Author: Jim

You Can't Ride My Mule

Jim,

—Lee Brothers Trio 1930

I've been to both sides of this old world,
Many's the sights I've seen,
I've been some places with a king,
And everywhere with a queen.

But you can't ride my mule,
No sir you can't ride my mule,
You can't ride my mule,
And treat me this old way.

I picked you up and you threw me down,
What makes you do me like this,
If you don't stop your rowdy ways,
Your greasy hair got twist.

Now, you can't ride my mule,
This mule won't ride today,
You can't ride my mule,
Till you do as I say.

You thought it smart to throw me down,
But I'll get even with you,
I'm going places and doing things,
I couldn't do with you.

You can't ride my mule,
This mule simply won't be rid,
You can't ride my mule,
Since you done the things you did.

You can't ride my mule,
I'm telling this to you
For this here mule will up and throw you down,
Your chum will be black and blue

Verse & Chorus:

VI II V I
VI II V I

 

You're Gonna Change Or I'm-a-Gonna Leave

Jim,

—Hank Williams
You wore out a brand new trunk
Packin' an' unpackin' your junk
Your daddy's mad, he's done got peeved
You're gonna change or I'm a-gonna leave

You're gonna change your way of livin'
Change the things you do
Stop doin' all the things that you oughtn't to
Your daddy's mad, he's done got peeved
You're gonna change or I'm a-gonna leave

This ain't right and that is wrong
You just keep naggin' all the day long
It's gotta stop, I don't mean please
Now, you're gonna change or I'm a-gonna leave

The way to keep a woman happy
And make her do what's right
Is love her every mornin', bawl her out at night
Your daddy's mad, he's done got peeved
Now you're gonna change or I'm a-gonna leave

Every time you get mad
You pack your rags and go back to dad
You tell him lies he don't believe
Now, you're gonna change or I'm a-gonna leave

You're gonna change your way of livin'
Change the things you do
Stop doin' all the things that you're oughtn't to
Your daddy's mad, he's done got peeved
You're gonna change or I'm a-gonna leave

Verse:

I I I I
I I I* I V – I
IV IV I I
I I I* I V – I

*only 6 beats; others=8.
 

Death's Other Side

Jim,

—Buzz Busby

A:
Death is a gateway
We all must pass through
To reach that fair city
Where the soul's born anew
Where man's born to die
And his sojourn on earth
Is a short span of years
Beginning with birth.

B:
And like pilgrims we wander
Until death takes our hand
And we start on our journey
To God's promised land
A place where we'll find
No sorrow nor tears
Where time is not counted
By days, months or years

B:
And in this fair city
Where God has prepared
Our unending joy
To be happily shared
With all of our loved ones
Who patiently wait
On death's other side
To open the gate.

A:

I IV V I
I IV V V – I

B:

V I II V
I IV V V – I

 

Yesterday and Today album, Buzz Busby and Leon Morris

Head Over Heels

Jim,

I think I'll go across the ocean
If I don't change my notion
I've just got to forget you if I can

Chorus:
I'm feeling so blue
I don't know what to do
Because I'm
head over heels in love with you

Every day is sad and lonely
For I'm thinking of you only
I just can't sleep when I lay down

Oh I'd like to be forgiven
But this life ain't worth living
If have to sit and worry over you

Oh the nights are long and dreary
All I do is sit and worry
I just can't bear the thought of losing you

Verse:

I I I I

Chorus:

IV I I – V I

Tater Blossom

Jim,




https://www.oldtownschool.org/fiddle/fun/taterblossom6461.mp3
https://www.oldtownschool.org/fiddle/fun/taterblossom5934.mp3

Bach Pieces

Jim,


Nashville Skyline Rag

Jim,



 

 

 

I – IV I – IV I – IV V – I
I – IV I – IV I – IV V – I
II V III VI
I – IV I – IV I – IV V – I

Hobo's Lullaby

Jim,

—Goebel Reeves

Go to sleep you weary hobo
Let the towns drift slowly by
Listen to the steel rails hummin'
That's the hobo's lullaby

I know your clothes are torn and ragged
And your hair is turning gray
Lift your head and smile at trouble
You'll find peace and rest someday

Now don't you worry 'bout tomorrow
Let tomorrow come and go
Tonight you're in a nice warm boxcar
Safe from all that wind and snow

I know the police cause you trouble
They cause trouble everywhere
But when you die and go to Heaven
You'll find no policemen there

So go to sleep you weary hobo
Let the towns drift slowly by
Listen to the steel rails hummin'
That's a hobo's lullaby

3/4
Verse:

I IV V I
I IIm V I

She Ain't Rose

Jim,

—Leon Redbone

She ain't Rose, but she ain't bad
She ain't easy, but she can be had
So can I when she whispers in my ear
She ain't Rose, she ain't bad, and Rose ain't here

She ain't Rose, but she's alright
She's helped me through so many lonely nights
I always feel so glad to have her near
She ain't Rose, she ain't bad, and Rose ain't here

Bridge:
Lord only knows what happened to my Rose
She packed up all her bags and just rambled on down the road

She ain't Rose, but she's getting close
And we'll keep on getting closer, I suppose
She makes those bad old memories disappear
She ain't Rose, she ain't bad
She's the best gal I ever have had
She ain't Rose, she ain't bad, and Rose ain't here

Intro:

I – III7 IV I – V I

Verse:

I IV I – VI7 II7 – V
I – III7 VIm – IV I –V I

Bridge:

IV I II7 V7

Chords in D:

Intro:

D-F#7 G D – A D

Verse:

D G D – B7 E7 – A
D-F#7 Bm – G D – A D

Bridge:

G D E7 A7

Ripple

Jim,

If my words did glow with the gold of sunshine.
And my tunes were played on the harp unstrung
Would you hear my voice come through the music
Would you hold it near as it were your own?

It's a hand-me-down, the thoughts are broken
Perhaps they're better left unsung
I don't know, don't really care
Let there be songs to fill the air

Chorus:
Ripple in still water
When there is no pebble tossed. Harmony on is
Nor wind to blow

Reach out your hand if your cup be empty
If your cup is full may it be again
Let it be known there is a fountain
That was not made by the hands of men

There is a road, no simple highway
Between the dawn and the dark of night
And if you go no one may follow
That path is for your steps alone

Chorus

You who choose to lead must follow
But if you fall you fall alone
If you should stand then who's to guide you?
If I knew the way I would take you home

Outro verse — la dah la etc.

v: I I IV IV || IV IV IV I
I I IV IV || I V IV I
ch: IIm IIm V V || I IV II V

–Hunter & Garcia