Author: Jim

I'll Go Steppin' Too

Jim,

—written by Tom James, Bill Denny. First recorded: Flatt & Scruggs

Don't think I'll be hanging around while you're having fun
I won't sit here crying over you
From now on when you step out I'll tell you what I'll do
I'll lock the door, put out the cat, and I'll go stepping too

Chorus:
Yes, I'll go stepping too, my honey, I'll go stepping too
I'll lock the door, put out the cat, and I'll go stepping too

Now every time you come in late we begin to fight
You tell me there are more fish in the sea
But the bait ain't what it used to be, and I've got news for you
Now after this when you step out then I'll go stepping too

From now on when you come in and you won't tell where you been
With your hair mussed up and your clothes don't fit you right
Don't start to yell if you find lipstick on me too
Then you will know that I have been stepping just like you

Verse:

I I I V …
V V I I
I I I V …
V V V I …

Chorus:

I I I V …
V V V I …

Cowhide Boots

Jim,


Watermelon Hangin' On a Vine

Jim,

1882 Thomas P. Westendorf

See that watermelon, she's smiling through the fence
I wish that watermelon it was mine
Those folks must be foolish, they got no common sense
Or they'd never leave it there upon the vine

*Chorus:
Apples are sweet, peaches are good
Rabbit is so very, very fine
But give me, oh give me, oh how I wish you would
The watermelon hangin' on that vine

You can talk about your apples, your peaches and your pears
And 'simmons growin' on a 'simmon tree
But bless your heart my honey, there's no other fruit for me
But that watermelon smilin' on the vine.

When moonbeams are shinin' that melon gonna cool
And then it'll eat so very fine
That's when I'm gonna fetch it, 'else I'd be a fool
If I left it there a-hangin' on the vine

I went to get that melon, it was on a starry night
The moon it had just begun to shine
And when I left that old man's field I left it on a run
But I didn't leave that melon on the vine

*J.E. Mainer's Mountaineers' chorus:
Oh, hambone and gravy, chicken is good
Rabbit is so very, very fine.
Etc…

—Harry and Jeanie West' (mostly) lyrics. First recorded: Skillet Lickers 1926

Verse:

I IV   I I V
I IV   I I   V I

Chorus:

IV I I V
I IV   I I   V I




Jeff Michael's first break (transposed to C):


Monroe's break:

X:1
T:Watermelon on the Vine
T:Watermelon Hangin' on that Vine
R:Break on the verse
C:Monroe Brothers' version
Z:Jim Kendrick transposed to G from F#
N:from Monroe Brothers Feast Here Tonight album
L:1/16
Q:
M:4/4
K:G
D2G2A2 || "G"BBBB B2BB | B2BB B2B2 | "C"A2G2 GDED | "G"G2GG GDED |
G2GG G2A2 | BAG2 F2G2 | "D"{G}[A2A]AA A2A2 | A2D2 "3"{_B}[Bd]ddd ||
"G"dddd dddd | dddd dddB | "C"A2G2 G2EG | "G"G2!slide![Bd][Bd] [Bd][Bd][Bd][Bd] |
[B2d][Bd][Bd] [Bd][Bd][Bd][Bd] | "D"[A2d][Ad][Ad] DEFF | "G"GGGG Bdde | [g2B][g2B][g4B] ||
[/abcjs]

Teddy Bears' Picnic

Jim,


Teddy Bears' Picnic Lyrics:

If you go down in the woods today, you're sure of a big surprise
If you go down in the woods today, you'd better go in disguise
For every bear that ever there was
Will gather there for certain because
Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic

Every teddy bear who's been good is sure of a treat today
There's lots of marvelous things to eat and wonderful games to play
Beneath the trees where nobody sees
They'll hide and seek as long as they please
That's the way the teddy bears have their picnic

Picnic time for teddy bears
The little teddy bears are having a lovely time today
Watch them, catch them unawares
And see them picnic on their holiday

See them gaily gad about
They love to play and shout
They never have any cares
At six o'clock their mummies and daddies
Will take them back home to bed
'Cause they're tired little teddy bears

If you go down in the woods today, you'd better not go alone
It's lovely down in the woods today, but safer to stay at home
For every bear that ever there was
Will gather there for certain because
Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic

I Washed My Face in the Morning Dew

Jim,

—Tom T. Hall

The first strange town I was ever in
The county was hangin' a man
Nobody cared if he lived or died
And I just didn't understand

Chorus:
So I washed my face in the morning dew
Bathed my soul in the sun
Washed my face in the morning dew
And kept on movin' along

The second strange town I was in
They were laughing at a poor crippled man
Begging for nickels and dimes on the street
And I just didn't understand

Chorus

The third strange town that I was in
Was settled, peaceful and nice
The rich got richer and the poor got poorer
And to me it didn't seem right

Chorus

Some day times are bound to change
It can't be very far
And each injustice I have seen
Will come before the bar

Chorus
(last line changes to "And my journey will be done")

Verse:

|:  I IV – I I – V I  :|

Chorus:

IV I IV I
IV I I – V I

 

Thanks a Lot

Jim,

—Ernest Tubb

Chorus:
Thanks, thanks a lot
I got a broken heart that's all I've got
You made me cry and I cried a lot
I lost your love baby thanks a lot

You told our friend as I was passin' by
That you're not sorry that you made me cry
You said I deserve just what I got
Well if that's how you feel, honey thanks a lot

Chorus

You wanted a fool and I played the part
Now all I've got is a broken heart
We loved a little and laughed a lot
Then you were gone, honey thanks a lot

Chorus

Chorus & Verse:

I VIm I VIm
I IV I – V I

 


She's Gone, Gone, Gone

Jim,

—Harlan Howard, first recorded by Lefty Frizzel

She said if I ever deceived her
She'd be gone before I could count ten
I guess that I didn't believe her
'Cause look at the trouble I'm in

Chorus:
She's gone, gone, gone… gone, gone, gone
Crying won't bring her back
The more that I cry the faster that train flies
Farther on down the track

I've lost every right to be happy
When I lost the heaven I found
She warned me she'd leave and she left me
Before my first tear hit the ground

Chorus

If I only knew where to find her
I'd crawl there on my hands and knees
Each tick of the clock's a reminder
She's one second farther from me

Chorus

Verse & Chorus:

|:  I IV V I  :|

 

Farewell Blues 2

Jim,

(Couldn't find it on YouTube)

Will You Miss Me

Jim,

—The Carter Family

When death shall close these eyelids
And this heart shall cease to beat
And they lay this soul to rest
In a flowery boundary tree

Chorus:
Will you miss me? (miss me when I'm gone)
Will you miss me? (miss me when I'm gone)
Will you miss me? (miss me when I'm gone)
Will you miss me when I'm gone?

When these lips shall never more
Place a kiss upon thy brow
When my eyes close still in death
Will you love me then as now?

Or perhaps you'll plant some flowers
On my cold and unworthy grave
Come and sit alone beside me
When the roses nod and wave

Verse:

I I IV I
I I V V – I

Chorus:

I I 1/2 measure IV I 1/2 measure
I I 1/2 measure V V – I 1/2 measure

 

Original Carter lyrics (1935):

When death shall close these eye lids
And this heart shall cease to beat
And they lay me down to rest
In some flowery bound retreat

Chorus:
Will you miss me? (Miss me when I'm gone)
Will you miss me? (Miss me when I'm gone)
Will you miss me? (Miss me when I'm gone)
Will you miss me when I'm gone?

Perhaps you'll plant a flower
On my poor unworthy grave
And come and sit alone beside me
When the roses nod and wave

When these footsteps ne'er are heard
And these lips are pale and cold
In a winding sheet of daisies
This frail body you'll enfold

Louisville Breakdown

Jim,