Saddle Up The Grey From Carter Brothers and Son.
Saddle up the grey,
And you better get away,
You ain't a-gonna get no dinner here today.
Roll around the jug and put out the light,
There ain't a-gonna be no dinner here tonight.
(One verse of Yaddle-daddle. I don't think it matters if you get
every daddle correct here).
(Some more yaddle-daddles, with the only coherent portion being
"..ain't a-gonna be no...")
Roll around the jug and put out the light,
There ain't a-gonna be no supper here tonight.
Saddle up the grey, and you better get away,
There ain't a-gonna be no dinner here today.
Leadin' of a goat and a-ridin' of a sheep,
I ain't a-gonna get back till the middle of the week.
Roll around the jug and put out the light,
Ain't gonna get no supper here tonight.
Or:
Saddle up the gray, better get away
Ain't gonna get no supper here today.
Fill up the jug and blow out the light,
Ain't gonna get no dinner here tonight.
Riding of the goat, leading of the sheep,
Won't be back 'fore the middle of the week.
And: La de da de da, &c.
Sail Away Ladies From Mudcat café, Recorded by Uncle Dave Macon
Ain't no use to sit and cry
Sail away, ladies, sail away.
You'll be an angel by an' by,
Sail away, ladies, sail away,
cho: Don't you rock 'im die-dy-0,
Don't you rock 'im die-dy-0,
Don't you rock 'im die-dy-0,
Don't you rock 'im die-dy-0.
I've got a home in Tennessee,
That's the place I wanna be,
If ever I get my new house done,
I'll give the old one to my son,
Come along, boys, and go with me,
We'll go down to Tennessee,
Ever I get my new house done,
Love you, pretty girls, one by one.
Hush, little baby, don't you cry,
You'll be an angel by and by.
Sail away Ladies From Volo Bogtrotters. Key D
If I ever get my new house done
Sail away ladies, Sail away
I’ll give my old one to my son
Sail away ladies, Sail away
Chorus:
Don’t you rock em, Daddy O
Don’t you rock em, Daddy O
Don’t you rock em, Daddy O
(Instrumental line)
I’ll chew my tobacco and spit that juice
Sail away ladies, Sail away
I love my daughter, but it aint no use
Sail away ladies, Sail away
Chorus
I got a letter from Shiloh town
Sail away ladies, Sail away
Reads Saint Louis is burning down
Sail away ladies, Sail away
Chorus
Now children don’t you grieve and cry
Sail away ladies, Sail away
We’ll all get to heaven, by and by
Sail away ladies, Sail away
Chorus
Ist Verse.
Sail Away Ladies Structure.
Key D
Intro – instrumental chorus x2
Sung verse, then straight into
Sung chorus
Instrumental chorus
Sung verse
Sung chorus
Instrumental chorus
Instrumental verse break x 2
Instrumental chorus break x 2
Sung verse etc
Sail away ladies(2)
Me and my gal went to town
Sail away ladies, sail away
She went to buy a ten dollar gown
Sail away ladies, sail away
She looked at the green, she looked at the red
Sail away ladies, sail away
I'll take them both that's what she said
Sail away ladies, sail away
She tried one on, she looked so neat
Sail away ladies, sail away
Then she found another man to meet
Sail away ladies, sail away
Now old gal I guess we're through
Sail away ladies, sail away
You'se my girl and another man's too
Sail away ladies, sail away
Now old gal you've done me wrong
Sail away ladies, sail away
When I leave I'm a long time gone
Sail away ladies, sail away
Now old gal, look what you've done
Sail away ladies, sail away
You put an end to all our fun
Sail away ladies, sail away
I went upstairs to pack my trunk
Sail away ladies, sail away
Hunt up a bar and I'm gonna get drunk
Sail away ladies, sail away
Sal Let Me Chaw Your Rosin Some .
From: Skillet Lickers. Played in G
Spoken:
Err Riley, Lets go down to see old Sal. See if she wants to give us a load of that rosin to chew on this morning
Riley………………….that sweet gum tree and find out.
All right. We’ll go down and play her a little tune called Sal let me chaw your rosin some.
Lets go boys.
Jump up Jinny, jump up Joe, You never get to heaven till you jump Jim Crow.
Cabbage in the garden, Peas in the gum, Sal let me chaw your rosin some
Hogs in the garden sifting sand, Sally’s in love with the hog-eyed man
Along comes Jinny and along comes Joe, Along comes Jinny with her apron on.
Cabbage in the garden, Peas in the gum, Sal let me chaw your rosin some
Hogs in the garden sifting sand, Sally’s in love with the hog-eyed man
Jump up Jinny, jump up Joe, You never get to heaven (un)less you jump Jim Crow.
END
Sally Ann From Brad Leftwich. Round Peak Style Clawhammer Banjo. Words from Tommy Jarrell. Key D.
Ride the buggy, yes I am
Ride in the buggy, Sally Ann
Sally Ann
Sally Ann
I’m going to the wedding, yes I am
I’m a-going to the wedding old Sally Ann
To B music:
Greenback dollar
Greenback dollar, good as gold
Sift your meal and save your bran
The old cow needs it Sally Ann
To C music:
How in the world can I swing Susan
Susan’s done and gone
She’s done and gone (or “she’s gone away”)
Susan’s gone away
Sally’s in the garden sifting sand
Susan’s in bed with the hog-eye man
I’m going home with Sally Ann
I’m going homw with Sally Ann
To C music:
Who in the world in the doggone nation’s
Throwing them rocks at me?
All of them rocks, all them rocks
All of them rocks at me.
Other verses/ variants
To B music:
Greenback dollar, good as gold
Greenback dollar, I’ve been told
To C music:
How in the world can I hold court
When Susan’s gone away
She’s gone away
Susan’s gone away
Sandy Boys
Squirrely he's a pretty thing
He carries a bushy tail
Eats up all the mossy's corn
And hearts it on the rail
Chorus:
Do come along, sandy boys
Do come along, oh do
Do come along, sandy boys
Waiting for the booger-boo
Somebody stole my old black dog
I wish they'd bring him back
He runs the big hogs over the fence
And the little ones through the cracks
Mama she lies sick in the bed
Papa's gone to town
Charlie wears the high-top boots
And I wish that he'd come round
Sixteen miles away from here
Chickens crowin' for day
Somebody's upstairs with my true love
And he better be gettin' away
Never told her of her faults
Dang me if I do
But every time the baby cries
I think of the booger-boo
Alternatives:
Raccoon's got a long bushy tail.
Possum's tail is bare.
Rabbit's got no tail at all
Just a little bit a bunch of hair.
chorus
Hey, hey, sandy boys,
Hey, hey, oh do.
Hey, hey, sandy boys.
Beware of the bugger boo.
Sixteen miles away from home,
Chicken's crowin' 'fore day.
Somebody's in the bed with my true love,
And they better be gettin' away.
Do get along my Sandy boys, (girls)
Do get along I say.
Do get along my Sandy boys, (girls)
it's time I's gettin' away.
Racoon's tail's a ring around,
possum's tail is bare.
Rabbit ain't got no tail at all,
just a little old bunch of hair.
Say, Darling Say From Wildcats. Marimac 9015. Key D
Oh little darling, if you were mine, wouldn’t you love to starch and iron
Say Darling Say
Starch and iron would be your trade, and I’d get drunk and lie in the shade
Say Darling Say
Break
Hush little darling don’t say a word, Poppa’s going to buy you a mocking bird
Say Darling Say
If that mocking bird don’t sing, Poppa’s going to buy you a diamond ring
Say Darling Say
Break
If that diamond ring turn to brass, Poppa’s gonna buy you a looking glass
Say Darling Say
If that looking glass gets broke, Poppa’s gonna buy you a billy goat
Say Darling Say
If that billy goat won’t pull, Poppa’s going to buy you a cart and bull
Say Darling Say
If that cart and bull falls over, Poppa’s going to buy you a dog named Rover
Say Darling Say
If that dog named Rover won’t bark, Poppa’s gonna buy you a horse and cart
Say Darling Say
If that horse and cart fall down, still be the prettiest girl in town
Say Darling Say
Repeat first verse ie
Oh little darling, if you were mine, wouldn’t you love to starch and iron
Say Darling Say
Starch and iron would be your trade, and I’d get drunk and lie in the shade
Say Darling Say END
Setting in the Chimney Jamb From Gid Tanner and Skillet Lickers.
Well, there aint no use me working so hard this morning
Well, there aint no use me working so hard this morning
Well, there aint no use me working so hard
I got a woman in the white folk’s yard
This morning, this evening, right now.
Well she brought me a egg, and she brought me a ham (x3)
If she don’t bring a chicken, well I don’t give a --------
Well, an old hen sitting in a chimney jamb (x3)
If that ain’t a hot place I’ll be dogged
Well, she killed a chicken and saved me a wing (x3)
Thinks I’m working and I ain’t doing a thing
Shady Grove
Shady grove my little love
Shady grove I say
Shady grove my little love
Bound for shady grove
Wish I was in shady grove
Sittin in a rockin chair
And if those blues would bother me
I'd rock away from there
Had a banjo made of gold
Every string would shine
The only song that it would play
Wish that girl was mine
When I was in shady grove
Heard them pretty birds sing
The next time I go to shady grove
Take along a diamond ring
When you go to catch a fish
Fish with a hook and line
When you go to court a girl
Never look behind
When I was a little boy
All I wanted was a knife
Now I am a great big boy
I'm lookin for a wife
From Volo Bogtrotters. Volo Bogtrotters. Marimac 9024. Key A major
Last time I saw Shady Grove, she was standing in the door
Shoes and stockings in her hand, little bare feet on the floor
Straight into
Chorus:
Shady Grove my true love, Shady Grove I say
Shady Grove, my true love, I’m bound to go away
When I was a little bitty boy, I bought me a Barlow knife
Now I am an old grey man, I want me a little wife
Chorus and break
Wished I was an apple, hanging on a tree
Every time Shady Grove walked by, she’d take a little bite of me
Wish I had a needle and thread, as fine as I could sew
I’d stitch that girl to my coat tails, and down the road I’d go
Higher up the cherry tree, the sweeter grow the cherries
The more you kiss and hug the girls, the sooner they will marry
Shortening Bread From Tom, Brad and Alice
Cold hogs' head and short'nin' bread
Gonna kill them babies gonna kill 'em dead
chorus:
My mama makes short'nin' short'nin'
My mama makes short'nin' bread
Oh my mama makes short'nin' short'nin'
My mama makes short'nin' bread
Call for the doctor the doctor said
Feed them babies on short'nin' bread
chorus
Spied me a pretty boy and said
How'd you like a little short'nin' bread
chorus
Slipped in the kitchen and lifted up the lid
Stole me a mess of that short'nin' bread
chorus
Caught me with the skillet caught me with the lid
Caught me a-stealin' that short'nin' bread
chorus
A year for the skillet a year for the lid
I'm a-doin' time for eatin' short'nin' bread
chorus
Short Life of Trouble From Iron Mountain String Band
Remember what you told me
Not many weeks ago
You promised that you’d marry me
A-standing in your papa’s door
Chorus:
A short life of trouble
A few more words to part
A short life of trouble, dear girl
For a boy with a broken heart
Now you’ve broken your promise
Go marry whom you please
I’d give my gold and half this world
If you would marry me
Now you’ve broken your promise
Go on with whom you may
This old world’s so big and wide
I’m gonna ramble back someday
Sitting on Top of the World from Mule to Ride. Sugar Hill 1999. SHCD 3892. Key A
It was in the spring, she went away
My darling left me, she’s gone astray
Now she’s gone, but I don’t worry
Because I’m sitting on top of the world
Mississippi river , so deep and wide
My darling living, on the other side
Now she’s gone…..
Don’t like my peaches, don’t shake my tree
Get out of my orchard, let the peaches be
My baby called me, on the telephone
She said darling, won’t you come on home
Ashes to ashes, and dust to dust
Show me a woman, that a man can trust
It was in the spring, she went away
My darling left me, she’s gone astray
Now she’s gone, but I don’t worry
Because I’m sitting on top of the world
Smoke! Smoke! Smoke That Cigarette! (Merle Travis)
cho: Smoke! Smoke! Smoke that cigarette!
Puff, Puff, Puff and if you smoke yourself to death
Tell Saint Peter at the Golden Gate
That you hate to make him wait
But you've just got to have another cigarette.
Now I'm a feller with a heart of gold,
And the ways of a gentleman, I've been told,
The kind of a guy that wouldn't even harm a flea--
But if me and a certain character met,
The guy that invented the cigarette,
I'd murder that son of a gun in the first degree--
Not 'cause I don't smoke myself,
And I don't reckon they'll harm your health
I've smoked all my life and ain't dead yet
But nicotine slaves are all the same,
At a pettin' party or a poker game,
Everything must stop while they smoke that cigarette.
In a game of chance the other night
Old Dame Fortune was a-doin' me right,
The Kings and Queens just kept on comin' around--
I played 'em hard and bet 'em high,
But my bluff didn't work on a certain guy,
He kept on raisin' and layin' the money down
He'd raise me and I'd raise him,
I sweated blood gotta sink or swim,
He finally called and didn't raise the bet--
I said "Aces full, pal,--how 'bout you?"
He said "I'll tell you in a minute or two,
Right now I've just got to have a cigarette."
The other night I had a date
With the cutest little girl in the forty eight states
A high-bred, uptown, fancy little dame--
She said she loved me and it seemed to me
That things were 'bout like they oughta be,
So hand in hand we strolled down lover's lane--
She was oh, so far from a cake of ice,
Our smoochin' party was a-goin nice,
So help me Hannah, I think I'd a been there yet--
But I give her a kiss and a little squeeze
And she said " Tex excuse me please,
I've just got to have another cigarette."
Soldiers Joy
Love somebody, yes I do.
Love somebody, yes I do.
Love somebody, yes I do.
Love somebody, but it ain't you.
I am my mama's darling boy
I am my mama's darling boy
I am my mama's darling boy
Sing a little song called "Soldier's Joy"
and the chorus
15 cents for the morphine
25 cents for the beer
15 cents for the morphine
Now get me out of here.
Grasshopper sittin' on a sweet potato vine
Grasshopper sittin' on a sweet potato vine
Long comes a frog and says he's mine
15 cents for the morphine, 15 cents for the beer
15 cents for the morphine, gonna carry me way from here
Oh, my Soldier's Joy
I am my mama's darling child
I am my mama's darling child
I am my mama's darling child
And I don't care for you.
Skillet Lickers version:
25 cents for the morphine, 15 cents a beer
25 cents for the morphine, gonna take me away from here
Love somebody, yes I do
And I want somebody for to love me too.
Love somebody, yes I do
Oh that soldiers joy.
or as Joe Thompson sings it:
Love somebody yes I do,
For the bible tells me so!
Court all night, sleep all day
Court all night, sleep all day
Court all night, sleep all day
That's the solider's joy they say
I am my mother's pride and joy
I am my mother's pride and joy
I am my mother's pride and joy
Play a little tune called solidier's joy
15 cents for the morphine
25 cents for the beers
15 cents for the morphine
Gonna roll right out of here
Soldiers Joy From: Skillet Lickers on Hell Broke loose in Georgia. County
Rock the cradle Lucy, rock the cradle high
Rock the cradle Lucy, don’t let that baby cry
Rock the cradle Lucy, rock the cradle long
Rock the cradle Lucy, keep that baby warm
The Cofer Brothers on Georgia fiddle bands volume 2 has slight variant to first verse:
Rock the cradle Lucy, don’t you close your eyes
Rock the cradle Lucy, don’t let that baby cry
From Taylor’s Kentucky Boys. On Wink the Other Eye
Love somebody, yes I do, love somebody, yes I do
Love somebody, yes I do, love somebody and I won’t tell who
From Skillet Lickers on County volume 1
Chicken in the bread tray scratching up dough
Granny will your dog bite, no sir no
Grasshopper sitting on a sweet potato vine
Grasshopper sitting on a sweet potato vine
Grasshopper sitting on a sweet potato vine
Along comes a chicken and says you’re mine
I’m gonna get a drink, don’t you want to go
?
25 cents for the whisky?
From Brad Leftwich. Round Peak Style Clawhammer Banjo. Words from Tommy Jarrell. Key A
I love somebody, yes I do (3x)
And I bet you five dollars you can’t guess who
I’m gonna get a drink, don’t you want to go? (3x)
Hold on soldiers joy
Grasshopper sitting on a sweet potato vine (3x)
Along comes a chicken, says you are mine
Twenty-five cents for the morphine
Fifteen cents for the beer
Twenty five cents for the morphine
Gonna carry me away from here
Sourwood Mountain From Brad Leftwich. Round Peak Style Clawhammer Banjo. Words from Tommy Jarrell. Key A
Chicken crowing on Sourwood mountain
Hey, ho tum-a-diddle-um-a-day
So many pretty girls that you can’t count them
Hey, ho tum-a-diddle-um-a-day
Big dog bark, little one’ll bite you
Hey, ho tum-a-diddle-um-a-day
Big gal kiss, little one’ll fight you
Hey, ho tum-a-diddle-um-a-day
Stay All Night From Brad Leftwich. Round Peak Style Clawhammer Banjo. Words from Tommy Jarrell. Key A
Stay all night and don’t go home (3x)
Stay with me till morning
River’s up and I can’t get across (3x)
Stay with me till morning
I give five dollars for an old blind horse (2x)
He sat down and I couldn’t get across
Stay with me till morning
I kicked and I spurred, I couldn’t get him in (2x)
I give five dollars to take him back again
Stay with me till morning
Storms are on the Ocean, The
From Carter Family
1. I’m a-going a- way to leave you love
I’m a –going a- way for a while
But I’ll return to you some - time
If I go ten thousand miles
Chorus:
The storms are on the O- cean
The heavens may cease to be
This world may lose its motion, love
If I prove false to thee
2. Oh, who will dress your pretty little feet
Oh, who will glove your hand
Oh, who will kiss your rosy red cheeks
When I’m in the far off land
Chorus
3. Oh, Papa will dress my pretty little feet
And mama will glove my hand
You can kiss my rosy red cheeks
When you return again
Chorus
4. Oh have you seen those mournful doves
Flying from pine to pine
A - mourning for their own true loves
Just like I mourn for mine
Chorus
5. I’ll never go back on the ocean, love
I’ll never go back on the sea
I’ll never go back on the blue-eyed girl
‘Til she goes back on me
Chorus
Sugar in the Gourd From Gid Tanner and Skillet Lickers. On Hear those Southern Fiddle and Guitar Records. Rounder LP
I met her on the road, and she danced on a board
Tuned up my fiddle and give her sugar in the gourd
Sugar in the gourd and I can’t get it out
And the way to get the sugar out, roll the gourd about
Susananna Gal
From Brad Leftwich. Round Peak Style Clawhammer Banjo. Key D. From a recording of Charlie Lowe.
How do you make your living now, Susananna?
How do you make your living now, Susananna gal?
Rock into a notion now, Susananna
Rock into a notion now, Susananna, gal
I’ll hitch old Logan in the lead and Morgan in behind
I’m going down that rocky road, gonna see that gal of mine
I’m going to the western country now, Susananna
I’m going to the western country now, Susananna, gal
Sixteen horses in my team as I go riding by
If I don’t get to old Susananna, Lord, I’ll know the reason why
Can’t stay here if you can’t shuck corn, Susananna
Can’t stay here if you can’t shuck corn, Susananna, gal
How do you make your living now, Susananna?
Drinking whiskey and playing cards, Susananna gal.
Sweet Sunny South from Charlie Poole and Brad Leftwich in Round Peak Style Clawhammer Banjo book. Key A
Take me home to a place, where I first saw the light
To my sweet sunny south, take me home
Where the mockingbirds sing me to sleep every night
Oh, why was I tempted to roam
Oh I think with regret of the dear home I left
Of the warm hearts that sheltered me there
And the wife and the dear ones on whom I’m bereft
And sight of the old place again
Take me home to a place where my little ones sleep
And old Massa lies buried nearby
Oe’r the graves of the loved ones I long there to weep
And among them to rest and to die
Take me home to the place where the orange trees grow
To my cot in the evergreen shade
Where the flowers on the river’s green margin’s they grow
They are sweet on the banks where we played
The path to our cottage, they say has grown green
The place is quite lonely around
And I know that the smiles and the forms I have seen
Now lies in the cold mossy ground
Take me home to a place where my little ones sleep
And old Massa lies buried nearby
Oe’r the graves of the loved ones I long there to weep
And among them to rest and to die
Take me back, let me see what is left that I know
Can it be that the old house is gone?
Dear friends of my childhood indeed must be few
And I must face death alone
But yet I return to the place of my birth
Where the children have played around the door
Where they gather wild blossoms that grow round the path
They will echo our footsteps no more
Sugar Hill From Crocket Ward and his Boys.
If you want to get your eye knocked out
If you want to get your fill
If you want to get your head cut off
Then go to Sugar Hill
Jaybird on the mountain top
Redbird on the ground
Blackbird in the sugar tree
A’shaking that sugar down
?Big Mary? Got mighty sick
And what do you reckon ailed her
[She] drink three pints of sugar top
And then her stomach failed her
Ten Cents in my pocket book
And don’t you hear it jingle
I’m gonna court them pretty gals
As long as I stay single
Jaybird pulled a big plough
??and the borrar one a jew??
Your legs so slim and slender
I’m fraid they’ll break it too
Yonder comes my old true love
And how do you reckon I know
Tell her by her shoo fly dress
That comes from sugar stores?
From: Brad Leftwich in book Round Peak Style Clawhammer banjo
Five cents in my pocket change, two dollars in my bill
If I had ten dollars more, I’d climb old Sugar hill
Jaybird and the sparrowhawk, they had a little fight together
They fought all around the briar patch and they never jerked a feather
If I had no horse to ride, I’d be found a walking
Up and down old Toenail Gap to hear that girl a-talking
From Old Time String Band Songbook (New Lost City Ramblers).
If you want to get your eye knocked out
If you want to get your fill
If you want to get your eye knocked out
Go to Sugar Hill
I’m getting lonesome for my gal
I want a drink of Rye
I’m a going to Sugar Hill
Or know the reason why
Possum on a railfence
Looking at the sun
Hound dog coming down the road
Possum better run
Possum up a simmon tree
Raccoon on the ground
Possum up a simmon tree
Shaking simmons down
Get your banjo off the wall
Grab your fiddle Bill
Hitch the horses to the sleigh
We’re going to Sugar Hill