Bring Me My Shotgun

Lyrics: Lightnin' Hopkins
Music: Lightnin' Hopkins

This was played once, in an acoustic set on 12 July 1970, and is also on Pigpen's "home tapes" (which is where the lyrics below are taken from). I haven't found a recording of the 1970 version, but I believe Pigpen only sang the first verse on that occasion (Deadlists' timing show it as a 1 minute lead-in to She's Mine)

Go, bring me my shotgun, bring me back some shells
Why don't you just bring me my shotgun
Bring me back about a pocket full of shells
Well you know if I don't get myself a little competition
You know there's gonna be some trouble 'round here

Well you know my mama told me, when I left my door
She said, "you gonna have bad luck, son, don't care where you go"
So why don't you bring me my shotgun
Bring me back a pocket full of shells
Well you know if I don't get myself a little competition
You know there's gonna be some trouble 'round here

Early in the morning when the sun gonna rise
She's laying there rolling them old bloodshot eyes
In the morning bring me my shotgun
Well, I can stand any mess for a while
But I can't stand it for very long

Woke up this morning
Found out some [jack strap?] had gone took my room
Woke up this morning
Found out some [jack strap?] had gone took my room
Yeah you know he took along with it my woman
That [jack strap?] going to meet his doom

That's why I say bring me my shotgun, boy
I want you to bring me back some shells
I said why don't you bring me my shotgun
Bring me back a pocket full of shells
You know if I don't get myself some good competition
There's gonna be some trouble 'round here
The Lightnin Hopkins version I've got is a bit different:
Yes I said, go bring me my shotgun, go and bring me back some shells
Yes I said go bring me my shotgun, go and bring me back a pocketful of shells
Yes if I don't get some competition, you know there's gonna be trouble here

Yes you know my woman tried to quit me, when I ain't done nothing wrong
She done put me out of doors babe, and I even ain't got no home
I said go, bring me my shotgun, whoa Lord and a pocketful of shells
Yes if I don't get some competition you know there's got to be trouble here

Yes you know my mama told me, the day that I left the door
She says you gonna have bad luck son, and I don't are where you go
I said just bring me my shotgun, boy you can bring just one or two shells
Yes if I don't get some competition, you know there's go to be trouble here

Well I cried bye, bye baby, you know you done me wrong
I'm gonna take my little shotgun now, I'm gonna carry it back home
I said go out in the morning, boy, and carry my shotgun home
Yes I figured the best thing I can do was leave that woman alone

Recordings
None by the Dead.

The Lightnin' Hopkins version is available on "The Complete Aladdin Recordings" [EMI CDP-7-96843-2]. The title there is "Shotgun." It was recorded in 1948 and originally issued on an LP "Lightnin' Hopkins Strums The Blues" [SLP-4022]. I am not sure if it is the same song as "Shotgun Blues" also recorded by Lightnin' Hopkins.




Futher Information
For more information on recordings see Matt Schofield's Grateful Dead Family Discography

 


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