.............Joop's Musical Flowers: 32-20 Blues (1930) / 22-20 Blues (1931)

This song is structured in the AAB blues pattern using 12 bars, a very common structure in blues music. Many Blues songs are structured using the AAB format.

SEE: Joop's Musical Flowers: AAB Blues Pattern 12 Bar Blues

"32-20 Blues" is a blues song by Delta blues musician Robert Johnson. It was recorded during his second recording session in San Antonio, Texas, on November 26, 1936.

The title refers to .32-20 Winchester ammunition, which could be used in handguns as well as smaller rifles. The name .32-20 refers to the .32-inch-diameter (8.1 mm) bullet and standard black-powder charge of 20 grains (1.3 g).

The song is a remake of the Skip James song "22-20 Blues". Skip James refers to .22-20 caliber, which actually does not exist. This was done on the request of Paramount Records who wanted successful “gun blues” to cover Roosevelt Sykes’ .44 Blues

32-20 Blues - Wikipedia

But before Skip James, in 1930, Roosevelt Sykes cut a similar-titled song "32-20 Blues", with the same subject (about a woman cheating on his man) and the same blues-pattern.

The Originals © by Arnold Rypens - 32-20 BLUES

http://www.keeponliving.at/song/32-20_blues.html

Cover versions of 32-20 Blues by Willie Kelly | SecondHandSongs

(o) Willie Kelly (=Roosevelt Sykes) (1930) (as "32-20 Blues")

Recorded on June 12, 1930 in Cincinnati OH

Released on Victor 38619.

Now I got a 32-20, shoot just like a 45 (2x)

Lord, if I ever go at my woman, I'm gonna bring her dead or alive.

Lord, I carry my 32-20 in my right hand (2x)

Lord, I shoot my woman that waste her time with that monkey man.

Yes sir, all your men look alike to me (2x)

Lord, if I catch you with my woman, you might as well be dead in the deep blue sea.

Lawd, I shoot steel jackets and no lead balls at all (2x)

Lawd, if I ever shoot you, you will see St. Peter or St. Paul.

Now I see you going down thru the lonesome lane (2x)

Now ev'rybody got this 32-20 of mine the same.

Listen here:

Recorded Feb. 1931 in Grafton, Wisc.

Released on Paramount 13066.

If I send for my baby and she don't come (2x)

All the doctors in Wisconsin, they won't help her none

And if she gets unruly and gets so she don't wanna do (2x)

I'll take my .32-20, I'll cut her half in two

You're talkin' about your .44-40, buddy, it'll do very well (2x)

But my .22-20, Lord, it's a burnin' hell

I had a .38 Special, buddy, it's most too light (2x)

But my .22-20 make the caps alright

Aw, if she gets unruly, thinks she don't wanna do (2x)

I'll take my .22-20, I'll cut her half in two

I, I, I can't take my rest (2x)

And my .44 layin' up and down my breast

Listen here:

Recorded in San Antonio, Texas on November 26, 1936 (SA‑2616‑1)

Released in February 1937 on Vocalion 03445.

Also issued in April 1937 on Perfect 7-04-60 (1st number is year, 2nd/3rd number is month, and last digits are sequential issue number within month)

And in the same month on Oriole 7-04-60.

'F I send for my baby, and she don't come (2x)

All the doctors in Hot Springs sure can't help her none

And if she gets unruly, thinks she don't wan' do (2x)

Take my 32-20, now, and cut her half in two

She got a .38 special but I believe it's most too light (2x)

I got a 32-20, got to make the caps1 alright

If I send for my baby, man, and she don't come (2x)

All the doctors in Hot Springs sure can't help her none

I'm gonna shoot my pistol, gonna shoot my gatling gun (2x)

You made me love you, now your man have come

Ahoh, baby, where you stayed last night (2x)

You got your hair all tangled and you ain't talking right

Her .38 special, boys, it do very well (2x)

I got a 32-20 now, and it's a burning

If I send for my baby, man, and she don't come (2x)

All the doctors in Wisconsin3 sure can't help her none

Hey, hey, baby, where you stayed last night (2x)

You didn't come home until the sun was shining bright

Ahoh boy, I just can't take my rest (2x)

With this 32-20 laying up and down my breast

Notes

1: "caps" were percussion caps, a paper or metal container holding an explosive charge, as for a pistol

2: "Gatling” or “Gat” was a common slang term for a revolver in the 1920’s."

3: Robert changed the reference to Wisconsin throughout the song to Hot Springs, Arkansas, except in the third from last verse when he forgets to do so and uses Skip's original text instead.

Listen here: