Author: Jim

My Better Years

Jim,

—Hazel Dickens

Chorus 1:
Well you're back on my doorstep a' crying
Like I cried for all those lonely years
But I can't dry your tears it's been too long since love was here
And I've already gave you my better years

Verse 1:
And so the pages of time kept right on turning
They never stopped for us to harvest the years
And old embers of love kept right on dying
For there was no one to drown my tears.

Chorus 1

Verse 2:
But I've tried not to blame you
I'll try not to shame you
All I can do now is wish you well
But if you should need a friend
I'll be there until the end
Just don't ask me to love you again.

Chorus 2:
Don't come back on my doorstep a' crying
Hoping for what's been dead so long
For the embers have all turned to ashes
There's nothing here but old memories and this song.

Tag:
No don't come back on my doorstep a' crying
My friend, there's nothing but old memories and this song.

3/4

Chorus:

I IV I V
I IV – I I V – I

Verse:

I IV I V
I IV I – V I

Mole in the Ground

Jim,

—Bascom Lamar Lunsford

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.

Oh, Kimpy wants a nine-dollar shawl.
Yes, Kimpy wants a nine-dollar shawl.
When I come o'er the hill with a forty-dollar bill,
Baby, where you been so long?"

I been in the pen so long.
Yes, I been in the pen so long.
l been in the pen with the rough and rowdy men.
Baby, where you been so long?"

I don't like a railroad man.
No, l don't like a railroad man.
'Cause a railroad man they'll kill you when he can,
And drink up your blood like wine.

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 darlin' sing,
An' I wish l was a lizard in the spring.

Come, 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,
An' I wish I was a mole in the ground.

Verse:

I V I I
IV IV I I
I I IV I
I V I I


Little Girl in Tennessee

Jim,

—Flatt & Scruggs

Oh, a long long time ago when I left my home to roam
Down in the hills of Tennessee
Was the sweetest little girl that was ever in this world
Down in the hills of Tennessee

Chorus:
Oh, little girl of mine in Tennessee
I know she's waiting there for me
Someday I'll settle down in that little country town
With that little girl of mine in Tennessee

Oh, she begged me not to go "You'll be sorry dear I know"
For the way that you've been treating me
So I rambled all around but nothing could be found
To take the place of her in Tennessee

Oh, someday I'll wander back to that little mountain shack
The little girl that's waiting there for me
I can see her smiling face waiting for me at the gate
The little girl of mine in Tennessee

Verse:

I IV – I I V
I IV – I I – V V

Chorus:

IV I I V
I IV – I I – V I


I'm Lost and I'll Never Find the Way

Jim,

—Carter Stanley

Chorus:
Lonesome, lonesome, pining away
Now you say its best to part
Even though it breaks my heart
I'm lost and I'll never find the way

Since you said we must part darling you have broke my heart
I am drifting like a ship lost at sea
In a world of despair its so lonesome there
Why don't you come back to me

You said you'd be true no one else would ever do
I believed you with all my heart and soul
But you broke every vow and its all over now
I'm left in this world lone and cold

Chorus & Verse:

I I IV IV
I I V V
I I IV IV
I V I I

I'll Stay Around

Jim,

—Lester Flatt

Now you just told me that you're leaving
On the next train coming down
I love you dear but I won't follow
I just think I'll stay around

Chorus:
For I know someday you'll want me
When your true love can't be found
But if you go dear I won't follow
I just think I'll stay around

You know my dear I'll always love you
And I'd never let you down
But if you go dear I won't follow
I just think I'll stay around

Someday you'll hear that whistle blowing
On the special coming down
You'll be looking for me baby
But I may not be around

Verse:

I I I I
I I V V
I I IV IV
I V I I

Chorus:

IV IV I I
I I V V
I I IV IV
I V I I

If You've Got the Money, I've Got the Time

Jim,

—Lefty Frizzell

If you've got the money, I've got the time
We'll go honky tonkin' and we'll have a time
We'll make all the night spots, dance, drink beer and wine
If you've got the money, honey, I've got the time

There ain't no use to tarry, so let's start out tonight
We'll spread joy, oh boy, oh boy, and we'll spread it right
We'll have more fun, baby, all the way down the line
If you've got the money, honey, I've got the time

If you've got the money, I've got the time
We'll go honky tonkin' and we'll have a time
Bring along your Cadillac, leave m'old wreck behind
If you've got the money, honey, I've got the time

Yes, we'll go honky tonkin', make every club in town
We'll go to the park where it's dark, we won't fool around
But if you run short of money, I'll run short of time
'Cause you with no more money, honey, I've no more time

Repeat Verse 1

Verse:

I I I I
I I I IV
V V V V
V V V I

I Still Miss Someone

Jim,

—Roy Cash

At my door the leaves are falling
A cold wild wind will come
Sweethearts walk by together
And I still miss someone

I go out on a party
And look for a little fun
But I find a darkened corner
'Cause I still miss someone

Chorus:
Oh, I never got over those blues eyes
I see them everywhere
I miss those arms that held me
When all the love was there

I wonder if she's sorry
For leaving what we'd begun
There's someone for me somewhere
And I still miss someone

Verse:

I IV V V
IV V I I  :|

Chorus:

IV V I I
IV V I I

Goodnight Irene

Jim,

—Leadbelly
Chorus:
Irene goodnight, Irene goodnight
Goodnight Irene, goodnight Irene
I'll see you in my dreams

I asked your mother for you
She told me that she was too young
I wish dear Lord I'd never seen her face
I'm sorry you was ever born

Sometimes I live in the country
Sometimes I live in the town
Sometimes I have the great notion
To jump In the river and drown

Stop ramblin' and stop gamblin'
Quit stayin' out late at night
Go home to your wife and your family
Sit down by the fireside bright

I love Irene god knows I do
I'll love her till the sea runs dry
If Irene turns her back on me
I'm gonna take morphine and die

3/4

Verse & Chorus:

I V V I
I – I7 IV V I

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