The L & N Don't Stop Here Anymore Jean Ritchie Michelle Shocked Key Em
Oh, when I was a curly-headed baby
My daddy set me down upon his knee
Said, Son, you go to school and learn your letters
Don't be no dusty miner like me
For I was born and raised at the mouth of the Hazard Holler
Coal cars roaring and a tumbling past my door
Now they're standing rusty, rolling empty
And the L & N don't stop here any more
I used to think my daddy was a black man
With scrip enough to buy the company store
But now he goes downtown with empty pockets
And his face as white as a February snow
Last night I dreamt I went down to the office
To get my payday like I done before
Them old cudsy vines had covered up the doorway
And there was trees and grass, well agrowing right thru the floor
I never thought I'd live to love the coal dust
Never thought I'd pray to hear the tipple roar
But, Lord, how I wish that grass could change to money
Them greenbacks fill my pockets once more
Leaving Home (Charlie Poole) A Charlie Poole rewrite of an older song
Frankie and Johnny were sweethearts; they had a quarrel one day,
Johnny vowed he'd leave her; said he was going away,
Never coming home, going away to roam.
Frankie she begged and pleaded, my own Johnny, please stay,
Now, oh, my honey, I've done you wrong, but please don't go away;
Then Johnny sighed while Frankie cried,
chorus:
Oh, I'm going away, I'm a-going to stay, and never coming home
Gonna miss me, honey, in the days to come,
When the winter winds begin to blow, the ground is covered up with snow,
And when you think of me
Gonna wish me back, your loving man,
Gonna miss me honey in the day, day, days to come.
Frankie done said to her Johnny, "Say man your hour has come"
Underneath her silk kimono, she drew a 44 gun
These love affairs, are hard to bear
Johnny he fled down the stairway, my love Frankie, don't shoot,
Frankie aimed the 44, five times with a rooty-toot-toot,
And Johnny fell, and Frankie yelled,
chorus:
Send for your rubber-tired hearses, send for your rubber-tired hacks,
Carry little Johnny to the graveyard, I shot him in the back
With a great big gun, as he went to run
Send for a thousand policemen, take me right away,
Lock me down in the dungeon cell and throw the key away,
For Johnny's dead, because he said...
chorus:
Let Me Fall From Brad Leftwich. Round Peak Style Clawhammer Banjo Book. Words from Tommy Jarrell. Key A
If I get drunk, if I get drunk
Just let me fall, little darling, on the ground
Oh Me, oh my
Let me fall, let me fall, let me fall
Weep and moan, weep and moan
Carry me home, little darling, carry me home
On the ground, on the ground
Just let me fall, little darling on the ground
Lay me down, lay me down
Lay me down, little darling, on the ground
Old hard road, old hard road
Kill me dead, kill me dead, kill me dead
Tie my shoes, tie my shoes
If I get drunk little girl, tie my shoes
The Little Black Train is Coming
When Adam sinned in Eden before the birth of Seth
His little sin brought forth a son, they called him "Conquering Death"
Then the Maker shall forsake you and send disease or war
Wheter prepared or unprepared, bringing you to the judgement bar
Chorus
There's a little black train a-comin', get all your business right
Better set your house in order, for the train may come tonight
God said to Hezekiah in a message from on high
Go set your house in order, for thou shalt surely die
He turned to the wall, and weeping, Oh, see the king in tears,
He got his business fixed all right, God spared him 15 years
Chorus
Go tell the ballroom lady, all filled with the worldly pride
That death's black train is coming, prepare to take a ride
Oh, the little black train and the engine, and the little baggage car
With your idle thoughts and wicked deeds will stop at the judgement bar
Chorus
The poor young man in the darkness cared not for the Gospel Light
Till suddenly the whistle blew, from a little black train in sight
Oh Death, it would not spare him, also his wicked plight
Before he got his business fixed the train rolled in that night.
Chorus
The rich old fool in his great house said, "I have no future fears
My barns are over-running, I'll live for many a year."
But while he stood there planning the God of power and might
Said "Rich old fool, the judgement comes, your soul must be there
tonight."
Chorus
Little Glass Of Wine (Carter Stanley/Peer International, BMI)
From: Tom, Brad and Alice
Oh Molly dear let's go get married
Our love is so great how can you slight me
I'll work for you both late and early
At our wedding my bride you'll be
Oh Willie dear let's both consider
We're both too young to be married now
When we're married we're bound together
Let's stay single just one more year
He went to the ball where she was dancing
A jealous thought came through his mind
I'll kill that girl my own true lover
Before let another man beat my time
He went to the bar and he called her to him
Said Willie dear what do you want with me
Come and drink wine with the one that loves you
More than anyone else you know said he
While they were at the bar a-drinking
That same old thought came through his mind
He'd kill that girl his own true lover
He gave her poison in a glass of wine
She laid her head over on his shoulder
Said Willie dear please take me home
That glass of wine that I've just dranken
Has gone to my head and done me wrong
He laid his head over on the pillow
Let me read you the law let me tell you my mind
Oh Molly dear I'm sorry to tell you
We both drank poison in a glass of wine
They folded their arms around each other
They cast their eyes into the sky
Oh God oh God ain't this a pity
That both true lovers are bound to die
Little Maggie From Old Time String Band Songbook. And Brad Leftwich. Round Peak Clawhammer Banjo Book.
Over yonder stands little Maggie
With a dram glass in her hand
She’s drinking down her troubles
And a courting some other man
Oh, how can I ever stand it?
Just to see them two blue eyes
A shining in the moonlight
Like two diamonds in the sky
Well pretty flowers made for blooming
Pretty stars were made to shine
Pretty women were made for loving
Little Maggie was made for mine
I’m a going down to the station with a suitcase in my hand
I’m a going to leave this country
I’m a going to some far distant land
Go away, go away little Maggie
Gos and do the best you can
I’ll get me another woman
You can get you another man
From Brad Leftwich. Round Peak Style Clawhammer Banjo. Words from Tommy Jarrell. Key A
Oh it’s yonder stands little Maggie, got a dram glass in her hand
She's drinkin' to drown her troubles, and courting some other man.
Oh, how can I ever stand it, jto see them two blue eyes
Shining like some diamonds, pretty diamonds in the sky.
Come and go with me to the depot, got a suitcase in my hand
Lord, I’m going away and leave you, you can hunt you another man
(sometimes ………..I’m going to some far distant land)
Oh the last time I saw little Maggie, she was sitting on the banks of the sea
Had the whiskey bottles all stacked around her, and a banjo on her knee
Pretty flowers they’re made for blooming, pretty stars they’re made to shine
Pretty girls they’re made for loving, and little Maggie she’s made for mine.
Oh, I’d rather be off in some dark hollow, where the sun don’t never shine
Than to think that you love some other, won’t be no little darling of mine
Go away, go away little Maggie, go and leave me as fast as you can
Gonna hunt me another woman, like you got you another man
Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane as recorded by Fiddlin' John Carson
Now I'm getting old and feeble
And I cannot work no more
That rusted bladed hoe
I've laid to rest
Old master and old missus
They are sleeping side by side
Their spirits now are roaming
with the blesssed
Things have changed about the place now
And the darkies they have gone
I used to hear them singing in the cane
But the only friend that's left here
Is that good old dog of mine
And the little old log cabin in the lane
The chimney's falling down
And the roof's all caved in
Lets in the sunshine and the rain
But there're angels watching over me
When I lay down to sleep
In my little old log cabin in the lane
Now the footpath is growed up
That led us round the hill
The fences are all going to decay,
The pond it's done dried up where we once did go to mill
Things have turned its course another way
Well I ain't got long to stay here
What little time I've got
I'll try and rest contented while remain
Until death shall call this dog and me to find a better home
Than our little old log cabin in the lane.
The chimney's falling down
And the roof's all caved in
Lets in the sunshine and the rain
But there're angels watching over me
When I lay down to sleep
In my little old log cabin in the lane
Little Sadie ( Bad Lee Brown, East St. Louis Blues, Late One Night, Penitentiary Blues) From Colm Daly
Went out one night to make my rounds,
Met little Sadie and I blowed her down.
I run right home and I went to bed,
A forty-four smokeless under my head.
I began to think what a deed I'd done,
Grabbed my hat and away'd I run;
Made a good run, just a little too slow,
They overtook me in Jericho.
Standin' on the corner, ringin' a bell
Up stepped the sheriff from Thomasville;
Says, "Young man, is your name Lee Brown?
Remember the night you blowed Sadie down?"
"Yes, Oh yes, my name is Lee
I murdered little Sadie in the first degree,
First degree and the second degree,
Got any papers, you can read 'em to me."
Took me downtown and dressed me in black,
Put me on the train and they sent me back.
Had no one to go my bail,
Crammed me back into the county jail.
Judge and the jury they took their stand,
Judge had his papers in his right hand,
Forty-one days, forty one nights,
Forty-one years to wear the ball and the stripes.
Little Sadie From Freighthoppers. Where’d You Come From, Where’d You Go. Rounder CD 0403. From Doc Watson. Key A. AEAE.
I went out last night, to make a little round,
I met little Sadie and I shot her down.
Then went back home, got into bed,
A forty-four pistol under my head.
I got up next morning, ‘bout half past nine
The coaches and the buggies all waiting in line
The pimps and the gamblers, standing around
They’re gonna carry little Sadie to her burying ground
Break
I got to thinking about what a deed I'd done,
I grabbed my hat and away I run;
I made a good run, but a little too slow,
They overtook me in Jericho.
I was standin' on a corner, reading a bill
When up stepped the sheriff from Thomasville;
Said, "Young man, aint your name Brown?
Remember the night you shot Sadie down?"
Break
And I said "Yes sir, but my name is Lee
And I shot little Sadie in the first degree,
First degree or the second degree,
If you got any papers, won’t you read 'em to me."
And then they took me downtown, and dressed me in black,
They put me on a train and started me back.
All the way back to that Thomasville jail
And I had no money for to go my bail,
Break
Then the judge and the jury they took the stand,
The judge had the papers in his right hand,
Forty-one days, and forty one nights,
Forty-one years to wear the ball and the stripes. (repeat first verse)
Little Sadie From Tommy Jarrell. Rainbow Sign County CD 2725. Key A AEAE
I was out, a making my rounds
I met little Sadie and I shot her down
Shot her down, shot her down
I met little Sadie and I shot her down
I went on home, I went to bed
A forty four pistol under my bed
Under my bed, under my bed
A forty four pistol under my bed
Got up next morning, about half past nine
The hacks and the hearse were getting to form in line
Reporters and the cameras all crowding around
To carry little Sadie to the burying ground
I was a little slow in making my go
The sheriff overtaken me in Jericho
Jericho, Jericho
The sheriff overtaken me in Jericho
Standing on the corner, didn’t mean any harm
Police come up and they got me by the arm
Got me by the arm, got me by the arm
Police come up and they got me by the arm
Say Young masn, is your name Brown
Are you the man shot Sadie down
Shot her down, you shot her down
Shot little Sadie, you shot her down
Yes sir, yes sir my name is Lee
And I shot little Sadie in the first degree
First degree, first degree
I shot little Sadie in the first degree END
Little Satchel From Wandering Ramblers, Marimac 9033. Key of E and Dirk Powell, If I Go Ten Thousand Miles. Key of E
Under my bed, you can set your little satchel
On my head come lay your little hand
If you will be, my own true lover
I will be your loving little man
Run to the house, and ask your papa
Bride of mine, you’ll ever be
If he says no, come back and tell me
And I’ll wait till you get free
When you get free, well then we’ll get married
Look how happy, we will be
Oh we’ll go, to Alabama (California DP)
Any place you wanna go
Or we’ll go, to California (Lousiana DP)
Settle down and live at home
I wish I had, the wings of an angel
Over these prison walls I would fly
Fly on back, to the arms of my darling
Stay at home and there I would die
You can see, I’m no little angel
And I have no wings to fly (neither have I wings.. DP)
I’ll go back, all broken hearted
Weep and mourn and then I’ll die
Under my bed, you can set your little satchel
On my head come lay your little hand
If you will be, my own true lover
I will be your loving little man
End
Little Stream Of Whiskey (The Dyin' Hobo From Brad Leftwich, Mount Airy 1992, and Rhythm Rats ‘I believe I’ll go back home’. Key C
Beside a Western water tank, one dark and dreary day
Within an open boxcar a dyin' hobo lay
His partner stood beside him with sad and lowered head
Listenin' to the last words, the dying hobo said.
I’m going to a better place, where everything is right
Where the handouts grow on bushes, you can stay out every night
You don’t have to work at all, nor even change your socks
And a little stream of whisky, comes trickling down the rocks.
My sweetheart back in Danville, no more her face I’ll view
For I have caught a fast train, and I am going through
Tell her not to weep for me, nor tears to her eyes lurk
For I am going to a place, where I don’t have to work.
So long old friend and partner, I hate to say goodbye
But I know my train is coming, I can hear it drawing nigh
Tell that old conductor, just tell him where to stop
Where the little stream of whisky, comes trickling down the rock
Hark I hear the whistle now, I’ll catch her on the fly
Goodbye old pal, goodbye old pal, it’s not so hard to die
The hobo stopped, his head fell back, he’d sung his last refrain
His partner swiped his shoes and socks and caught the east bound train.
Instrumental break between each sung verse.
Liza Jane From Carter Brothers and Son.
I asked that gal to be my wife
And you reckon what she said?
Don’t get away with your foolish joke
Get it out of your devilish head
Da da laa laa laa laa (end of A part)
Da da laa laa lee laa (on B part)
Da da laa laa laa laa (on B part)
Somebody stole my old coon dog
And I wish they’d bring him back
He’d run that old sow over the fence
And the little un’s through the cracks
If I had a scolding wife
I wish I rather was dead
I’d take her down for to New Orleans
And trade her all for corn
If I had a coonie dog
(I would as sure as you’re born)
I’d take her all to New Orleans
And I’d trade her all for corn
Lonesome Road Blues (Going Down The Road Feeling Bad)
From Brad Leftwich. Round Peak Style Clawhammer Banjo Book. Words from Tommy Jarrell. Key A;
I’m going down this long, lonesome road
Yes, I’m going down this long, lonesome road
Going down this long, lonesome road
Lord I ain’t gonna be treated this-a-way
Oh I’m way down in jail on my knees
Lord I’m way down in jail on my knees
Oh I’m way down in jail on my knees
Lord they feed me on cornbread and peas
Oh it’s mama won’t buy me no shoes
No mama won’t buy me no shoes
No mama won’t buy me no shoes
Lord I ain’t gonna be treated this-a-way
Oh, that sweet talking don’t do my baby no good
No, sweet talking don’t do my baby no good
Oh, sweet talking don’t do my baby no good
I’d go back and see her if I could
Oh, I’m going where the chilly winds don’t blow
Oh, I’m going where the climate suits my clothes
I’m going where the chilly winds don’t blow
And I ain’t gonna be treated this away
Lost John From Tom, Brad and Alice. We’ll Die in the Pig Pen Fighting. Copper Creek. CCCD 0196. Key G. GDAE. .
Funniest thing ever I seen
Was Lost John going through Bowling Green
No Hat on his head, no shoes on his feet
Begging the women for his bread and meat.
Chorus
John, he’s long gone, lordy he’s lost John
He’s long gone to Mexico
Lost John sitting on the railroad track
Waiting for the freight train to come back
Freight train came, never made no stop
You ought to see Lost John getting on top.
I had a dog and his name was Will
He run lost John to the top of the hill
Ain’t caught Lost John and he never will
The old dog he’s a running still
John was barefoot when he left his home
He outrun a message on the telephone
Along came a passenger skipping and a flying
Missed the cowcatcher but he caught the blind
Madeleine . Balfa Brothers
Oh Madeleine, t'as couché dehors
Oh Madeleine, dehors dans le grand brouillard
Oh Madeleine, quo'-faire, toi, tu viens pas?
Oh ma Madeleine, moi je connais tu vas me faire mourir
Oh Madeleine, t'as couché dehors
Oh Madeleine, dehors dans le grand brouillard
Oh Madeleine, quo'-faire toi tu fais ca?
Oh ma Madeleine, moi je connais tu vas pleurer.
Oh Madeleine, you slept outside
Oh Madeleine, outside in a big fog
Oh Madeleine, why don't you come
back?
Oh Madeleine, I know you're gonna
make me die
Oh Madeleine, you slept outside
Oh Madeleine, outside in a big fog
Oh Madeleine, why do you do that?
Oh Madeleine, I know you're going to
cry