And her name was Barb'ry Allen
'Twas in the merry month of May
Green buds they were swellin'
Poor William on his deathbed lay
For the love of Barb'ry Allen
He sent his man down to town
To the place that she was dwellin'
Sayin', "Master bids your company
If your name is Barb'ry Allen"
Oh slowly, slowly she got up
To the place where he was lyin'
And when she pulled the curtain back
Said, "Young man, I believe you're dying!"
"Oh yes, oh yes, I'm very sick
And I shall never get better
Unless I have the love of one
The love of Barb'ry Allen"
"Don't you remember not long ago
The day down in the tavern?
You toasted all the ladies there
But you slighted Barb'ry Allen"
"Oh yes, oh yes, I remember well
That day down in the tavern
I toasted all the ladies there
But I gave my heart to Barb'ry Allen"
She looked to the East, she looked to the West
She saw his pale corpse a-comin'
Cryin', "Put him down and leave him there
So I might gaze upon him"
The more she gazed, the more she mourned
Until she burst out cryin'
Sayin', "I beg you come and take him away
For my heart now too is dyin'!"
"Oh, father, father, come dig my grave
Dig it wide an' narrow
Poor William died for me today
I'll die for him tomorrow"
They buried him in the old churchyard
They buried her beside him
And from his heart grew a red, red rose
And from her heart a briar
They grew, they grew so awful high
Till they could grow no higher
An' 'twas there they tied a lover's knot
The red rose and the briar
In Charlotte town, not far from here
There was a maid a-dwellin'
Had a name was known both far and near
An' her name was Barb'ry Allen
Recorded and filmed by Bob Dylan w/band for Masked and Anonymous (2003)
Diamond Joe was the name of a steamboat that ran on the upper Mississippi in the
period 1864-83, owned by "Diamond Joe" Reynolds.
F
C
Diamond Joe come and get me, my wife done quit me
C
G
C
Diamond Joe, you better come and get me, Diamond Joe
Gonna buy me a jug of rum, gonna give my baby some
Diamond Joe, you better come and get me, Diamond Joe
Diamond Joe come and get me, my wife done quit me
Diamond Joe, you better come and get me, Diamond Joe
Instrumental verse
Gonna buy me a jug of whiskey, gonna make my baby frisky
Diamond Joe, you better come and get me, Diamond Joe
Diamond Joe come and get me, my wife done quit me
Diamond Joe, you better come and get me, Diamond Joe
Instrumental verse
Gonna buy me a sack of flour, cook hot-cakes by the hour
Diamond Joe, you better come and get me, Diamond Joe
Diamond Joe come and get me, my wife done quit me
Diamond Joe, you better come and get me, Diamond Joe
Instrumental verse x2
Diamond Joe come and get me, my wife done quit me
Diamond Joe, you better come and get me, Diamond Joe
Diamond Joe come and get me, my wife done quit me
Diamond Joe, you better come and get me, Diamond Joe
Alternately lower and raise all the fingers in a steady rhythmical pattern:
C
.
F
. .
C
.
F
. .
|-----------------|-----------------|
|-1-----1---0-1-0-|-1-----1---0-1-0-|
|-0-----2---0-2-0-|-0-----2---0-2-0-|
|-2-----3---0-3-0-|-2-----3---0-3-0-| etc
|-3-----3---0-3-0-|-3-----3---0-3-0-|
|-----------------|-----------------|
C
F
C
F
C
F
C
F
C
F
C
F
If I had wings like Noah's dove
C
F
Am
C
F
I'd fly the river to the one I love
C
Am
F
G
C
F
Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well
I had a man who was long and tall
Moved his body like a cannonball
Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well
Remember one evening was drizzling rain
And round my heart I felt an aching pain
Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well
Once I wore my apron low
Couldn't keep you away from my door
Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well
Now my apron is up to my chin
You'll pass my door but you'll never come in
Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well
Mighty river runs muddy and wild
Can't care the bloody for my unborn child
Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well
Number nine train done no harm
Number nine train, take my poor baby home
Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well
Fastest man I ever saw
Was in Missouri on the way to Arkansas
Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well
Played by Bob Dylan and band in Masked and Anonymous (2003)
C
I wish I was in the land of cotton
F
Old times there are not forgotten
C
Look away, look away
G
C
Look away, Dixieland
In Dixieland where I was born
Early on one frosty morning
Look away, Look away
Look away, Dixieland
C
F
D
G
I wish I was in Dixie, away, away
C
F
In Dixieland I'll take my stand
C
G
To live and die in Dixie
C
G
C
Csus4
C
Away, away, away down south in Dixie
C
G
C
Csus4
C
Away, away, away down south in Dixie
Instrumental verse
In Dixieland where I was born
Early on one frosty morn
Look away, Look away
Look away, Dixieland
I wish I was in Dixie, away, away
In Dixieland I'll take my stand
To live and die in Dixie
Away, away, away down south in Dixie
Away, away, away down south in Dixie
Recorded at the David Bromberg sessions, June 1992.
A
Well it's twinkle, twinkle, little star
E
Along comes Brady in his 'lectric car
E
Got a mean look right in his eye
A
He gonna shoot somebody just to watch him die
D
A
And he been on the job too long
Well, Duncan, Duncan was tending the bar
Along came Brady with his shiny star
Well, Brady says "Duncan, you're under arrest"
Then Duncan shot a hole right in Brady's chest
Yes, he been on the job too long
Well, Brady, Brady, Brady, well you know you done wrong
Breakin' in here while my game's goin' on
Bustin' down the window, bustin' down the door
Now you lyin' dead on the barroom floor
Well, you've been on the job too long
Instrumental verse
Old King Brady was a big, fat man
Doctor reached out, and he grabbed hold of his hand
Felt for the pulse, the doctor he said
"I believe to my soul, king Brady's dead"
Guess he'd been on the job too long
Well, that rubber-tired carriage standing around
Taking Brady to the burial ground
High tailed carriages, rubber-tired hack
Well, they took him to the graveyard but didn't bring him back
And he'd been on the job too long
When the women all heard King Brady was dead
They all go and they'd be re-ragged in red
Come slippin' and a-slidin', shufflin' down the street
In their big mother hubbards and their stockin' feet
He been on the job too long
Instrumental verse
Repeat second verse
C
Twinkle, twinkle, little star
G
'Long comes Brady in his 'lectric car
Got a mean look right in his eye
C
Gonna shoot somebody just to watch him die
F
C
He been on the job too long
Duncan, Duncan was tending the bar
'Long came Brady with his shiny star
"Duncan," said Brady, "you are under arrest"
Duncan shot a hole right in Brady's chest
He been on the job too long
Old King Brady was a big, fat man
Doctor looked down, and took hold of his hand
Reached for his pulse, the doctor said
"I believe to my soul, king Brady, you're dead"
He been on the job too long
Up upon the hillside, eight hundred at hand
Vases of roses standing around
[...] horses and a rubber-tired hack
Bring him down to the graveyard, it won't bring him back
He been on the job too long
When the women all heard King Brady was dead
They went home and they'd be re-ragged in red
Slippin' and a-slidin', shufflin' down the street
In their big mother hubbards and their stockin' feet
He been on the job too long
"Brady, Brady, Brady, you know you done wrong
Breakin' in here when this game's goin' on
Bustin' down the window, tearin' down the door
Now you lyin' dead on the barroom floor
You been on the job too long"
Twinkle, twinkle, little star
'Long comes Brady in his 'lectric car
Got a mean look in his eye
Gonna shoot somebody just to watch him die
He been on the job too long
Recorded by Dylan with Earl Scruggs for a documentary.
D
D7
I was born in East Virginia
G
D
North Carolina I did go
G
D
There I met the fairest maiden
A
D
And my age I did not know
Her hair it was the darkest colour
Cheeks they were a-ruby red
On her breast she wore a white lily
Where I longed to lay my head
I'd rather be in some dark hollow
Where the sun don't ever shine
Than to see you love another
And to know you'll never be mine
I don't want your green back dollar
I don't want your diamond ring
All I want is your love, darling
Won't you take me back again?
Won't you take me back again?
It was down by Christ Church that I first met with Annie
G
Em
C
D
A neat little girl and not a bit shy
G
D
Em
G
She told me her father, who came from Dungannon
G
Em
C
G
Would take her back home in the sweet bye-and-bye
C
G
And what's it to any man, whether or no
C
G
D
Whether I'm easy, or whether I'm true
Em
C
G
As I lifted her petticoat, easy and slow
G
Em
C
G
And I rolled back my sleeve to unbuckle her shoe
Was first down Thomas Street and then down to the Liffey
The sun had gone down and the evening grew dark
Down by King's Bridge, and by God in a jiffy
My arms were around her, beyond in the park
And what's it to any man, whether or no
Whether I'm easy, or whether I'm true
As I lifted her petticoat, easy and slow
And I rolled back my sleeve to unbuckle her shoe
Now in city or country, a girl is a jewel
And well-built for gripping, as most of them are
But any young man would be really a fool
To try it the first time and go a bit far
And what's it to any man, whether or no
Whether I'm easy, or whether I'm true
As I lifted her petticoat, easy and slow
And I rolled back my sleeve for to buckle her shoe
Now if by chance you're in the town of Dungannon
You might search till your eyeballs are empty and blind
Be you sitting or walking or running or standing
Another like Annie you never will find
And what's it to any man, whether or no
Whether I'm easy, or whether I'm true
As I lifted her petticoat, easy and slow
And I rolled back my sleeve for to buckle her shoe
Flower of the hazel glade, Eileen Aroon
What would her lover do, Eileen Aroon?
If she was no longer true, Eileen Aroon?
Fly with a broken chain
Far 'cross the sounding main
Never to love again, Eileen Aroon
Who in the time so fleet, Eileen Aroon?
Who in the song so sweet, Eileen Aroon?
Dearer her charms to me
Dearer her laughter free
Dearer her constancy, Eileen Aroon
Youth will in time decay, Eileen Aroon
Beauty must fade away, Eileen Aroon
Castles are sacked in war
Chieftains are scattered far
Truth is a fixed star, Eileen Aroon
All for that girl on the green briar shore
My mother she says, "Son, don't go
Don't leave me home alone
Don't leave your mother and a home so dear
Never trust a girl on the green briar shore"
But I was young and reckless too
And I craved a reckless life
I left my mother and a home so dear
And I took that girl to be my wife
Her hair was dark and curly too
And her lovin' eyes were blue
Her cheeks were like the red red rose
That girl I loved from the green briar shore
The years rolled on and the months rolled by
She left me all alone
Now I remember what my mama said
"Never trust a girl on the green briar shore"
Resembles Muddy Waters' Louisiana Blues, and Dylan's own (trad.) Whichita
Recorded by Bob Dylan during the first Freewheelin' session, 24-Apr-1962
A
E
I'm goin' down to New Orleans, baby, behind the rising sun
A
E
Goin' down to New Orleans, baby, behind the rising sun
B7
E
Lord, I've just found out, my trouble has just begun
Oh, went to see a gypsy woman, have my fortune told
Went to see that gypsy woman, have my fortune told (have my fortune told)
She said: "You're a good boy, Bobby. Man, you just got a bad luck soul"
I got a 32 special built on a cross of wood
I got a 32 special built on a cross of wood
I got a 38-20, well, it's twice as good
I'm goin' down to New Orleans, mama, with my head in my hand
Goin' down to New Orleans, mama, with my head in my hand
Now, I hate to leave you, but you just don't understand
I'm goin' down to New Orleans, baby, behind the rising sun
Goin' down to New Orleans, baby, behind the rising sun
Lord, I've just found out, my trouble has just begun
I know, it makes no sense, but that's what it sounds like
And she sailed in the lonesome sea
There was another ship sailing along the sea
And the name of that ship was the Turkish Revelry
And sailing down that low and lonesome ocean
Sailing in the lonesome sea
There was a cabin boy he said what would you give to me
If I swim alongside of the Turkish Revelry
And sink her in the low and lonesome ocean
If I sink her in the lonesome sea
Well, I will give you gold and I will give you land
And my own lovely daughter she'll be at your command
If you sink her in the low and lonesome ocean
If you sink her in the lonesome sea
He bowed his breath, overboard jumped he
And he swum 'til he came to the Turkish Revelry
Sailing in the low and lonesome ocean
Sailing in the lonesome sea
He had a little tool, an auger meant to bore
And drilled nine holes in that ship's floor
Then he sunk it the low and lonesome ocean
He sunk it in the lonesome sea
And he bowed his breath, back swam he
And he swum 'til he came to the Golden Vanity
Sailing in the low and lonesome ocean
Sailing in the lonesome sea
O' captain will you be as good as your word
And throw down a line and take me up on board
I'm sinking in that low and lonesome ocean
Sinking in that lonesome sea
No, I'll not be as good as my word
I'll not throw down a line or to take you back on board
You'll gonna sink in that low and lonesome ocean
Sink in that lonesome sea
If it wasn't for the love that I have onto your men
I would do onto you like I done onto them
I'd sink you in the low and lonesome ocean
Sink you in that lonesome sea
So he bowed his breath and down went he
He swam 'til he came to pass down with [...]
And he sunk in that low and lonesome ocean
He sunk in that lonesome sea
While sailing round the ocean
While sailing round the sea
I'd think of handsome Molly
Wherever she might be
Don't you remember, Molly
You gave me your right hand?
You said if ever you'd marry
I'd be your man
But you broke your promise
Go with whom you please
My poor heart is aching
You are at your ease
I went to church last Sunday
Molly came ridin' by
I could tell her mind was changing
By the rovin' of her eye
I'll go down to the river
When everyone's asleep
I'll think of handsome Molly
An' I'll begin to weep
So I wish I was in London
Or some other seaport town
I'd put my foot on a steamboat
I'd sail the ocean round
'Cause he was a friend of mine
He died on the road
He died on the road
He never had enough money
To pay his room or board
And he was a friend of mine
I stole away and cried
I stole away and cried
'Cause I never had too much money
And I never been quite satisfied
And he was a friend of mine
He never done no wrong
He never done no wrong
A thousand miles from home
And he never harmed no one
And he was a friend of mine
He was a friend of mine
He was a friend of mine
Every time I hear his name
Lord I just can't keep from cryin'
'Cause he was a friend of mine
And it's all for the love of thee
I could have married a King's daughter there
She would have married me
But I have forsaken my King's daughter there
It's all for the love of thee
Well, if you could have married a King's daughter there
I'm sure you're the one to blame
For I am married to a house carpenter
And I'm sure he's a fine young man
Forsake, forsake your house carpenter
And come away with me
I'll take you to where the green grass grows
On the shores of sunny Italy
So up she picked her babies three
And gave them kisses, one, two, three
Saying "take good care of your daddy while I'm gone
And keep him good company"
Well, they were sailin' about two weeks
I'm sure it was not three
When the younger of the girls, she came on deck
Sayin' she wants company
"Well, are you weepin' for your house and home?
Or are you weepin' for your babies three?"
"Well, I'm not weepin' for my house carpenter
I'm weepin' for my babies three"
Oh what are those hills yonder, my love
They look as white as snow
Those are the hill of heaven, my love
You and I'll never know
Oh what are those hills yonder, my love
They look as dark as night
Those are the hills of hellfire, my love
Where you and I will unite
Oh twice around went the gallant ship
I'm sure it was not three
When the ship all of a sudden, it sprung a leak
And it drifted to the bottom of the sea
Well met, well met, my own true love
Well met, well met, cried he
I've just returned from the salt, salt sea
And it's all for the sake of thee
I could have married a King's daughter there
She would have married me
But I have refused a crown of gold
And it's all for the sake of thee
If you could have married a King's daughter there
I'm sure you are to blame
For I am married to a house carpenter
And he is a fine young man
If you forsake your house carpenter
And fly away with me
I'll take you to where the green grass grows
On the banks of sweet willy
If I forsake my house carpenter
And fly away with thee
What have you to maintain me upon
And keep me from slavery?
I've sailed ships on the salt sea
Sailing from dry land
And a hundred and twenty jolly young men
Shall be at your command
She picked up her poor little babe
Her kisses were one, two, three
And there she trod upon her way
And shone like a glittering free
They had not been at sea weeks
I'm sure it was not three
When this poor maid began to cry
And she wept most bitterly
Oh do you weep for your gold, he said
Your houses, your land or your store
Or do you weep for your house carpenter
The one you'll never see any more
The one you'll never see any more
I do not weep for your gold, she said
My houses, my land or my store
But I do weep for my poor little babe
That I never shall see any more
They had not been at sea three weeks
I'm sure it was not four
When in the ship there sprung a great leak
And she sank to rise no more
And she sank to rise no more
Farewell, farewell, my own true love
Farewell, farewell, cried she
How could I have deserted my house carpenter
For a grave in the depths of the sea
For a grave in the depths of the sea
Well met, well met, my own true love
Well met, well met, cried she
I've just returned from the salt, salt sea
And it's all for the sake of thee
Was on the Blue Ridge Mountain, there I'll take my stand
C
F
C
Was on the Blue Ridge Mountain, there I'll take my stand
F
C
Rifle on my shoulder, six-shooter in my hand
C
G
C
Lord, Lord, I've been all around this world
Hattie, oh Hattie, come out and by the door
Hattie, oh Hattie, come out, come out and by the door
'Fore I have to step in with my forty-four
God knows, I been all around this world
Hang me, oh hang me, I'll be dead and gone
Hang me, oh hang me, I'll be dead and gone
Wouldn't mind your hanging, boys, but you'll wait in jail so long
Lord, Lord, I've been all around this world
Was on the Blue Ridge Mountain, there I'll take my stand
Was on the Blue Ridge Mountain, there I'll take my stand
Rifle on my shoulder, six-shooter in my hand
Lord, Lord, I've been all around this world
'Twas on a bright March morning I bid New Orleans adieu
C
Em
F
C
C
F
I took the train from Jackson, my fortune to renew
C
Em
F
C
F
I cursed all foreign money, no credit could I gain
C
Em
F
C
G
C
Which sent my heart a-longing for the lakes of Pontchartrain
|
C
Em
|
F
C
|
C
G
|
C
|
I hopped on board of a railway car, beneath the morning sun
I rode the roads till the evening, then I laid me down again
All strangers there, no friends to me, till a dark girl towards me came
And I fell in love with a Creole girl, on the lakes of Pontchartrain
I said, "My pretty Creole girl, my money here's no good
If it weren't for the alligators, I'd sleep out in the wood"
"You're welcome here kind stranger, our home is very plain
But we never turn a stranger out, on the lakes of Pontchartrain"
She took me into her mammy's house, and treated me quite well
The hair upon her shoulders in jet black ringlets fell
To try and paint her beauty, I'm sure 'twould be in vain
So handsome was my Creole girl, on the lakes of Pontchartrain
I asked her if she would marry me, she said that never can be
For she had got a lover, and he was far at sea
She swore that she'd be true to him and true she would remain
Till he returned to his Creole girl, on the banks of Pontchartrain
So fare thee well my pretty young girl, I never will see you no more
But I'll ne'er forget your kindness in the cottage by the shore
And at each social gathering a flowing glass I'll drain
And I'll drink a health to my Creole girl, on the banks of Pontchartrain
I'll wed you, my gallant soldier
She viewed the soldiers on parade
And as they stood their leisure
Mary to herself did say
At last I've found my treasure
But oh how cruel my parents must be
Banishing my darling so far from me
Well I'll leave them all and I'll go with thee
My bold and undaunted soldier
Oh Mary dear, your parents' love
I pray don't be unruly
When you're in a foreign land
Believe me you'll rue it surely
Perhaps in battle I might fall
From a shot from an angry cannonball
And you so far from your daddy's hall
Be advised by a gallant soldier
And I have fifty guineas in [...] gold
Likewise a heart that's blinder
And I'd leave them all and I'll go with you
My bold and undaunted soldier
So don't say no, but let me go
And I will face the daring foe
We'll march together to and fro
I'll wed you, my gallant soldier
And when he saw her loyalty
And Mary so true-hearted
He said: My darling, married we'll be
And nothing but death will part us
And when we're in some foreign land
I'll guard you, darling, with my right hand
Hopes that God might stand a friend
To Mary and her gallant soldier
Till she came to her own father's door
Why did I leave this fair spot
Where once I was happy and free?
For I'm now left alone in this cold world to roam
And nobody cares about me
Oh father take pity on me
Come down and open the door
For the child in my arms he will perish and die
From the winds that blow across the wild moor
But the old man was deaf to her cries
Not a sound from her voice did he hear
And the watchdog did howl, and the village bells tolled
And the wind blew across the wild moor
Oh how the old man must have felt
When he came to the door the next morn
And he found Mary dead, but the child still alive
Still wrapped in her dead mother's arms
In anguish he tore his grey hair
And his tears down his cheeks they did pour
When he saw how that night she had perished and died
From the wind that blew across the wild moor
In grief the old man pined away
And the child to its mother went soon
And no one they say has [... him this day?]
And the cottage to ruin has gone
But the villagers point out the spot
Where the willows droop over the door
Saying there Mary died, once a gay village bride
From the wind that blew across the wild moor
And if whiskey don't kill me then I don't know what will
I'd go to some barroom and drink with my friends
Where the women can't follow an' see what I've spent
God bless them pretty women, I wish they was mine
Their breath is as sweet as the dew on the vine
Let me eat when I'm hungry, let me drink when I'm dry
Hmm, dollars when I'm hard up, religion when I die
The whole world's a bottle an' life's but a dram
When a bottle gets empty, it sure ain't worth a damn
No more driver's lash for me, no more, no more
No more driver's lash for me, many thousand gone
No more pint of salt for me, no more, no more
No more pint of salt for me, many thousand gone
No more auction block for me, no more, no more
No more auction block for me, many thousand gone
Recorded at the David Bromberg sessions, June 1992.
Em
Am
All ye brave huntsmen who follow the gun
Em
B7
Beware of a-shooting at the setting of the sun
Em
Am
For her true love went a-huntin' and he shot in the dark
Em
B7
Em
But oh and alas Polly Vaughn was his mark
G
B7
She had her apron wrapped about her and he took her for a swan
Em
B7
Em
Oh and alas, it was she, Polly Vaughn
He ran up beside her when he found it was she
His legs they grew weak and his eyes could not see
He embraced her in his arms when he found she was dead
And a fountain of tears for his true love he shed
Oh, she had her apron wrapped about her and he took her for a swan
Oh and alas - it was she, Polly Vaughn
He took her in his arms and home ran he
Crying: "Father, dear father, I've shot fair Polly
I've shot that fair female in the bloom of her life
And I always intended to make her my wife
She had her apron wrapped about her and I took her for a swan
Oh and alas - it was she, Polly Vaughn"
Midnight, in his chamber, Polly Vaughn did appear
Crying: "Jimmy oh Jimmy you have nothing to fear
Stay in your country till your trial comes on
You shall not be convicted for what you have done
For I had my apron wrapped about me and you took me for a swan
But oh and alas - it was I, Polly Vaughn"
In the midst of his trial Polly Vaughn did appear
Crying: "Uncle dear Uncle Jimmy Randall must be cleared"
The judge and the lawyers stood around in a row
Polly Vaughn in the middle like a fountain of snow
She had her apron wrapped about her and he took her for a swan
Oh and alas, it was she, Polly Vaughn
And it's ride, ride, ride
Railroad Bill he was a mighty mean man
He shot the midnight lantern out of the brakeman's hand
And it's ride, ride, ride
Railroad Bill, you know he took a wife
Said, if I didn't like it, he would take my life
I'm gonna ride, ride, ride
Goin' up the mountain, goin' out west
38 special stickin' out of my vest
I'm gonna ride, ride, ride
Find me a pistol just as long as my arm
And shoot anybody who does me any harm
I'm gonna ride, ride, ride
Railroad Bill, Railroad Bill
He never worked, and he never will
Ride, ride, ride
Honey, honey, honey, think that I'm a fool?
Think I would quit you when the weather is cool?
Ride, ride, ride
This tab is an approximation of the of the fingerpicking pattern, which
features a very irregular alternating thumb with the accent pattern reversed.
It is also unusual in its mixture of picking and strumming.
Ride old Railroad Bill
Railroad Bill took my wife
If I'd said a word, he'd have taken my life
Ride old Railroad Bill
Railroad Bill he was comin' down the hill
Lightin' cigars with a ten dollar bill
Ride old Railroad Bill
Ten policemen, all dressed in black
Coming out of nowhere, walking down the tracks
And they're looking for Railroad Bill
Railroad Bill, comin' round the fence
Robbin' a passenger train for 16 cents
I'm gonna ride old Railroad Bill
Railroad Bill got in a gamblin' game
Shot a man down, though he was to blame
When you lose your mind, let it [turn?] loose
He's down in a jailhouse singin' railer's blues
Same old pants on your passenger shoes
When you lose your mind, let it loose
Railroad Bill he's a mighty bad man
Shot the lantern from a brakeman's hand
Just to see that man suffer pain
Ride, ride, ride, ride
Early one morning, standing in the rain
Round the curb come a long freight train
Railroad Bill, a-comin' on soon
Killed McMillen by the light of the moon
Kill me a chicken, send me the wing
They think I'm working, Lord, I ain't doin' a thing
Kill me a chicken, send me the hip
Think I'm workin', Lord, I'm laying in [deep]
Got a great long pistol, 'bout as long as your arm
I'm gonna shoot everybody ever done me harm
Got a .38 special on a .45 frame
How can I miss when I got dead aim
Gonna drink my whiskey, gonna drink it in the wind
The doctor said it'd cure me, but he didn't say when
Going up on the mountain, going out west
Thirty eight special sticking out of my vest
Honey honey, think I'm a fool
Think I would quit you when the weather is cool
How can I roll when the wheels won't roll?
I asked that girl, won't you be my wife?
She fell on her knees, she began to cry
The more she cried, the worse I felt
Till I thought my heart would melt
I looked at the sun was a-sinking low
I looked at my baby, she was a-walkin' down the road
I looked at the sun was a-turning red
I looked at my baby, but she bowed her head
Don't the sun look lonesome, oh Lord, Lord, Lord, on the graveyard fence?
Don't my baby look lonesome when her head is bent?
Roll on John, don't you roll so slow
How can I roll when the wheels won't roll
She says that I can't be your bride
All men are false, says my mother
They'll tell you wicked, lovin' lies
The very next evening they'll court another
Leave you alone to pine and sigh
My daddy is - a handsome devil
He's got a chain, five miles long
And on every link a heart does dangle
Of another maid he's loved and wronged
Go court another tender maiden
And hope that she will be your wife
For I've been warned, and I've decided
To sleep alone all of my life
Released on Bootleg Series 10 (Another Self Portrait).
The intro figure is played wherever there is a
G
chord.
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Am
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Am
G
Am
I buyed me a little dog, color it was brown
Am
G
Am
I learned him how to whistle, sing and dance and run
G
Am
G
His legs they were fourteen yards long, his ears they were quite raw
Am
G
Am
G
Around the world in half a day and on him I could ride
Am
G
Sing tattle o'day
Am
G
Am
I buyed me a little bull about four inches high
Everybody feared him that ever heard him cry
When he began to bellow it made such a melodious sound
That all the walls in London town came tumbling to the ground
Sing tattle o'day
I buyed me a flock of sheep. I thought they were all wethers
Sometimes they yielded wool, sometime they yielded feathers
I think mine are the very best sheep for yielding me increase
For every fall and change of the moon they bring both lambs and geese
Sing tattle o'day
I buyed me a little box about four acres square
I filled it full of guineas and silver so fair
O now I'm bound for Turkey, I'll travel like an ox
In my breeches pocket, I carry my little box
Sing tattle o'day
I buyed me a little hen, all speckled gay and fair
I sat her on an oyster shell, she hatched me out a hare
The hare it sprang a handsome horse full fifteen hands high
And him that tells a bigger tale would have to tell a lie
Sing tattle o'day
When a well-known, famous drover came a-steppin' up to me
Em
C
G
C/g
G
/f#
Saying, How do you do, young cowboy, and how'd you like to go
Em
C
Em
And spend the summer pleasantly on the trail of the buffalo
Me being out of work right then, to this drover I did say
This going out on the buffalo range depends upon your pay
But if you will pay good wages, transportation to and fro
I think I might go with you all the way to the buffalo
I will pay good wages, and transportation too
If you'll agree to work for me until the season's through
But if you do get homesick and try to run away
You'll starve to death on the buffalo range and also lose your pay
With all this flattering talking, he signed up quite a train
Some ten or twelve in number, some able-bodied men
Our trip it was a pleasant one as we hit the westward road
'Til we reached old Boggy Creek in the range of the buffalo
There our pleasures ended and our troubles they begun
A lightning storm it hit us and it made the cattle run
Got all full of stickers from the cactus that did grow
Indians [outlaws] waiting to pick us off from the hills of Mexico
Our souls were cased in a buffalo [weed], and our hearts were cased in steel
The hardships on the prairie, they make your poor heart [real]
Couldn't drink the water, oh boys it was no [go(?)]
Of us on the buffalo range in the hills of the buffalo
Well, the working season ended but the drover would not pay
He said "You boys went and drunk too much, you're all in debt to me"
But the cowboys never did hear of such a thing as a bankrupt law
So we left that drover's bones to bleach in the hills of the buffalo
Now we crossed Pease River, and homeward we are bound
No more on the buffalo range will we ever be found
Go home to our wives and sweethearts and tell others not to go
For God has forsaken the buffalo range and the damned old buffalo
(Feb or Mar-1961)
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Em
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Em
. . . | ...
Am
Em
Come round you old-time cowboys and listen to my song
Am
Em
Please do not grow weary, I'll not detain you long
Am
Em
Concerning some young cowboy who did agree to go
Am
Em
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G
Em
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To spend the summer pleasantly on the trail of the buffalo
I found myself in Griffin in the year of '83
When a well-known famous drover came walkin' up to me
Saying, "how do you do, young cowboy, how would you like to go
And spend the summer pleasantly on the trail of the buffalo?"
Well, me being out of work right then, to this drover I did say
This a-going out on the buffalo range depends upon your pay
But if you pay good wages, transportation to and fro
Think I might go with you on the hunt of the buffalo
Yes, I will pay good wages and transportation too
If you agree to work for me until the season's through
But if you do get homesick and try to run away
You'll starve to death on the prairie and also lose your pay
With all this flattering talking he signed up quite a train
Some ten of twelve in numbers, some able-bodied men
Our trip it was a pleasant one as we hit the westward road
Until we hit old Boggy Creek in old New Mexico
There our pleasures ended and our troubles they begun
A lightning storm it hit us and it made the cattle run
I got all full of stickers from the cactus that did grow
Outlaws watching to pick us off from the hills of Mexico
Well now, the working season ended but the drover would not pay
He said "You went and drunk too much, you're all in debt to me"
But the cowboys never did hear of such a thing as a bankrupt law
So we left that drover's bones to bleach on the hills of the buffalo
Then slave to her husband for the rest of her life
She is a poor girl, and her fortune is sad
Always been courted by the wagoner's lad
He courted her truly both night and by day
But now he is a-loaded and a-going away
Your parents don't like me they say I'm too poor
They say I'm not worthy to enter your door
But I work for a living, my money's my own
And them that don't like it can leave me alone
My horses ain't hungry, and they don't need your hay
Come sit down beside me for as long as you stay
I'd go to Montana if the moon showed any light
But my pony can't travel this dark road tonight
I once had a sweetheart and her age was sixteen
She's the flower of Belton and the rose of Seline
But her parents was against me, now she is the same
If I'd writ on your book, love, you just blot out my name
Hard is the fortune of all womankind
It's always controlled, and it's always confined
Controlled by her parents until she's a wife
Then slave to her husband for the rest of her life
And both shall row, my love and I
There is a ship and it sails on the sea
Loaded deep as deep can be
But not as deep as the love I'm in
I know not if I sink or swim
I leaned my back up against an oak
Thinkin' it was a trusty tree
But first it bent and then it broke
Just like my own false love to me
Oh love is gentle, love is kind
Gay as a jewel when first it's new
But love grows old and waxes cold
And fades away like some morning dew
The water is wide and I can't cross over
Neither have I wings to fly
Build me a boat that can carry two
And both shall row, my love and I
Will you go, lassie, go?
If my true love she won't go
I will surely find another
To pull wild mountain thyme
From all around the purple heather
Will you go, lassie, go?
F
C
And we'll all go together
F
C
To pull wild mountain thyme
Dm
F
From all around the purple heather
C
F
C
Will you go, lassie, go
I will build my love a tower
At the foot of yonder mountain
And then on it I will put
All the flowers of the mountain
Will you go, lassie, go?
And we'll all go together
To pull wild mountain thyme
From all around the purple heather
Will you go, lassie, go?
G
Oh the summertime is a-coming
C
/b
/a
G
And the leaves are sweetly blooming
C
/b
/a
G
And the wild mountain thyme
C
/b
/a
/g
C
/b
/a
Blooms around the purple heather
G
C
/b
/a
G
Will you go, lassie, go?
C
/b
/a
G
And we'll all go together
C
/b
/a
G
To pull wild mountain thyme
C
/b
/a
/g
C
/b
/a
From all around the purple heather
G
C
/b
/a
G
Will you go, lassie, go?
If my true love she won't go
You know, I'll surely find another
To pull wild mountain thyme
From all around the purple heather
Will you go, lassie, go?
I will build my love a tower
At the foot of the fountain
And then on it I will put
All the flowers of the mountain
Will you go, lassie, go?
Oh, the springtime is a-coming
And the wee birds are sweetly singing
And the wild mountain thyme
Blooms around the purple heather
Will you go, lassie, go?
