Author: Jim

It's A Long, Long Way To The Top Of The World

Jim,

-Jim & Jesse McReynolds

Its a long long way to the top of the world
But its only a short fall back down

A young fool filled with greed, I let ambition rule me
Like a hunger that gnawed at my soul
I worked hard made my fortune but lost the heart of my darling
She got lonely and her love soon grew cold

Chorus:
Its a long long way to the top of the world
On a rough road that winds round and round
Its a long long way to the top of the world
But its only a short fall back down

Now I'm a big man with money but at love I'm a pauper
The love I once held now another man claims
I've reached the top of the world but my heart hit rock bottom
I can't make love to fortune and fame

Chorus

3/4

Intro:

I – I7 IV – I I – V I

Verse:

I – V I – IV I V
I – V I – IV I – V I

Chorus:

V I IV – I V
I – I7 IV – I I – V I

Stormy Horizons

Jim,

-Jim & Jesse McReynolds

There's stormy horizons in my heart

I scarcely hear the wild wind's cry or feel its sudden blast
A greater storm just swept my world apart
Today you're with somebody new my hopes are gone at last
There's stormy horizons in my heart

Chorus:
Rain swept and tattered like the rose in the wind
Stormy horizons without and within
You were all that mattered but you wanted to be free
Now stormy horizons wait for me

Of things as fragile and as sweet as roses' dreams are made
And dreams we had you held so carelessly
They fell like petals round my feet I saw my rainbow fade
Now stormy horizons wait for me

Intro:

I IV I – V I

Verse:

I IV I V
I IV I – V I

Chorus:

IV I I I – V
I IV – I I – V I

Angel's Waltz

Jim,


Philadelphia Lawyer

Jim,

—Woody Guthrie

Way out in Reno, Nevada
Where romances blooms and fades
There was Philadelphia lawyer
Makin' love with a Hollywood maid

"Come, love, and we'll go ramblin'
Down where the lights are so bright
I'll win you a divorce from your husband
And we can get married tonight"

Wild Bill was a gun-totin' cowhand
Ten notches were carved in his gun
And all the boys around Reno
Left Bill's Hollywood sweetheart alone

One night when Bill was returning
From ridin' the range in the cold
He thought of his Hollywood sweetheart
Her love was as lasting as gold

As he drew near to her window
Two shadows he saw on the shade
'Twas the great Philadelphia lawyer
Makin' love to Bill's Hollywood maid

The night was as still as the desert
The moon hangin' high overhead
Bill listened awhile through the window
He could hear ev'ry word that they said

"Your hands are so pretty and lovely
Your form's so rare and divine
Come go back with me to Philadelphia
And leave this wild cowboy behind"

Now tonight back in old Pennsylvania
Among her beautiful pines
There's one less Philadelphia lawyer
In old Philadelphia tonight

Verse:

I V V I
I IV V I

Crow Creek

Jim,


You Go To Your Church, I'll Go To Mine

Jim,

—Phillips H. Lord, 1958

You go to your church and I'll go to mine
But let's walk along together
Our fathers built them side by side
So let's walk along together

Chorus:
The road is rough and the way is long
But we'll help each other over
You go to your church and I'll go to mine
But let's walk along together

You go to your church and I'll go to mine
But let's walk along together
Our Heavenly Father is the same
So let's walk along together

The Lord will be at your church tonight
But he'll be at my church also
You go to your church and I'll go to mine
But let's walk along together

You go to your church and I'll go to mine
But let's walk along together
We'll be the same on the other side
So let's walk along together

Verse:

I IV – I I I – V
I IV – I I V – I

Chorus:

IV I I V
I IV – I I V – I


Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone

Jim,

—Sam H. Stept/Sidney Clare, 1930.

A:
Please don't talk about me when I'm gone,
Oh honey, though our friendship ceases from now on
And listen, if you can't say anything real nice
It's better not to talk at all is my advice

B:
We're parting, you go your way I'll go mine, it's best that we do
Here's a kiss, I hope that this brings lots of luck to you
Though it makes no difference, how I carry on
Remember, please don't talk about me when I'm gone

A part:

I III VI VI
II V I V
I III VI VI
II V I I

B part:

III III VI VI
II II V V
I III VI VI
II V I I

I Ain't Dead Yet

Jim,

—Eddie Sanders

Chorus:
Cover up that hole, I ain't dead yet
It's too soon for throwin' dirt in my face
Leave well enough alone, I know you won't be gone
Don't do something that you might regret
'Cause I ain't dead yet.

When you see me sittin' round here with my eyes closed
Don't worry girl I'm only half asleep
Don't get no bright ideas I've done gone on
I'm just prayin' to the Lord my soul to keep…

Chorus

I've seen that Cadillac brochure you're reading
Insurance papers on the counter top
Like a bunch of buzzards waitin' on a feeding
Just hopin' any second that I'll drop…

Chorus

I've seen a hearse to circle past the driveway
Was that the undertaker on the phone?
A lot of nerve you've got, y'all pickin' out my plot
There's just one complication, I ain't gone…

Chorus

Chorus:

I I I V
V V V V7
I I

Verse:

I I I V
V V V V7

I Ain't Gonna Let It Happen No More

Jim,

—Tennessee Ernie Ford

Trouble keeps hounding me heaven knows
Why can't I ever get a horn that blows
I'm gettin' sick and tired of all this grief
That woman of mine she ain't got no sense
She can pick my pocket through a high board fence
But I ain't gonna let it happen no more.

Chorus:
But I ain't gonna let it happen,
no I ain't gonna let it happen,
I ain't gonna let it happen no more
Well a lovin' woman is hard to find,
But I ain't gonna die with a worried mind
So I ain't gonna let it happen no more.

I paid for this and I paid for that
She gets the lean and I get the fat
I'm tellin' you friends I'm gettin' sick and tired
She only wants to see me when I get my pay
Then she calls somebody else to go out and play
But I ain't a  gonna let it happen no more.

I bought two tickets for a show one night
She said "I wouldn't go with you to a rooster fight"
I don't know why I stand and take it like I do
But I guess I'll go on in the same old way
Until I stand at judgement day and say
I ain't a  gonna let it happen no more.

Verse & Chorus:

I IV I V
I IV I – V I


Two Whoops and a Holler

Jim,

—Joe Franklin for Jean Shepard

How come a man can fight and cuss and smoke and drink and chew
Step out on their wives and do the things they shouldn't do
But it's all right in the public's eye they say he's just a man
But if a woman does one little thing she's not worth a [stop*]

Chorus:
Two whoops and a holler she's lower than a hound
If she drinks or smokes or tells a joke she's a lowest thing in town

A woman has to dress the kids and send them off to school
And do her best in every way to live the golden rule
The responsibility she has is much more than a man
But if she does one little thing she's not worth a [stop*]

Chorus:
Two whoops and a holler she's lower than a hound
If she drinks or smokes or tells a joke she's a lowest thing in town

If all the gals would stick by me we'd change the world around
We'd make the men walk on their knees and sleep out on the ground
What I'm really tryin' to say and I know you'll understand
The women ought to rule the world cause the men ain't worth a [stop*]

Chorus:
Two woops and a holler they're lower than a hound
I hope they croak it ain't no joke they're the lowest thing in town

Verse:

I I IV I
I I II V
I I IV I
IV I V  Stop-I*

* Half-measure!

Chorus:

IV I I V
I – V I – IV I – V I