Author: Jim

Shining Path

Jim,

—Bill Monroe

The path is narrow all the way
But I can hear my Savior say
Come with me your soul I'll bless
In that home above I'll give you rest

Chorus:
Oh the shining path leads up to Heaven
But you must travel it all alone
And to those who walk the shining pathway
Oh the gates will open when you reach that home

I'm in the shining path at last
Oh I can see my Savior's face
Oh I've been saved by Him today
By His ever loving grace

The path is awful hard to trod
But you must put your trust in God
The path will brighten all the way
In that fair home we'll meet some day

Verse

I I I V
I I I-V I

Chorus

I I I V
I I VIm I

 

Shine Hallelujah Shine

Jim,

—Bill Monroe

Deep in the morrow of sin I was sinking
There was no one to guide my way
All my life I was overshadowed till I heard the Savior say
If you give heed to the blessed promise and become a child of mine
When you enter the gates of heaven, you will, shine, shine, shine

Chorus:
Oh, I'm gonna shine like a star in the morning
Many mansions will be mine
When I enter the gates of heaven
I'm gonna shine, Hallelujah, I'm gonna shine

Jesus the Lord is now my refuge
Daily He leads me by the hand
He will be my steady comfort till I reach the glory land
So I press along with the hopes eternal springing in this heart of mine
When I enter the gates of heaven, I will shine, shine, shine

We were burdened with many afflictions
Often unsightly things we hear
But we'll all be like our Savior when we reach that home up there
Daily I'll walk in His dear footsteps growing more like Him all the time
When I enter the gates of heaven, I will shine, shine, shine

Verse and Chorus:

I I I V
I I I V-I

 

She's Young and I Am Growing Old

Jim,

—Bill Monroe

I'm sending a coal to a sweet little lady
For I'm afraid that she will be cold
She once was my sweetheart, but now it's all over
But she's young and I am growing old

Chorus:
She had my heart and how well she knows
It will remain til my body grows cold
She once was my sweetheart, but now it's all over
But she's young and I am growing old

She was born in the mountains in the coal mining country
I loved her in the sunshine and the snow
She once was my sweetheart, but now it's all over
But she's young and I am growing old

3/4
Verse

I IV-I I-V I
I IV-I I-V I

Chorus

IV I I V
I IV-I I-V I

 


Sally-Jo

Jim,

—Bill Monroe

I jumped in bed and covered up my head
Wish I was dead with Sally Jo
Sally Jo where did you go Sally Jo
Since you have gone my days are turned to night
Nothin'goes right Sally Jo

Sally Jo where did you go Sally Jo
The hurt you left has just begun to show
Sally Jo I've been so low
Sally Jo where did you go Sally Jo

Bridge:
Sally Jo Sally Jo hear my plea
Come back to me
I'm like a little dog left out to stray
No one wants me no place to stay

Sally Jo where did you go Sally Jo
Did I do bad or was I good to you
Yes or no Sally Jo
Sally Jo where did you go Sally Jo

The torch I carried had a light so bright
For me to see Sally Jo
Sally Jo where did you go Sally Jo

Tag:
Sally Jo Sally Jo hear my plea
Come back to me

Verse

I I I I
V V I I
I I I-IV IV-V
V- I I I I

Bridge :

I I I-IV IV-V
V-I I I I

 

River of Death

Jim,

—Bill Monroe, with Don Reno

Oh the river of death lies just before me
Can I find a place that I can cross
Or will I be in sin forever
Oh Lord don't let my soul be lost

Chorus:
Oh I wanna walk with Christ my savior
For he's the one that'll guide me on
All through my life I've been a sinner
Now I'm right with God so I'm travelling home

Oh I can hear my savior calling
To me his voice sounds sweet and low
For me I hear my loved ones cheering
Oh, praise the Lord I'm ready to go

My life down here will soon be over
And this old world holds nothing for me
He saved my soul and He made me happy
That beautiful land I'm going to see

Verse and Chorus:

I I IV I
I I V I

 

On the Old Kentucky Shore

Jim,

—Bill Monroe

I walked out to the graveyard
Down by the Church of God
I looked upon the one I love
That would soon be covered with sod

Chorus:
Up along the Ohio River
Over on the old Kentucky shore
Once dwelled a fair young maiden
Now there's a crepe upon her door

The angels took my darling
God needed the one I loved
I reached the old Kentucky shore today
I'll make my plans and meet her up above

The last words that my darling said
Was tell the one I love goodbye
I would like to see him before I go
But I'll meet him in the sky

3/4
Verse and Chorus:

I I I I
I VII I I
I VII I I
I V I I

 

Old Riverman

Jim,

—Bill Monroe, and John Hartford

Old riverman's lonesome, old riverman's blue
He's working on the river with the riverman blues
On the Lakeview Highway, that's the riverman's home
And home is where the heart is and he's all alone

Chorus:
But when he hears that steamboat whistle blow
He can feel that river in his soul
Old riverman's lonesome, old riverman's blue
He's working on the river with the riverman blues

Three thousand miles old riverman goes
Down the Mississippi River and the Ohio
The Missouri and the Cumberland, Tennessee and Illinois
Monongahela, Allegheny and the big Conoy

Chorus 2:
But you just watch that old riverman's eyes
He always knows when the river's going to rise
Old riverman's lonesome, old riverman's blue
He's working on the river with the riverman blues
He's working on the river with the riverman blues

Verse

Im Im Im Im
IV-VII VII-V Im Im
Im Im Im Im
IV-VII VII-V Im Im

Chorus

IV IV I I
IV IV V V
Im Im Im Im
IV-VII VII-V Im Im

 

No Place To Pillow My Head

Jim,

—Charlie Monroe

Chorus:
No home (no home) no home (no home)
No place to pillow my head
The days seems so sad and the nights are so long
Since daddy and mother are dead

Once I was happy a heart free from care
Had a daddy and a momma so sweet
Dolls and the doggies and playthings so dear
And stockings and shoes on my feet

But now through this world I must wonder alone
Begging for pennies and bread
For I have no daddy or momma or home
No place to pillow my head

Chorus

My daddy is resting far over the sea
In the fields were the poppies peek through
Marked by the cross that shines with green leaves
Beside his comrades so true

His soul is gone to the Father above
May slumber be peaceful and sweet
The battle is over for him over there
The bugle has sounded reprieve

Chorus

3/4
Verse

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

Chorus (after two verses)

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

 


New John Henry Blues

Jim,

—Bill Monroe

John Henry was a little colored boy
You could hold him on the palm of your hand
And his papa cried out this lonesome farewell
Son gonna be a steel drivin'man Lord Lord
Son gonna be a steel drivin'man

John Henry went upon the mountain
Looked down on the other side
Lord the mountain was so tall
John Henry was so small
He laid down his hammer and he cried Lord Lord
He laid down his hammer and he cried

John Henry walked to the top
Had his captain by his side
The last words that John Henry said
Bring me a cool drink of water 'fore I die Lord Lord
Bring a cool drink of water 'fore I die

Talk about John Henry as much as you please
Say and do all that you can
Never was born in these united states
Nonesuch a steel drivin'man Lord Lord
Nonesuch a steel drivin'man

John Henry told his captain
I want to go to bed
Fix me a pallet of straw to lay down
Got money roarin'in my head Lord Lord
Got money roarin'in my head

Verse

I I I V
I I I I I  V-I

 

My Sweet Memory

Jim,

—Bill Monroe

The lilies are blooming, that you said to me
That's why I know you was with me
If something calls out yonder and you have to leave
I'll still have your sweet memory

Chorus:
You gave me somethin' time can't take from me
A light that guides me when it's dark and I can't see
When I'm cold a hand to hold will comfort me
And you'll be there, my sweet memory

So I won't cry each night goodbye, it's just so-long
I'll keep the ring that you gave to me
Your lips were sweet, your arms were warm, I tasted life
God bless you, my sweet memory

Tag:
Your lips were sweet, your arms were warm, I tasted life
God bless you, my sweet memory

3/4
Verse

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

Chorus

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