Baby-O
From Brad Leftwich. Round Peak Style Clawhammer Banjo Book. Words from Tommy Jarrell. Key A.
The baby this and the baby that,
The baby killed my old tomcat
Chorus: What’re you gonna do with the baby?
What’re you gonna do with the baby-o?
Wrap him up in the table cloth
We’ll put him up in the stable loft
Wrap him up in calico
We’ll smack his bottom and let him go
The baby laughed the baby cried
I stuck my finger in the baby’s eye.
Barlow Knife
Buckhorn handle and a Barlow blade
Best damned knife that ever was made
I've been working all my life
And all I've got is a Barlow knife
From Jack Aldrich Jan 2000
First Part:
Worked in the cotten mill all my life
Nothin' to show but a Barlow knife.
Second Part:
Barlow knife and a Barlow blade
Best ol' knife that ever was made.
Third Part: (No words that I know)
Been All Around This World From Highwoods String Band, Dance All Night LP Key D
Instrumental verse
Chorus:
[D]Hang Me, Oh Hang Me, and I’ll be dead and gone
[A]Hang Me, [D]Oh Hang Me, [G]and I’ll be dead [D]and gone
Its [G]not the hanging that I mind, [D]Its laying in the jail so long
Oh Lord I’ve [A]been all around [D]this world.
Lulu, Oh Lulu, come and open up that door
Lulu, Oh Lulu, come and open up that door
Before I have to open it, with my old fourty four
Oh Lord I’ve been all around this world.
Going up on the mountain, there I’ll take my stand
Going up on the mountain, there I’ll take my stand
Pistol in my pocket, and a rifle in my hand
Oh Lord I’ve been all around this world.
Hang me etc/ Instrumental
Mama and Papa, and little sister makes three
Mama and Papa, and little sister makes three
You know they’ve come to see me, hanging from the gallows tree
Oh Lord I’ve been all around this world.
Working on that new railroad, with mud up to my knees
Working on that new railroad, with mud up to my knees
Working for big John Henry, You know he’s so hard to please
Oh Lord I’ve been all around this world.
Instrumental/ Going up on the mountain etc/ Hang me etc
Big Eyed Rabbit From Brad Leftwich. Round Peak Style Clawhammer Banjo Book. Key A
Yonder comes a rabbit, skipping through the sand
Shoot that rabbit, he don’t mind
Fry him in my pan, Lord I’ll fry him in my pan
Chorus 1. Big-eyed rabbit’s gone, gone, the big-eyed rabbit’s gone
Yonder comes a rabbit, just hard as he can run
It’s yonder comes another one
Gonna shoot him with a double barrel gun, shoot him with a double barrel gun
Yonder comes my darling, it’s how do you know?
I know her by her pretty blue eyes
Shining bright like gold, shining bright like gold
Chorus 2 . Rocking in a weary land, I’m rocking in a weary land.
Biscuits
How Many Biscuits.
How many biscuits can you eat this morning
How many biscuits can you eat this evening
How many biscuits can you eat
Forty-nine more and a ham of meat
This morning this evening right now
I love my wife and I love my babies this morning
I love my wife and I love my babies this evening
I love my wife and I love my babies
Love my biscuits sopped in gravy
This morning this evening right now
Make my coffee good and strong this morning
Make my coffee good and strong this evening
Make my coffee good and strong
Keep on bringing those biscuits on
This morning this evening right now
Ain't no use in me working so hard this morning
Ain't no use in me working so hard this evening
Ain't no use in me working so hard
Cause I got a gal in the boss man's yard (OR WHITE FOLKS YARD)
This morning this evening right now
They kill a chicken, she brings me the head this morning
They kill a chicken, she brings me the head this evening
They kill a chicken, she brings me the head
She thinks I'm working, I'm lying in bed
This morning this evening right now
There's an old hen sittin' in a chimney jam this morning
There's an old hen sittin' in a chimney jam this evening
There's an old hen sittin' in a chimney jam
Keep on throwin' those biscuits down
(OR If that aint a hot place I’ll be D.)
Black Eyed Suzie From Skillet Lickers (Vetco); pitch is a little sharp of G
Love my liquor, love my ?cotty
Love my sweetheart, ask anybody
Chorus:
Huh, huh, my little black eyed Suzie
Uh, huh, my little black eyed Suzie
The gals and the boys went huckleberry picking
We all got drunk, and Suzie got a licking
Chorus
Some got drunk and some got boozy
I went home with little black eyed Suzie
Chorus
Love my ?Lady, love my daddy
Love my biscuits, sopped in gravy
Chorus
All I want in this creation
Is a pretty little girl, and a big plantation
Chorus
All I want to make me happy
Is two little boys to call me pappy
One named Tom and the one Davy
One loves ???(ham) and the other loves gravy
Chorus
Some got drunk and some got boozy
I went home with little black eyed Suzie
Black Eyed Suzie continued
From J.P.Nestor and Norman Edmonds. On: Round the Heart of Old Galax, Volume 3, County 535.
May get drunk, and you may get boozy
Who came home with little black eyed Suzie
…..walk around little black eyed Suzie
repeat first verse indistinctly
Maybe a month, maybe two
But I’m going home with little black eyed Suzie
May get drunk, may get boozy
Better stay a way from little black eyed Suzie
May get drunk, and you may get boozy
But I’m going home with little black eyed Suzie
…… Walk around little black eyed Suzie
Black Rat Swing
From Little Son Joe and Memphis Minnie
Key C
Chorus:
Yes, you is one black Rat
Someday I’ll find your trail
Yes, you is one black Rat
Someday I’ll find your trail
Then I’ll hide my shoe,
Somewhere near your shirt tail
Yes, I’ve taken you down town
Paid your doctor bills
Now I’m in a little trouble
And you’re trying to get me killed
Chorus
Says, he sneaked in my kitchen
Eat up all the bread
Soon as I left home
Start to cutting up in my bed
Chorus
Yes, he is one black Rat
Someday I’ll find his trail
Yes, he is one black Rat
Someday I’ll find his trail
Then I’ll hide my shoe,
Somewhere near his shirt tail
Break, Yea beat it out
He must ?dance in the basement
Was seen in my bedroom
?Trapping for the youngsters
I’m gonna catch him someday soon
Blue Eyed Girl
Chorus:
Fly around, my blue-eyed gal
Fly around my daisy;
Fly around my blue-eyed gal
Dam' near drive me crazy. *
The higher up on the cherry tree
The riper grows the cherry
More you hug and kiss the gals
Sooner you will marry.
Chorus
Blue-eyed gal won't marry me
Brown-eyed gal won't have me;
If I can't have the gal I want
Single I will tarry.
Chorus
Eighteen horses in my team
Leader he is blind;
Everywhere I drive that team
Pretty gal on my mind.
Chorus
Possum up in a 'simmon tree
Raccoon on the ground;
Possum up in a 'simmon tree
Shakin' 'simmons down.
(Methodists sang "Almost drives me crazy.")
Fly Around My Pretty Little Miss
Key of D.
Chorus
Fly around my pretty little miss
Fly around my daisy
Fly around my pretty little miss
You almost drive me crazy
1. The higher up on the cherry tree
The riper grows the cherries
The more you hug and kiss the girls
The sooner they will marry.
Chorus.
2. Coffee grows on white oak trees
The river flows with brandy
If I had my pretty little miss
I’d feed her sugar candy
3. Going to get some weevily wheat
I’m going to get some barley
Going to get some weevily wheat
And bake a cake for Charlie
4. 16 horses in my team
The leader he is blind
I'm going down that rocky road
To see that gal of mine.
5. How'd you make you living now?
Susan-anna gal
Drinking whiskey and playing cards
Susan-anna gal
6. I'm going to the Western Country
Leavin you behind
I'm going to the Western Country
Leavin you behind
7. I wish I was in the Western Country
Settin in a big armchair
One arm around my whiskey jug
The other round my dear
8. I went up on the mountain top
and I gave my horn a blow
Thought I heard my darling say
Yonder comes my beau
9. Once I had a pretty little gal,
I brought her from the South;
Feet as big as Running Boards,
And she would not shut her mouth
10. Don't Ever Marry a Old Man,
I'll tell you the reason why
Spits his old tobacco juice
And never zips his fly
11. Cheeks as red as a blooming rose,
Eyes of the prettiest brown,
I'm goin' to see my pretty little miss,
Before the sun goes down.
12. When I was in the field at work,
I sat down and cried,
Studyin' 'bout my blue-eyed girl,
I thought to God I'd died.
13. There's a ring that's on my true love's hand,
It shines as bright as gold,
I'm goin' to see my pretty little miss,
Even if it rains or snows.
14. Fare you well my blue-eyed girl,
Fare you well my darlin',
Fare you well my blue eyed girl,
I'm going back to Harlan.
15. Her head was like a coffee pot
Her nose was like a spout
Her mouth was like a fireplace
With the ashes all raked out.
16 Up and down Sycamore Ridge
Runnin' through the weeds,
Lookin' for that pretty little girl
That wears them silver beads.
17 Goin' down to Georgie,
From there to New Orleans,
Lookin' for my pretty little girl,
I hope I find her, please.
18 If you see that girl of mine,
I wish that you would tell her
To be true to her soldier boy
And have no other feller.
19 Goin' back to see that girl,
Well, I hope that she won't mind me,
Then I'll stop and stay all day
With the girl I left behind me.
20. If you see that gal of mine,
Tell her if you can,
Before she goes to make up dough,
To wash her dirty (nasty) hands.
21. How old are you my pretty little miss
How old are you my honey?
If I don't die of a broken heart
I'll be sixteen next Sunday
22. Will you marry me, my pretty little miss
Will you marry me, good lookin'?
I'll marry you, but I won't do
Your washin' or your cookin'!
23. Blue-eyed gal won't marry me
Brown-eyed gal won't have me;
If I can't have the gal I want
Single I will tarry.
24. Possum up in a 'simmon tree
Raccoon on the ground;
Possum up in a 'simmon tree
Shakin' 'simmons down.
Blue Moon of Kentucky Bill Monroe
From The Kentucky Colonels 1965-1967 Rounder 0070. Key of G
Blue Moon Blue Moon
Blue Moon Blue Moon
Blue Moon Blue Moon shine down on me
Blue Moon Blue Moon shine down on me
I said blue moon of Kentucky keep on shining
Shine on the one that’s gone and left me blue
I said blue moon of Kentucky keep on shining
Shine on the one that’s gone and proved untrue
It was on a moonlight night, The stars were shining bright
They whispered on high, your love has said goodbye…………..
(two beat pause)
I said blue moon of Kentucky keep on shining
Shine on the one that’s gone and left me blue
Instrumental break.
I said blue moon of Kentucky keep on shining
Shine on the one that’s gone and left me blue
I said blue moon of Kentucky keep on shining
Shine on the one that’s gone and proved untrue
It was on a moonlight night, The stars were shining bright
They whispered on high, your love has said goodbye………..
(two beat pause)
I said blue moon of Kentucky keep on shining
Shine on the one that’s gone and left me blue
Blue Moon Blue Moon
Blue Moon Blue Moon
Blue Moon Blue Moon shine down on me
Blue Moon Blue Moon shine down on me
Blue Ridge Cabin Home
There's a well-beaten path on this old mountain side
Where I wandered when I was a lad
And I wandered alone to the place I called home
In those Blue Ridge hills far away
chorus:
Oh I love those hills of old Virginia
From those Blue Ridge hills I did roam
When I die won't you bury me on the mountain
Far away near my Blue Ridge mountain home
How my thoughts wander back to that ramshackle shack
In those Blue Ridge hills far away
Where my mother and dad are laid there to rest
They are sleeping in peace together there
chorus
I return to that old cabin home with a sigh
I've a longing for days gone by
When I die won't you bury me on that old mountain side
Make my resting place upon the hills so high
chorus
De Boatman Dance (Daniel Decatur Emmett)
De boatman dance, de boatman sing, de boatman up to eb'rything.
And when de boatman get on shore, he spends his cash and works for more.
cho: Dance, de boatman dance! O dance, de boatman dance.
O dance all night till broad daylight
And go home wid de gals in de morning.
Hi ho de boatman row, Floatin' down de ribber on de Ohio!
Hi ho, de boat man row, up an' down de ribber on de Ohio!.
De boatman is athrifty man
Da is none can do as de boatman can ;
I neber see a pretty girl in all my life
But dat she be some boatman's wife.
De oyster boat should keep to de shore,
De fishin' smack should venture more.
De schooner sails before de wind,
De steamboat leaves a streak behind.
I went on board de odder day
To see what de boatman had to say;
An dar I let my passion loose
An' dey cram me in de calaboose.
I've come dis time, I'll come no more,
Let me loose, I'll go ashore;
For dey whole hoss, an' dey a bully crew
Wid a hoosier mate an' a captain too.
When you go to de boatman's ball,
Dance wid my wife or not at all;
Sky-blue jacket an' tarpaulin hat,
Look out, my boys, for de nine tail cat.
When de boatman blows his horn,
Look out, old man, your hog is gone;
He steal my sheep, he cotch my shoat,
Den put 'em in bag and tote 'em to boat.
Boots and Saddle From Riley Puckett. County 411. Waiting for the Evening Mail. Key - F. (chorus has a different tune to the verse)
Take me back, to my boots and saddle
Oo oo oo, oo oo oo, Eoo oo ooooo
Let me see that general store
Let me ride the range once more
Give me, my boots, and saddle
Let me ramble along the prairie
Oo oo oo, oo oo oo, Eoo oo ooooo
Let me greet each blazing morn
On the range where I was born
Give me, my boots, and saddle
(chorus)
I’ve a hankering to be, with a banjo on my knee
Strumming a pretty western tune
There’s a girl in Cherokee, she’s waiting there for me
Underneath the Texas moon
So, take me back, to my boots and saddle
Oo oo oo, oo oo oo, Eoo oo ooooo
Roping steers on the old Bar-X
With my buddies Slim and Tex
Give me, my boots, and saddle
Chorus
So,take me back, to my boots and saddle
Oo oo oo, oo oo oo, Eoo oo ooooo
Roping steers on the old Bar-X
With my buddies Slim and Tex
Give me, my boots, and saddle
The Bravest Cowboy From Brad Leftwich. Round Peak Style Clawhammer Banjo. Key D
I am the bravest cowboy that ever trod the west
I’ve been all over the Rockies, got bullets in breast (round the Rockies)
In eighteen-hundred and sixty-three I joined the immigrant band
We marched form San Antonio, down by the Rio Grande
I saw the Indians coming, we heard them give their yell
My feeling at that moment, no tongue could ever tell
I went out on the prairie, I learned to throw the line
I learned to pocket money, but I did not dress much fine
I rambled on to Texas, where I learned to rob and steal
And when I robbed that cowboy, how happy I did feel
I wore a wide-brim white hat, my saddle too was fine
And when I courted a pretty girl, you bet I called her mine
I courted her for beauty, for love it was in vain
Till they carried me down to Dallas, to wear a ball and chain
Breaking up Christmas From Brad Leftwich. Round Peak Style Clawhammer Banjo. Key A .
Hooray Jake, Hooray John
Breaking up Christmas all night long
Way back yonder, along time ago
The old folks danced the do-si-do
Santa Claus come, done and gone
Breaking up Christmas right along