't got no whistle or bell,
Feel like a broke down engine, ain't got no whistle or bell.
If you're the real hot mama, come take away daddy's weeping spell.

I won't be back no more, baby.