Ralph McTell — Arthur Blake

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