SYLVIE (aka BRING ME LITTLE WATER, SYLVIE)
(Original Title: "Bring Me Li'l Water Silvy")
(Huddie "Leadbelly" Ledbetter)
Huddie Ledbetter - 1935
Harry Belafonte - 1955
Lonnie Donegan - 1956
Pete Seeger - 1963
Pernell Roberts - 1963
Wailin' Jennys - 2001
The Baptism River Ramblers - 2002
Also recorded by: Rolf Harris; Arlo Guthrie;
Rusty Richards; The Weavers; Don Cunningham;
Dawn Tyler Watson; Sweet Honey In The Rock;
Eric & Leon Bibb: ............. and others.
Bring me little water, Sylvie
Bring me little water now
Bring me little water, Sylvie
Every little once in a while
Don't you hear me callin'
Don't you hear me now
Don't you hear me callin'
Every little once in a while
Don't you see me comin'
Don't you see me now
Don't you see me comin'
Every little once in a while
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As recorded under a different title by HARRY BELAFONTE:
SYLVIE
(Huddie Ledbetter / Paul Campbell)
Sylvie
Sylvie
Iīm so hot īn dry
Sylvie
Sylvie
Canīt you hear
Canīt you hear me crying
Bring me little water, Sylvie
Bring me little water out
Bring me little water, Sylvie
Every little once in a while
Sylvie says she loves me
But I believe she lies
She hasnīt been to see me
Since the last day in july
Sylvie
Sylvie
Iīm so hot īn dry
Sylvie
Sylvie
Canīt you hear
Canīt you hear me crying
Bring me little water, Sylvie
Bring me little water out
Bring me little water, Sylvie
Every little once in a while
She brought me a little coffee
She brought me a little tea
Well, she brought me nearly every damned thing
But she didnīt bring the jailhouse key
Sylvie
Sylvie
Iīm so hotīn dry
Sylvie
Sylvie
Little drink of water
Wouldnīt statisfy me
Bring me little water, Sylvie
Bring me little water out
Bring me little water, Sylvie
Every little once in a while
Took a look ayonder
What is that I see
Well I thought it was little Sylvie
Hopprunning there for me
Sylvie
Sylvie
Iīm so hot and dry
Sylvie
Sylvie
Canīt you hear
Canīt you hear me crying
Bring me little water, Sylvie
Bring me little water out
Bring me little water, Sylvie
Every little once in a while
Every little once in a while
Every... little once... in a while
Sylvie
Sylvie
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As recorded by ROGER McGUINN:
Bring me little water Sylvie
Bring me little water now
Bring me little water Sylvie
Every little once in a while
Don't you hear me calling Sylvie
Don't you hear me calling now
Don't you hear me calling Sylvie
Every little once in a while
Getting' mighty thirsty Sylvie
Getting' mighty thirsty now
Getting' mighty thirsty Sylvie
Every little once in a while
Bring me little water Sylvie
Bring me little water now
Bring me little water Sylvie
Every little once in a while
Can't you hear me Sylvie
Can't you hear me now
Can't you hear me Sylvie
Every little once in a while
Getting' hot and thirsty Sylvie
Getting' hot and thirsty now
Getting' hot and thirsty Sylvie
Every little once in a while
Bring me little water Sylvie
Bring me little water now
Bring me little water Sylvie
Every little once in a while
Bring me little water Sylvie
Bring me little water now
Bring me little water Sylvie
Every little once in a while
Bring me little water Sylvie
Bring me little water now
Bring me little water Sylvie
Every little once in a while
Can't you hear me calling Sylvie
Can't you hear me calling now
Can't you hear me calling Sylvie
Every little once in a while
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As recorded with different lyrics and
a title variation by LONNIE DONEGAN:
BRING A LITTLE WATER, SYLVIE
(Huddie Ledbetter / Lonnie Donegan)
(Spoken)
Now this here's a story `bout a man working in a field
He bin workin' all day, he getting' hot, an' he's thirsty
Want a girl to bring the water round
He's shoutin' "Hey Sylvie, c'mon, come on round here with the water,
what you doin' there". But she ain't comin'
Man getting' hot, an' boy he's thirsty, so he make up a little song,
sing to the woman, make her bring the water round a little faster.
Here the way he sing.....
Won't you bring a little water Sylvie
Won't you bring a little water now
Won't you bring a little water Sylvie
Lord, ev'ry little once in a while
Well do you love me Sylvie
Oh do you love me now
Oh do you love me Sylvie
Yeah! ev'ry little once in a while
Well bring a little water Sylvie
Won't you bring a little water now
Won't you bring a little water Sylvie
Lord, ev'ry little once in a while
Won't you bring a little water Sylvie
Won't you bring a little water now
Won't you bring a little water Sylvie
Lord, ev'ry little once in a while
C'mon an' prove it to me Sylvie
Prove it to me now
Won't you prove it to me Sylvie
Yeah! ev'ry little once in a while
Well bring a little water Sylvie
Won't you bring a little water now
Won't you bring a little water Sylvie
Lord, ev'ry little once in a while
Well, ev'ry little once, hey do you love me Sylvie,
Every little once in a while
Won't you bring a little water Sylvie
Yeah! Ev'ry little once in a while
Oh, play it to me Danny, go on
(Musical Break with various "Yeahs" from Lonnie)
Won't you bring a little water Sylvie
Won't you bring a little water now
Won't you bring a little water Sylvie
Yeah! ev'ry little once in a while
Won't you bring a little water
Won't you bring a little water
Won't you bring a little water now
Won't you bring a little water Sylvie
Yeah! Ev'ry little once in a while
Oh, do you love me Sylvie
Well, do you love me now
Do you love me Sylvie
Yeah! Ev'ry little once in a while
Well bring a little water Sylvie
Well you bring a little water now
Yeah! Bring a little water Sylvie
Lord, ev'ry little once in a while
Bring a little water Sylvie
Won't you bring a little water now
Won't you bring a little water Sylvie
Ev'ry little once in a while
(Transcribed by Bill Huntley - January 2006)
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