Author: Jim

I'm Bound to Ride

Jim,

—Arthur Smith

Coming down from Tennessee riding on the line
Thinking about the girl of mine couldn't keep from crying
Refrain: Honey babe I'm bound to ride, don't you want to go

Riding on a streetcar looking o'er the town
Eatin' soda crackers ten cents a pound
Refrain

Working on a railroad saving all I can
Looking for that woman ain't got no man
Refrain

See that train a coming round the bend
Goodbye my little darling I'm on my way again
Refrain

If I die a railroad man bury me under the ties
So I can see old number four as she goes rolling by
Refrain

Another version:

Comin' thru old Asheville, comin' thru a flyin'
Studied about my little darlin,' couldn't keep from crying

Refrain:
Honey babe I'm bound to ride, don't you want to go

Goin to Atlanta, just to look around
If things don't soothe me, goin' to another town
Refrain

Workin' on the railroad, saving all I can
Lookin' for that woman, ain't got no man
Refrain

Standin on a corner ten thousand miles from home
Studied bout them good times, done past and gone
Refrain

If I die a railroad man, bury me under the ties
So I can hear ole number four as she goes rolling by
Refrain

Verse:

IV I V V – I
I I V – I I




Answer the Phone

Jim,

—Ernest Tubb

I've called and I've called you, but each time I phone
They always tell me that you're not at home
I've written you letters and knocked at your door
But don't worry, darling, I won't bother you anymore

Chorus:
So answer the phone when it rings, darling
And if somebody knocks, let them in
You don't have to be afraid that it's me
'Cause I'll never bother you again

I'm writing this letter to tell you goodbye
Somebody told me how you sit and cry
'Cause you found a new love since I have been gone
And wish I'd forget you and that I'd just leave you alone

Chorus

Verse:

I I IV I
I I II V
I I IV I
IV I V I

Chorus:

I I IV I
I I V V
I I IV I
IV I – V I I

Don't Let My Ramblin' Bother Your Mind

Jim,

—The Delmore Brothers

Woke up this morning feeling blue
Woke up this morning feeling blue
I dreamed I saw my little honey baby
Leavin' home on the number two

Chorus:
Don't you let my rambling bother your mind
Don't let this rambling rounder bother your mind

I love my girl, I surely do
I love my girl, I surely do
And if she ever starts to triflin' on me
It's hard to tell just what I'll do

Chorus

I've seen the sunshine and the rain
I've seen the sunshine and the rain
I've learned a lesson from a false-hearted girl
And I don't want to learn again

Chorus

Don't never want to settle down
Don't never want to settle down
I had some trouble with that sugar babe of mine
Gonna pack my grip and leave this town

Chorus

Verse:

I I V I
I IV7 I – V I

Chorus:

IV I I – V I

Roll On, Buddy

Jim,

—Bill Monroe

I'm going to that east Cairo (Kay-ro) (x2)
I'm going to the east, I'm going to the west
I'm going to the one that I love best

Chorus:
Roll on, buddy, roll on (x2)
You wouldn't roll so slow if you knew what I know
So roll on, buddy, roll on

I've got a good woman just the same (x2)
My woman just the same says she's gonna change her name
I've got a good woman just the same

My home is down in Tennessee (x2)
In Tennessee that's where I long to be
Way down in sunny Tennessee

Foghorn String Band Version:

I wish I was a little honey bee (x2)
If I was a little honey bee I'd be as sweet as I can be
I'd roll on buddy, roll on

Chorus:
Roll on buddy roll on (x2)
You wouldn't roll so slow if you knew what I know
And that's roll on buddy roll on

I wish I was a little turtle dove (x2)
If I was a little turtle dove I'd be so full of love
I'd roll on buddy, roll on

I wish I was a lizard in the spring (x2)
If I was a lizard in the spring I'd hear my true love sing
I'd roll on buddy, roll on

Verse & Chorus

I I IV I
IV I I – V I


Ramblin' Jack Elliot's version:

Chorus:
Roll on buddy roll on
Roll on buddy roll on
You wouldn't roll so slow if you knew what I know
Roll on buddy roll on

I got a home in Tennessee[x2]
I got a home down in sunny Tennessee
And it's roll on buddy, roll on

Kimpy wants a nine dollar shawl [x2]
I come over the hill with a twenty dollar bill
And ask baby where you been so long

Baby where you been so long
Yeah baby where you been so long
Well I been in the pen with the rough and rowdy men
And asked baby where you been so long

And I never liked no railroad man
I never liked no railroad man
'Cause a railroad man will kill you if he can
Drink down your blood like wine

Baby where'd you stay last night
Baby where'd you stay last night
Well I slept in the pen with the rough and rowdy men
Baby where'd you stay last night

Roll on buddy roll on
Roll on buddy roll on
You wouldn't roll so slow if you knew what I know
And that's roll on buddy roll on

Down by the Riverside

Jim,

I'm gonna lay down my burden,
Down by the riverside, down by the riverside, down by the riverside,
Gonna lay down my burden, down by the riverside,
Ain't gonna study war no more

Chorus:
I ain't gonna study war no more, I ain't gonna study war no more,
Study war no more,
Ain't gonna study war no more, ain't gonna study war no more,
Study war no more

I'm gonna lay down my sword and shield…
I'm gonna put on my starry crown…
I'm gonna shake hands with every man…

Make up your own verses, or try these:

I'm gonna take all of my brethren…
I'm gonna lay down my heavy load…
I'm gonna shake hands with every man…
I'm gonna put on my long white robe…
I'm gonna put on my golden slippers…
I'm gonna stick my sword in the golden sand…
I'm gonna talk with the Prince of Peace…
I'm gonna cross the river Jordan…
I'm gonna climb the road to heaven…
I'm gonna walk down that road of peace…

Verse:

I I V I   :|

Chorus:

IV I V I – I7
IV I V I




Won't You Come and Sing For Me

Jim,

—Hazel Dickens

I feel the shadows now upon me
And the angels beckon to me
Before I go dear sisters and brothers
Won't you come and sing for me

Chorus:
Sing those hymns we sang together
In that plain little church with the benches all worn
How dear to my heart how precious the moments
We stood shaking hands and singing a song

My burden is heavy my way has grown weary
I have traveled a road that is long
And it would warm this old heart my dear brother
If you'd come and sing me one song

In my home beyond the dark river
Your sweet faces no more I will see
Until we meet where there's no more sad parting
Won't you come and sing for me

Verse:

V IV – I IV I – V
IV I V IV – I

Chorus:

IV I V IV – I
IV I V IV – I


This Train

Jim,

—Traditional, first recorded 1922

Woody Guthrie's version-

This train is bound for glory, this train.
This train is bound for glory, this train.
This train is bound for glory,
Nobody rides but the righteous and the holy.
This train is bound for glory, this train.
(all verses follow same format as above.)

This train don't carry no gamblers, this train…
No crap shooters or midnight ramblers…

This train don't carry no jokers, this train…
No high-toned women and cigar smokers…

This train don't carry no liars, this train…
No false pretenders, no back-biters…

This train don't carry no smokers, this train…
Two bit liars, small time jokers…

This train don't carry no con men, this train…
No wheeler dealers, here and gone men…

This train don't carry no rustlers, this train…
Sidestreet walkers, two bit hustlers…

This train goes on to glory, this train…
No one could ride it but the pure and holy…

This train is bound for glory, this train. (x2)
This train is bound for glory,
Nobody rides but the righteous and the holy.
This train is bound for glory, this train.

This train don't carry no gamblers, this train; (x2)
This train don't carry no gamblers
No triple-dealers, no Wall Street ramblers,
This train is bound for glory, this train.

This train don't carry no con men, this train; (x2)
This train don't carry no con men,
No two bit gangsters, no here-and-gone men
This train is bound for glory, this train.

This train don't carry no liars, this train; (x2)
This train don't carry no liars
No beltway bums, no pardon-buyers,
This train is bound for glory, this train.

This train don't carry no grifters, this train; (x2)
This train don't carry no grifters,
No wheeler dealers, no short shrifters
This train is bound for glory, this train.

This train don't carry no haters, this train; (x2)
This train don't carry no haters,
No oath breakers, no discriminators,
This train is bound for glory, this train.

This train goes on to glory, this train (x2)
This train goes on to glory,
No one rides but the righteous and the holy,
This train is bound for glory, this train.

Verse:

I I I V
I IV I – V I




Armadillo Breakdown

Jim,




I Know What It Means to Be Lonesome

Jim,

—James Brockman, James Kendis, Nat Vincent, 1919

Chorus:
I know what it means to be lonesome
I know what it means to be blue
I know what it means to be lonesome in dreams
When there's no one that's lonesome for you *

Well my baby left me this morning
As the clock was striking four
The sweet smiling face of my darling
I won't ever see her no more

Oh I've cried and I've cried since we parted
No one knows what I've been through
I'd give all I own just to have you back home
I'm lonesome, lonesome for you

* Many chorus last lines have evolved:
   When there is someone there with you
   When there's no one there with/but you
   When there's no one at home but you

Verse & Chorus:

I VI(7) II(7) V(7)  :|
Original 1919 version:

…and it was a waltz!

I never knew, I would miss you,
Until you went away,
Now I can see, what you were to me,
My heart just seems to say:

Chorus:
I know what it means to be lonesome,
I know how it feels to be blue,
I know what it means to long in my dreams, for someone, for someone,
I've sighed and I've cried since we parted,
There's no one knows what I've gone through;
I'd give all that I own, just to have you back home,
I'm so lonesome, so lonesome for you.

Hope seems to say,
There'll come a day
Your smiles again I'll see,
My love is true, and you know it too,
Come back, come back to me.




Remington Ride

Jim,