Author: Jim

I Just Got Wise

Jim,

—Carter Stanley

Chorus:
Oh how I once longed for your loving
Your cheating I couldn't realize
But now that I've found out you're stepping
I'm through with you baby I've got wise

I know now you never cared about me
I think you've been lying all the time
Go back to that wild crowd your used to
You go your way and I'll go mine

You asked me to meet you on the corner
You told me that we had things to do
But after I stood there and waited
You never showed up and I'm so blue

Verse & Chorus:

IV I I V
IV I V I

I'll Stay Around

Jim,

—Flatt & Scruggs

Now you just told me that you're leaving
On the next train coming down
I love you dear, you think I'll follow
I just think I'll stay around

Chorus:
For I know someday you'll miss 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

Now you know dear I've always love you
And would never let you down
But if you go dear I won't follow
I just think I'll stay around

Someday I'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 V
I IV I – V I

Chorus:

IV I I V
I IV I – V I

 


Lonesome River

Jim,

—Carter Stanley

I sit here alone on the banks of the river
The lonesome wind blows the water rolls high
I hear a voice calling out there in the darkness
I sit here alone too lonesome to cry

Chorus:
Oh the water rolls high on the river at midnight
I sit on the shore to grieve and to cry
The woman I love she left me this morning
With no one to love or kiss me goodnight

We met there one night by the banks of the river
Sat there holding hands and making our vows
Swore we'd never part and be happy together
But a new love she's found she's gone from me now

¾

Verse:

I I IV I
IV I V I

Chorus:

I I I I
I I V I

 


Mean Mother Blues

Jim,

—John Starling (The Seldom Scene)

When I got home I found my baby away
Lord a lil' piece of paper said she'd gone out to play
I know the river's done gone dry, she's trapped another fly
I got nuthin' to do, but a few more words to say

Chorus:
I got the mean woman blues
Lord knows I'd lose
I just can't seem to get her off my mind
She's an all night rockin' mother
Lord knows I love her
She's leavin' me to ramble on up the line

When she moved in I kissed the blues goodbye
She lit my torch and left the burners on high
Lord the money that I paid
For that livin', lovin', maid
Now she left me here to grieve, moan and cry

Chorus

If you hear my song, you know just what I mean
Lord I think it's all just a part of woman's scheme
If you're buyin' what she sells
She'll run you straight to hell
Captivate your mind and pick your truth so clean

Chorus

Verse:

I V I I
III7 III7 IV IV
IV IV I-III7 VIm
II7 V7 I I

Chorus:

V V IV I
II7 II7 V V
IV IV I-III7 VIm
II7 V7 I I

 

Chattanooga Dog

Jim,

Tom T. Hall

There's a fairground down in Chattanooga
Where a kiddie train runs up and down the track
There's an old black hound with his tongue hangin' down
And he chases that train down and back

Chorus:
And I've been chasing you like that Chattanooga dog
Even though I know you don't care
I've been chasing you like that Chattanooga dog
And it ain't gonna get me nowhere

I've been thinking that you're like that old train
Anybody gets a ticket they can ride
I'm like that hound pup I will never give up
I'll do anything to be by your side

Chorus

Every day when the kids come for playin'
To ride that old kiddie train once more
There's an old faithful hound that always hangs around
And he runs til his feet get sore

Chorus

Verse & Chorus:

I I I I
I I V V
I I I I
I V I I

 

20/20 Vision

Jim,

—Jimmy Martin

I been to the doctor he says I'm all right
I know he's lying, I'm losing my sight
He should have examined the eyes of my mind
Twenty-twenty vision and walkin' 'round blind

Since she's gone and left me I feel so alone
I carry a heart that is heavy as stone
I knew that she cheated, I knew all the time
Twenty-twenty vision and walkin' 'round blind

With my eyes wide open I lay in my bed
If it wasn't for dying, I wish I was dead
But this is my punishment, death is too kind
Twenty-twenty vision and walkin' 'round blind

You just couldn't know her the way that I do
You say that she's wicked and maybe it's true
But one thing I do know, she's no longer mine
Twenty-twenty vision and walkin' 'round blind

I've lost her, I've lost her, oh what will I do
I bet you're not happy if she's there with you
The eyes of your heart will have trouble like mine
Twenty-twenty vision and walkin' 'round blind

Twenty-twenty vision and walkin' 'round blind

¾

Verse:

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

Please Remember Me

Jim,

—Ernest Tubb

Intro:
I'm so sad and lonely since we've drifted apart
I'd give the world if only I could be with you sweetheart

A:
Please, please remember me,
for I love you so
Please, please remember me I'll be
thinking of you, you know.

B:
Life is so dreary as I ramble alone
I'm tired and weary but I must go on
So as you dream of things to be
Please remember me.

Repeat A and B

¾

Intro:

I I7 IV IVm
II II II V

A Part:

I I7 IV IVm
II II V V
I I7 IV IVm
I V I I

B Part:

IV IV I I
IV IV I V
I I7 IV IVm
I V I I

There's Better Times A-Coming

Jim,

—Cal Veale

Well the cows gone dry the hens don't lay
And there's no place I can borrow
I give the landlord all the news
And the rent comes due tomorrow

There's lots of money in the bank
They say that's where they keep it
Not only wouldn't they loan me some
They wouldn't let me see it

Chorus:
So pick away on the old banjo
Keep that guitar strumming
Put more water in the soup
There's better times a-coming

Well Mary Lou could pull a plow
If only I would let her
She's twice as strong as any ox
But looks a little better

I didn't kiss that Mary Lou but once
And then I had to leave her
Made my collar get so tight
I start to burn with fever

Chorus

My rooster used to chase a hen
He just kept a gettin' thinner
He nearly run himself to death
So I brought him in for dinner

Cotton crops are mighty poor
The weeds are really growin'
I need a woman pretty fast
To help me with the hoein'

Chorus x 2

Verse & Chorus, Jimmy Martin version:

I I I V
V V V I   :|

 
Verse & Chorus, Jim & Jesse version::

I I I V
I IV I – V I   :|

 

Seeing Nellie Home

Jim,

—J. Fletcher and F. Kyle, 1850's

In the sky the bright stars glittered
On the bank the pale moon shone
And 'twas from aunt Dinah's quilting party
I was seeing Nellie home

Chorus:
I was seeing Nellie home,
I was seeing Nellie home
And 'twas from aunt Dinah's quilting party
I was seeing Nellie home

On my arm a soft hand rested
Rested like as ocean foam
And 'twas from aunt Dinah's quilting party
I was seeing Nellie home

On my lips a whisper trembled
Trembled till it dared to come
And 'twas from aunt Dinah's quilting party
I was seeing Nellie home

On my life new hopes were dawning
And those hopes have lived and grown
And 'twas from aunt Dinah's quilting party
I was seeing Nellie home

Verse & Chorus

I I IV I
I IV V I


Melody + Chords in C
Mando break in A from Nothin' Fancy Reflections

Here Today and Gone Tomorrow

Jim,

—Wally Fowler

Here today and gone tomorrow
Our love would always be a hit and run affair
I know you love me but you're just a wanderer
Today I love you but tomorrow I may not care

Chorus:
For absence never makes the heart grow fonder
I get lonesome for someone's company
You're here today and gone tomorrow
And my loving you is just a fantasy

When you're gone I wished we'd never met
For the memory remains within my heart
You're here today and gone tomorrow
We can't be happy so I think it's best we part

Chorus

Verse:

I –  I-VII IV I V
I –  I-VII IV I – V I

Chorus:

V I V I
I –  I-VII IV I – V I