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What's The Matter With The Mill?

by Kansas Joe McCoy

on Rough Guide to Hokum Blues (2018)

Kansas Joe Mc
Coy:
Say Minnie! Where you going?

Memphis Minnie:
What you want, Kansas Joe?
I'm going to the mill; what do you think?
Have my corn ground

Kansas Joe Mc
Coy:
For what?
Ahw, that old mill is done broke down
I'm just from down there

Memphis Minnie:
How do you know?
Ahw, and it broke you down

Kansas Joe Mc
Coy:
Ahw, no, I went to get my corn ground
It done broke down
Yeah, it done broke down)

Memphis Minnie:
What's the matter with the mill?
Done broke down?

Memphis Minnie:
Can't get no grinding, tell me what's the matter with the mill

Well, I had a little corn, I put it in a sack
Brought it to the mill and come right back
What's the matter with the mill?
What's the matter with the mill?
I can't get no grinding
Tell me what's the matter with the mill

Kansas Joe Mc
Coy:
It done broke down
It done broke down

Memphis Minnie:
Ahw, grind it

Now listen here folks, I don't want no stuff
You can't bring me my meal, bring me the husks1
What's the matter with the mill?
What's the matter with the mill?
I can't get no grinding
Tell me what's the matter with the mill

Kansas Joe Mc
Coy:
It done broke down
It done broke down

Memphis Minnie:
Well, my papa sat and cried, my brother did, too
They both been to the mill, they can't get nothing to do
What's the matter with the mill?
What's the matter with the mill?
I can't get no grinding
Tell me what's the matter with the mill

Kansas Joe Mc
Coy:
It done broke down
It done broke down

Now listen here folks, I want you to bear this in mind
If you're going to the mill, you're just losing time
What's the matter with the mill?
What's the matter with the mill?
I can't get no grinding
Tell me what's the matter with the mill

Kansas Joe Mc
Coy:
It done broke down
It done broke down

(spoken: Aww, grind it again)