I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow From O Brother Where Art Thou. Key F
I am a man of constant sorrow
I’ve seen trouble all my days
I bid farewell to old Kentucky
The place where I was born and raised
Refrain The place where he was born and raised
For six long years I've been in trouble
No pleasure here on earth I've found
For in this world I'm bound to ramble
I have no friends to help me now
Refrain He has no friends to help him now
It’s fare thee well, my own true lover
I never expect to see you again
For I’m bound to ride, that Northern Railroad
Perhaps I’ll die upon this train
Refrain: Perhaps He’ll die upon this train
You can bury me in some deep valley
For many years where I may lay
Th en you may learn to love another
While I am sleeping in my grave
Refrain: While he is sleeping in his grave
Maybe your friends think I'm just a stranger
My face you never will see no more
But there is one promise that is given
I'll meet you on God's golden shore
Refrain He’ll meet you on Gods golden shore.
Also as "Farewell Song" in a 1913 songbook by Richard Burnett
I am a man of constant sorrow
I've seen trouble all of my days
I'll bid farewell to old Kentucky
The place where I was born and raised
Oh, six long year I've been blind, friends
My pleasures here on earth are done
In this world I have to ramble
For I have no parents to help me now
So fare you well my own true lover
I fear I never see you again
For I'm bound to ride the Northern railroad
Perhaps I'll die upon the train
Oh, you may bury me in some deep valley
For many year there I may lay
Oh, when you're dreaming while you're slumbering
While I am sleeping in the clay
Oh, fare you well to my native country
The place where I have loved so well
For I have all kinds of trouble
In this vain world no tongue can tell
Dear friends, although I may be a stranger
My face you may never see no more
But there's a promise that is given
Where we can meet on that beautiful shore
Ida Red From Brad Leftwich. Round Peak Style Clawhammer Banjo. Words from Tommy Jarrell. Key A
Tommy claims to have made the verse about Santa Claus
Up the road and down the road
All my people live down the road
Ida Red, she ain’t no fool
She can ride astraddle of a humpback mule
Ida Red,she comes to town
Riding a billy goat and leading a hound
Down the road and across the creek
See old Santa Claus a-washing his feet
Ida Red, Ida Blue
I got stuck on Ida, too
Ida Red, Ida Green
Prettiest little gal I’ve ever seen
Ida Red, Ida Green
Prettiest little gal I’ve ever seen
If the River Was Whisky (Hesitation Blues) From Charlie Poole
If the river was whisky and I was a duck,
I’d dive to the bottom and never come up
Chorus
Oh tell me how long, have I got to wait?
Can I get you now, or I must I hesitate?
If the river was whiskey, and the branch was wine
You could see me bathing just any old time
Chorus
I was born in England, raised in France
I ordered a suit of clothes and they wouldn’t send the pants
Chorus
I was born in Alabama, raised in Tennessee
If you don’t like my peaches, don’t shake my tree
Chorus
I looked down the road, just as far as I can see
A man had my woman and the blues had me
Chorus
I ain’t no doctor , but a doctor’s son
I can do the doct’rin’ till the doctor comes
Chorus
Got the hesitating stockings, the hesitating shoes
Believe to my soul I’ve got the hesitating blues
Chorus
I’ve Got No Honey Babe Now
Here we go a-courtin',didn't know how or:
Used to go a courtin, didn't know how
Now I wanna(or won't) be marryin'
Got me no honey babe now
Now I will be marryin', goin' across the sea
Now don't have my children along
No honey babe for me
Used to be a single man, a-flirtin' around town
Now I am a married man
I carry my baby 'round
Rather be a sailor, away out on the sea
Than to be a married man
A baby on my knee.
I Know You're Married (Don Reno-Mack Magaha/Ft. Knox Music, Inc., BMI-Trio Music Co., Inc., BMI) From: Tom, Brad and Alice
The day I met you my heart spoke to me
It said to love you through eternity
Not knowing that you were another's bride
I vowed I'd always be close by your side
chorus:
You know I love you and I always will
I know you're married but I love you still
You broke a heart dear that would die for you
I'd give this world dear to belong to you
The game is over and I know I've lost
My broken heart will have to pay the cost
repeat chorus twice
I’ll Fly Away Traditional. From Gillian Welch, on O Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack. Key D
Some bright morning, when this life is o’er
I’ll fly away
To that home on God’s celestial shore
I’ll fly away
Chorus:
I’ll fly away, oh Glory
I’ll fly away (in the morning)
When I die Halleluiah bye and bye
I’ll fly away
When the shadows of this life have gone
I’ll fly away
Like a bird from these prison walls I’ll fly
I’ll fly away
Chorus
Big mandolin solo
Oh how glad, and happy when we meet
I’ll fly away
No more cold iron shackles on my feet
I’ll fly away
Chorus
Another big mandolin solo
Chorus
Just a few more weary days and then
I’ll fly away
To a land where joys will never end
I’ll fly away
Final chorus
I’ll fly away, oh Glory
I’ll fly away (in the morning)
When I die Halleluiah bye and bye
I’ll fly away
I’ll fly away
I'm a Getting Ready To Go From: Riley Puckett Key C
I had a dream the other day, I'm a getting ready to go,
The devil came and he took me away, I'm a getting ready to go,
I always heard that place was hot, Asked him if it was or not,
He wouldnt say yes or no or what, I'm a getting ready to go.
Chorus Sweet home, Loving heaven heaven,
Sweet home, Hear me moaning low,
Sweet home, Loving heaven heaven,
Hold the gate wide open, Cos I'm a getting ready to go.
He took me down to old Hades, I'm a getting ready to go,
I fell in the brimstone up to my knees, I'm a getting ready to go,
You ought to have seen all the little devils prance, When I showed them a brand new dance,
When a pitchfork struck me right in the pants, I'm a getting ready to go.
I'm a getting ready to go continued
Chorus: Sweet home......
I asked when I'd get out again, I'm a getting ready to go,
He looked at me with a devilish grin, I'm a getting ready to go,
The way he laughed I thought I'd croak, He said now I'll tell you a joke,
When you go out you'll go in smoke, I'm a getting ready to go.
Chorus: Sweet home......
Now that awful dream I had, I'm a getting ready to go,
It left me feeling mighty bad, I'm a getting ready to go,
I took my bible and a mouthful of cheese, I fell right down on my sinful knees,
I got more religion than a dog's got fleas, I'm a getting ready to go.
Chorus: Sweet home......
I’m an Old Cow Hand From Dan Hick and his Hot Licks. Key D.
1. I’m an old cowhand, from the Rio Grande
But my legs aint bowed, and my cheeks aint tanned
I’m a cowboy who never saw a cow (or cowpoke)
Never roped a steer, cos I don’t know how
And I sure aint fixing to start in now
Refrain:
Yippee eye oh kye ay Yippee eye oh kye ay
Em A D Em A D
2. I’m an old cowhand, from the Rio Grande,
And I learned to ride, before I learned to stand
I’m a riding fool who is up to date
And I know every trail in the lone star state
Cos I ride them all, in my ford V8
Yippee eye oh kye ay
Yippee eye oh kye ay
3. I’m an old cowhand, from the Rio Grande
And I come to town, just to hear the band
I know all the songs that the cowboys know
About the big corral where the dogies go
Because I learnt them all from my radio
Yippee eye oh kye ay
Yippee eye oh kye ay
4. I’m an old cowhand, from the Rio Grande
And I ride the range, round the borderland
Where the buffalo roam, around the zoo
And the Indians run up a rug or two
And the old Bar-X is a barbeque
Yippee eye oh kye ay
Yippee eye oh kye ay
I Wish I Was A Mole In The Ground From Bascom Lamar Lunsford. Anthology of American Folk Music
I wish l was a mole in the ground.
Yes, I wish I was a mole in the ground:
If I'se a mole in the ground, l'd root that mountain down,
And I wish I was a mole in the ground.
Well, Kimpy wants a nine-dollar shawl.
Yes, Kimpy wants a nine-dollar shawl;
When I come over the hill with a forty-dollar bill,
'Tis "Baby, where you been so Iong?"
I’ve been in the pen so long.
Yes, I’ve been in the pen so long;
I’ve been in the pen with the rough and rowdy men.
'Tis "Baby, where you been so long?"
Oh, I don't like a railroad man.
No, l don't like a railroad man;
A railroad man will kill you when he can,
And drink up your blood like wine.
Oh, I wish I was a lizard in the spring.
Yes, l wish I was a lizard in the spring;
If I'se a lizard in the spring, I'd hear my darling sing,
And I wish l was a lizard in the spring.
Oh, Kimpy, let your hair roll down.
Kimpy let your hair roll down;
Let your hair roll down and your bangs curl around,
Oh, Kimpy, let your hair roll down.
l wish I was a mole in the ground.
Yes, I wish I was a mole in the ground:
If I'se a mole in the ground, I'd root that mountain down,
And I wish I was a mole in the ground.