Ragged But Right (Riley Pucket)
I come here to tell you people I'm ragged but right
I'm a thief and a gambler, I get drunk every night
I get a porterhouse steak three times a day for my board
That's more than any loafer in this town can afford
A big electric fan to keep me cool while I sleep
A little baby girl plays around at my feet
I'm a ramblin gambler and I'm drunk every night
I tell you boys I'm ragged but right
CHO: I go everywhere, I don't pay no fare
I can ride a freight train just anywhere
If I win or lose, I don't get no blues
Oh it's gambling and rollling for me
I hopped on a freight train in North Caroline
Rode down to atlanta and bought me some shine
Went into a card game with 39 cents
Came out with enough for another month's rent
Well you may think I'm bragging but don't get me wrong
I can't run for office while I'm singing this song
I'm a thief and a gambler and I'm drunk every night
I tell you boys I'm ragged but right.
Red River Valley
From this valley they say you are going
We will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile
For they say you are taking the sunshine
That has brightened our path for a while
Come and sit by my side if you love me
Do not hasten to bid me adieu
But remember the Red River Valley
And the cowboy who loved you so true
Won't you think of the valley you're leaving
Oh how lonely, how sad it will be?
Oh think of the fond heart you're breaking
And the grief you are causing to me
As you go to your home by the ocean
May you never forget those sweet hours
That we spent in the Red River Valley
And the love we exchanged mid the flowers
Red Rocking Chair From Old Time String Band Songbook; from Charlie Monroe
Ain’t got no use for your red rocking chair
Ain’t got no sugar baby now
I ain’t got no honey baby now
Who’ll rock the cradle, who’ll sing the song
Who’ll rock the cradle when I’m gone
It’s who’ll rock the cradle when I’m gone
It’s I’ll rock the cradle, I’ll sing the song
I’ll rock the cradle when you’re gone
It’s I’ll rock the cradle when you’re gone
It’s all I can do, it’s all I can say
Gonna send you to your mama next payday
Gonna send you to your mama next payday
It’s all I can do, It’s all I can say
I can’t get along this -a -way
I can’t get along this -a -way
Ain’t got no use for your red rocking chair
I ain’t got no sugar baby now
Lord, I ain’t got no sugar baby now
Riley the Furniture Man From Volo Bogtrotters. Volo Bogtrotters Marimac 9024. Key of D.
When I’s poor, no man, we’re all so bad
Riley from Virginia, got everything I had
Riley’s been here, got my furniture and gone
(Then straight into)
Well Riley came to my house, and these are the words he said
Throw that ?cracker driver? out, and load that poster bed
Riley’s been here, got my furniture and gone
Instrumental break
Cos it makes no difference to the rich man, with all his fancy clothes
If you don’t pay Mr Riley, you’ve got no place to go
Riley’s been here, got my furniture and gone
(Then straight into)
See Riley’s he’s a rich man, on poor folks like me
Every Sunday morning, Riley gives to charity
Riley’s been here, got my furniture and gone
Instrumental break
Well Riley came to my house, and these are the words he said
Throw that ?cracker driver? out, and load that poster bed
Riley’s been here, got my furniture and gone
(Then straight into)
Cos it makes no difference to the rich man, with all his fancy clothes
If you don’t pay Mr Riley, you’ve got no place to go
Riley’s been here, got my furniture and gone
Instrumental break
When I was bore low man, all so bad
Riley from Virginia, got everything I had
Riley’s been here, got my furniture and gone
Instrumental - just three lines; and finish by singing:
Riley’s been here, got my furniture and gone. END
River Of Jordan (Carter Family)
[Instrumental Break]
I'm going down to the river of Jordan
Oh, yes
I'm going down to the river of Jordan
Some of these days (hallelujah)
I'm going down to the river of Jordan
I'm going down to the river of Jordan
Some of these days
I'm going to eat at the welcome table
Oh, yes
I'm going to eat at the welcome table
Some of these days (hallelujah)
I'm going to eat at the welcome table
I'm going to eat at the welcome table
Some of these days
[Instrumental Break]
I'm going to sing in the heavenly choir
Oh, yes
I'm going to sing in the heavenly choir
Some of these days (hallelujah)
I'm going to sing in the heavenly choir
I'm going to sing in the heavenly choir
Some of these days
I'm going to put on the silvery slippers
Oh, yes
I'm going to put on the silvery slippers
Some of these days (hallelujah)
I'm going to put on the silvery slippers
I'm going to put on the silvery slippers
Some of these days
[INSTRUMENTAL BREAK]
I'm going to sit down by my Jesus
Oh, yes
I'm going to sit down by my Jesus
Some of these days (hallelujah)
I'm going to sit down by my Jesus
I'm going to sit down by my Jesus
Some of these days
I'll Rise When the Rooster Crows Binkley Brothers Dixie Clodhoppers on the CD
" Nashville: the Early String Bands Vol. I", County CD-3521.
Chorus:
I'll rise when the rooster crows
I'll rise when the rooster crows
I'm going back south where the sun shines hot
Oh down where the sugar cane grows
Verses:
If the golden shoes you hear so much about
Was worn down here you'd soon wear 'em out
We're gonna take up 'em yonder for to put on my robes
Gonna put on my golden shoes
Don't let old Satan try to fool you
For the gates'll be closed and you can't get through
With a long white robe and the white socks too
Gonna put on my golden shoes
When Gabriel comes for to blow his horn
Well you needn't pull back for you gotta go on
So prepare yourself for the judgment day
For you can't take money and buy your way
We'll have cider all the fall
For I said I's going to the ball
Where the duck chews tobacco and the goose drinks wine
The old hen cackle while the rooster keeps the time
Whatcha gonna do when the women all dead?
Gonna sit in the corner with a hung down head
Well if I had to marry I wouldn't marry for riches
I'd marry a big fat gal who couldn't wear the britches
Rockingham Cindy From Brad Leftwich. Round Peak Style Clawhammer Banjo. Words from Tommy Jarrell. Key D
Never loved old Cindy, don’t expect I ever shall
Never loved old Cindy, but I love old Cindy’s gal
Chorus:
It’s come along home, Cindy, Cindy
Knock along home Cindy, Cindy
Where’d you get your whisky, where’d you get your dram
Where’d you get your whisky at? Way down in Rockingham
Where’d you get your whisky, where’d you get your dram
Where’d you get your whisky at? (spoken) well it don’t make a damn……
Roll her on the Ground From Skillet Lickers
Chorus:
Roll ‘em boys, roll em
Roll ‘em on the ground
Shoot 7 and 11
Roll ‘em all around
When she sees me coming,
She toss her head and smile
When she sees me leaving,
She hangs her head and cries
Chorus
Every time I go down that road,
If I don’t look rough and rowdy
Every time I see that girl
She always tells me howdy
I went to see my girl last night
Her love I was a-seeking
I missed her mouth and kissed her nose,
And the gosh durned thing was leaking
I met a possum on the road
Asked him where he’s gwine
Ain’t got time to tell you now
Little black dog’s behind
THE ROSEVILLE FAIR By Bill Staines, copyright 1979
Oh, the night was clear, and the stars were shining
And the moon came up so quiet in the sky.
And the people gathered 'round and the band was a'tuning.
I can hear them now playing "Coming Thru the Rye."
And we danced all night to the fiddle and the banjo.
Their drifting tunes seemed to fill the air.
So long ago, but I still remember
When we fell in love at the Roseville Fair.
You were dressed in blue, and you looked so lovely,
Just a gentle flower of a small town girl.
You took my hand, and we stepped to the music.
And with a single smile, you became my world.
We courted well, and we courted dearly,
And we'd rock for hours in the front porch chair
Then a year went by from the time that I met you
And I made you mine at the Roseville Fair
So here's a song for all of the lovers,
And here's a tune that they can share
May they dance all night to the fiddle and the banjo
The way we did at the Roseville Fair.
Ruben (Old Time Ruben) From Brad Leftwich Round Peak Clawhammer Banjo Book.
You ought to been uptown, when old Ruben’s train come down
You could hear the whistle blow a hundred miles
Old Ruben had a train, run from England to Spain
But he couldn’t get no letter from his home
If you don’t believe I’m gone, watch this train that I crawl on
Lord I’m nine hundred miles away from home
I’m nine hundred miles away from my wife and my child
Lord I wish I was nine hundred more
If this train runs right, we’ll get home about daylight
Lord I’m nine hundred miles away from home
Old Ruben went to town and the police knocked him down
You could hear that boy holler a hundred miles
Old Ruben got killed on that C and O line
And his poor body has never been found
They found his head in the driver’s wheel
About a mile and a half from town
Rye Straw From Gid Tanner and Skillet Lickers. On Hear those Southern Fiddle and Guitar Records. Rounder LP
Dog eat a catfish, dog eat a minnow
Dog eat a catfish, big enough for dinner
Dog in a ryepatch, dog in a holler
Bring him here little boy, give you half a dollar
From Brad Leftwich. Round Peak Style Clawhammer Banjo. Words from Tommy Jarrell. Key A
Dog ate a rye straw, dog ate a nettle
Dog ate a rye straw, sharp as any needle