Ralph McTell - Arthur Blake lyrics

Down in sunny Florida where the oranges grow
Arthur Blake was born
And that's about all we know
He moved to a northern town
That's where the blind man settled down
And tried to make his home in Chicago

Winter came with ice and rain and
Wind and snow froze Lake Michigan
But Arthur's heart did not get cold
'Cause when he played that skiddle dat dee
It was just like a shot of vitamin C
Blowing right in from the
Southern orange groves

Arthur Blake played rags and songs
As well as blues one man playing guitar
But it sounded just like two
There's no doubt he was the king
Could make it talk and he could make it swing

Round about 1929 the first records rolled
Played low and lonesome till it
Chilled your very soul
But when he played that bo dee-o doe
It was just like getting some money from home
Blowing away the blues when
The cold winds blow

Gambling cards and numbers kept
Him out at night
There were times when this blind man
Even ended up in a fight
Bad women, bootleg gin
Sang about the trouble that he was in
Yearning for that simpler southern life

He said a Georgia girl was always on his mind
I wonder if he tasted that
Sweet melon on the vine?
Ah, but when he rags them shuffling blues
He puts a little tap right in my shoes
I had to leave all my worries far behind