Author: Jim

Wildwood Flower

Jim,

—The Carter Family

Oh, I'll twine with my mingles and waving black hair
With the roses so red and the lilies so fair
And the myrtle so bright with the emerald hue
The pale and the leader and eyes look like blue

Oh I'll dance, I will sing and my laugh shall be gay
I will charm every heart, in his crown I will sway
When I woke from my dreaming, my idol was clay
All portion of love had all flown away

Oh he taught me to love him and promised to love
And to cherish me over all others above
How my heart is now wond'ring no mis'ry can tell
He's left me no warning, no words of farewell

Oh, he taught me to love him and called me his flower
That was blooming to cheer him through life's dreary hour
Oh, I long to see him and regret the dark hour
He's gone and neglected this pale wildwood flower

Verse:

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

 

Wild Bill Jones

Jim,

—Stanley Bros, but originally Dock Boggs

As I went down for to take a little walk
I came upon that Wild Bill Jones
He was a walking and a talking by my true lover's side
And I bid him to leave her alone

He said my age is twenty—one
Too old to be controlled
I pulled my revolver from my side
And I destroyed that poor boy's soul

He reeled and he staggered, and he fell to the ground
And then he gave one dying moan
He wrapped his arms around my little girl's neck
Saying honey won't you take me home

So put them handcuffs on me boys
And lead me to that freight car gate
I have no friends or relations there
No—one for to go my bail

So pass around that old long necked bottle
And we'll all go on a spree
For today was the last of that Wild Bill Jones
And tomorrow will be the last of me

They sent me to prison for twenty long years
This poor boy longs to be free
But Wild Bill Jones and that long—necked bottle
Have been the ruin of me

|: I I I I
I V I I :|

 



Wicked Path of Sin

Jim,

—Stoney Cooper & Wilma Lee

In this awful world of sorrow
On this wicked path of sin
Never thinking of tomorrow
Or what I'd lose in the end

Chorus:
Oh I can hear (oh I can hear) the joy bells ringing
Where my friends (where my friends) and loved ones wait
Oh I can hear the angels singing (sweet singing)
Just inside (just inside) those pearly gates

I can hear my savior calling
Saying come unto me
Wash away your sins forever
And you shall rest eternally

Now I'm safe with my Jesus
He will guide me on my way
I will sing His praise forever
We'll meet in heaven some sweet day

Verse:

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

Chorus:

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

 

Why You Been Gone So Long

Jim,

Well every time it rains Lord I run to my window
All I do is wring my hands and mourn
Well listen to that thunder roar
Can't you hear that lonesome wind moan
Tell me baby now why you been gone so long

Chorus:
Tell me baby now why you been gone so long
You been gone so long now
Tell me baby now why you been gone so long
Wolfs scratchin at my door lord Lord
I can hear that lonesome wind blow
Tell me baby now why you been gone so long

Well someone said they thought they saw you rollin down in Reno
With a big ol man from San Antone
They tell me I'm a fool to pine for you oh what do they know
Tell me baby now why you been gone so long

Ain't nothin I want to do lord
So I guess I could get stoned
And let the past paint pictures in my head
Drink a fifth of thunderbird and try to write a sad sad song
Tell my baby now why you been gone so long

Chorus and Verse:

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

 

Whoa Mule, Whoa

Jim,

Chorus:
Whoa, mule, whoa. Whoa mule I say.
I ain't got time to kiss you now, the mule has run away.

Now miss Mary take your seat. You better keep cool.
I ain't got time to kiss you now, I'm foolin' with this mule.
Chorus

If I had a needle and thread, as fine as I could sew
I sew little Betty to my shirt and down the road I'd go
Chorus

The hardest work I ever done was dig around a pine
The easiest work I ever done was love that gal of mine
Chorus

Whoa mule I tell you, whoa mule I holler
Tie a bow knot in the tail or he'll jump through the collar
Chorus

Just a handful of alternate verses:

Take your seat Miss Liza, Just you keep 'em cool.
I ain't got time to waltz with you, I'm dancing with this mule!

Used to live on a mountain, now I live in town
Boardin' at a big hotel, sparkin' all around

I went to kiss my gal last night, I thought I'd do it sneakin'
I missed her mouth and hit her nose and the doggone thing was leakin'

My gal's old man don't like me much — he's got a heart of flint.
Last night I saw him buy a gun, and I can take a hint.

I bought some biscuits for my dog and put 'em on the shelf.
Times got so hard I shot the dog and ate them up myself.

Mary had a little cat, It swallowed a ball of yarn.
When those little kittens came, They all had sweaters on.

We had a goat down on our farm, Who swallowed old tin cans.
And when those little goats was born, They came in Ford sedans.

We had a dog down on our farm, Wouldn't bark no how.
Then he swallowed my new Timex, So he's a watchdog now!

I went up on the mountain to get me a bottle of corn
Raccoon set his dog on me and the possum blowed his horn

You may ride the old gray horse, I will ride the roan
You may court your own true love, but leave my wife alone

Chorus and Verse:

I I I V
I IV V I

 

Who Will Sing for Me?

Jim,

Oft I sing for my friends
As death's cold form I see
When I reach my journey's end
Who will sing for me

Chorus:
I wonder (I wonder) who
Will sing (will sing) for me
When I come to cross that silent sea
Who will sing for me

When crowds shall gather round
And look down on me
Will they turn and walk away
Or will they sing one song for me

Chorus
Verse:

I I IV I
I IV I – V I

Chorus:

V I V I
I IV* I – V I

*pause

Alternate Verse:

I I IV I
I I II – V I

 


White House Blues

Jim,

—Charlie Poole

McKinley hollered, McKinley squalled
Doc said, "McKinley I can't find the cause
You're bound to die, you're bound to die"

Doc told the horse, he'd throw down his rein
He said to the horse, "You gotta outrun the train
From Buffalo to Washington"

The Doc came a-running, he took off his specs
He said, "Mr. McKinley better cash in your checks
You're bound to die, you're bound to die"

Look here, you rascal, see what you've done
Shot down my husband with your lver-Johnson gun
Carry me back to Washington

Well, Roosevelt's in the White house, he's doing his best
McKinley's in the graveyard taking his rest
He's gone, he's gone

Verse:

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

 

White Freight Liner Blues

Jim,

—Townes Van Zandt

I'm goin' out on the highway
Listen to them big trucks whine
I'm goin' out on the highway
Listen to them big trucks whine

White freight liner
Won't you steal away my mind?
Ah, New Mexico ain't bad, Lord
And the people there, they treat you kind
And the people there, they treat you kind

Well, it's bad news from Houston
Half my friends are dying
Well, it's bad news from Houston
Half my friends are dying

Ah, Lord, I'm gonna ramble
'Til I get back to where I came
Ah, Lord, I'm gonna ramble
'Til I get back to where I came

I'm goin' out on the highway
Listen to them big trucks whine
I'm goin' out on the highway
Listen to them big trucks whine

Verse:

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

 

White Dove

Jim,

—Stanley Brothers

In the deep rolling hills of old Virginia
There's a place that I love so well
Where I spent many days of my childhood
In the cabin where we loved to dwell

Chorus:
White dove will mourn in sorrow
The willows will hang their heads
I'll live my life in sorrow
Since mother and daddy are dead

We were all so happy there together
In our peaceful little mountain home
But the Savior needs angels up in heaven
Now they sing around the great white throne

As the years roll by I often wonder
If we will all be together someday
And each night as I wander through the grave yard
Darkness finds me as I kneel to pray

¾

Verse:

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

Chorus:

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

 

Where The Soul of Man Never Dies

Jim,

To Canaan's land I'm on my way
Where the soul (of man) never dies
My darkest night will turn to day
Where the soul (of man) never dies

Chorus:
lead:
No sad farewells, No tear dimmed eyes
Where all is love, And the soul never dies
tenor:
Dear friends there'll be no sad farewells, There'll be no tear—dimmed eyes
Where all is peace and joy and love, And the soul of man never dies

The rose is blooming there for me
Where the soul (of man) never dies
And I will spend eternity
Where the soul (of man) never dies

The love light beams across the foam
Where the soul (of man) never dies
It shines and lights the way to home
Where the soul (of man) never dies

My life will end in deathless sleep
Where the soul (of man) never dies
And everlasting joys I'll reap
Where the soul (of man) never dies

I'm on my way to that fair land
Where the soul (of man) never dies
Where there will be no parting hand
Where the soul (of man) never dies

Verse and Chorus:

I I I V
I I I – V I