Author: Jim

Cold Rain and Snow

Jim,

—Anon. 1870's, Madison Co., NC

Well I married me a wife
She gave me trouble all my life
Ran me out in the cold rain and snow
Rain and snow, rain and snow
Ran me out in the cold rain and snow.

She came down the stairs
Throwing back her long yellow hair
And her cheeks were as red as a rose
As a ro-se, as a rose, oh Lord
And her cheeks were as red as a rose.

Well, I've done all I can do
Just to try to get along with you
And I ain't gonna be treated this a way
This a-way, this a way, oh Lord
And I ain't gonna be treated this a way

She came into the room
Where she met her fatal doom
'Cause I ain't gonna be treated this a way
This a-way, this a way, oh Lord
And I ain't gonna be treated this a way

(repeat verse 1)

Alternate/extra verses

Well I ain't got no use
I see you sitting in the shade
Counting every dime I've made
I'm so broke and I'm hungry too
Hungry t-o-o, hungry too
I'm so broke and I'm hungry too.

I ain't got no use
For your red berry juice
And I am not gonna be treated this way
For this w-a-y, this way
No I am not gonna be treated this way

See you coming on in the room
For to meet your final doom
And I'm going where those chilly winds don't blow
Those winds don't blo-o-ow, winds don't blo-o-ow
Well I'm going where those chilly winds don't blow

Verse:

I VII I I
I V I I  :|

 


Amazing Grace

Jim,

—John Newton, 1779

Chorus:

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace, my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

When we've been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we first begun
Than when we first begun

Through many dangers, toils and snares
We have already come
'Twas grace that brought us safe thus far
And grace will lead us home

The Lord hath promised good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
and mortal life shall cease:
I shall possess, within the veil,
a life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
the sun forbear to shine;
but God, who called me here below,
will be forever mine.

¾

Verse and Chorus:

I IV – I I V
I IV – I I – V I

Are You Teasing Me?

Jim,

—Louvin Brothers

When we're all alone dear and I'm in your arms
Are you teasing me
When you're telling me how I thrill to your charms
Are you teasing me

Chorus:
Are you untrue when I'm not with you
When we're apart are you free
Tell me darling while our love is still young
Are you teasing me

You say that my kiss sends your heart in a whirl
Are you teasing me
And that you'll be mine till the end of the world
Are you teasing me

Chorus

You tell me my love makes your life complete
Are you teasing me
And never from my arms would you long to be
Are you teasing me

Chorus

Verse:

I V V I
I V V I

Chorus:

IV I IV V
I V V I

Ain't No Ash Will Burn

Jim,

—Walt Aldridge

I have seen snow that fell in May
And I have seen rain on cloudless days
Somethings are always bound to change
There ain't no ash will burn

Chorus:
Love is a precious thing I'm told
It burns just like West Virginia coal
But when the fire dies down it's cold
There ain't no ash will burn

You say this life is not your lot
Well I can't be something that I'm not
We can't stoke a fire that we ain't got
There ain't no ash will burn

In every life there comes a time
Where there are no more tears to cry
We must leave something dear behind
There ain't no ash will burn

Tag:
There is one lesson I have learned
There ain't no ash will burn

¾

Verse & Chorus:

I IV V I
I IV V I
I IV V VIm
VIm IV V I

A Few Old Memories

Jim,

—Hazel Dickens

Just a few old memories
Slipped in through my door
Though I thought I had closed it
So tightly before
I can't understand it
Why it should bother my mind
For it all belongs to another place and time

Chorus:
Just a few old keep-sakes
Way back on the shelf
No, they don't mean nothin'
Well I'm surprised they're still left
Just a few old love letters
With the edges all brown
And an old faded picture
I keep turned upside-down

Just a few old memories
Going way back in time
Well I can hardly remember
I don't know why I'm cryin'
I can't understand it
Well I'm surprised myself
First thing tomorrow morning
I'll clean off that shelf

Chorus

¾

Verse:

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

Chorus:

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

 

Brilliancy

Jim,

Home Sweet Home

Jim,




Top of Cork Road

Jim,

Losing You

Jim,

—Jimmy Martin

There's no such thing as sleep for jealous fools
And being jealous of someone like you is sorta foolish too
The life you chose is the life you want I guess
Loosin' you might be the best thing yet

Chorus:
The longest day I lived I'd still be suffering from the shame
In the gutter you were makin yourself quite a name
I wanted you and you wanted…
Anyone you could get
Loosin' you might be the best thing yet

Patiently I sit alone and wait
Knowin' where you were and what you were doin
Turn'd my love to hate
My foolishness is all that i regret
Loosin' you might be the best thing yet

Chorus

Loosin' you might be the best thing yet…

Verse:

I I7 IV IV
IV I II V
I I7 IV IV
I I – V V – I I

Chorus:

IV IV I I
I I II V
I I I IV IV
I I – V V – I I

I'd Like To Be Sixteen Again

Jim,

—Jimmy Martin

Oh the worst mistake I could ever make was to take that weddin' vow
'
Cause now I'm tied to a nagging wife and always in a row

Too scared to talk I'll walk the chalk, my head I'll meekly bow

And I'd like to be sixteen again and know what I know now

Chorus:
Yea, I'd like to be sixteen again and know what I know now

The girls I'd please with every squeeze and make em holler wow!

But its too late to change my fate, such things is not allowed

And I'd like to be sixteen again and know what I know now

I've spent my youth a runnin' round, well I thought I knew it all

But what I've learned it learned it hard and now my head is bald

I reminisce of things I missed, of fields I'd liked to plough

But I'd like to be sixteen again and know what I know now

My teeth are gone, I'm not too strong, don't have too much to build

And even a jug of Geritol won't change the way I feel

I'm like the dog too old to bite, all I can do is growl

But I'd like to be sixteen again and know what I know now

Verse:

|:  I I I IV
V V V I  :|

Chorus:

IV IV IV I
I I II V
I I I IV
V V V I