From this valley they say you are goin'
I will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile
For they say you are takin' the sunshine
That has brightened our pathway the while
Do you think of the valley you're leavin'
Oh how lonely and dreary it will be
Do you think of the fond heart you're breakin'
And the sadness you've cast over me
For a long time my dear, I've been waiting
For the words that you never would say
And alas my poor heart you are breakin'
For they tell me you're goin' away
As you go to your home by the ocean
May you never forget those sweet hours
That we spent in the Red River Valley
And the love we exchanged mid the flowers
Come and sit by my side if you love me
Do not hasten to bid me adieu
But remember the Red River Valley
And the one that has loved you so true
I am a little beggar and a beggar I have been
For three score'r more in this little Isle of green
And I'm known from the Liffy down to Sligo
And I'm known by the name of old Donahue.
Of all the trades a-goin' now sure beggin is the best
When a man gets tired he can lay him down to rest
He can beg for his dinner when there's nothing left to do
Then just cut around the corner with his old rig-a-do.
I slept in a barn way down in Clarabourn
With holes in the roof and it rained until the morn
With holes in me shoes and me toes a-peeking through
And the cats and the rats they were playin' peek-a-boo.
Who should awaken but the woman of the house
With her white spotted apron and her calico blouse
She got frightened and I said, "Boo,
And don't be afraid, ma'am. It's only Donahue."
I met a little flaxy haired girl one day
Good mornin' little flaxy-haired girl, I did say
Good mornin', little beggerman, and how do you do,
With your rags and your tags and your old rig-a-do?
Five pair o' brogans and a collar and a tie,
A nice little lady I will fetch by and by
Five pair o' brogans and I'll color them blue
And an old-fashioned lady I will make her too.
Over the fields with me pack on me back,
Over the hills with me great heavy sack
With the holes in my shoes and the toes a'peekin' through
Singin' skittilee rink-a-doodle it's the its old Donahue.
Must be going to bed boys, it's gettin' late at night
All the fire's all raked and up goes the light
And now you've heard the story of my rig-a-do
It's good bye and god be with you says old Donahue.
Chorus:
Come along, little children come along
While the moon is shining bright
Get on board, and down the river float
I'm gonna raise a ruckus tonight
My old mistress promised me (raise a ruckus tonight)
When she died she'd set me free (raise a ruckus tonight)
She lived so long til her head got bald (raise a ruckus tonight)
She give up the notion of dyin' at all (raise a ruckus tonight)
Now some folks say that a preacher won't steal (raise a ruckus tonight)
I caught two in my watermelon field (raise a ruckus tonight)
They were eatin' them watermelons, throwin' away the rinds (raise a ruckus tonight)
They were preachin' and prayin' and stealin' all the time (raise a ruckus tonight)
When I die they gonna bury me deep (gonna raise a ruckus tonight)
Place a jug of molassses at my feet (gonna raise a ruckus tonight)
Just put some flapjacks in my hand (raise a ruckus tonight)
I'll sop my way to the promised land (raise a ruckus tonight)
Chorus:
I
I
IV
IV
I
I
V
V
I
I
IV
IV
I
V
I
I
Verse:
|: I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I :|
Optional Verse:
You know I had a little dog and he had no sense…
He's always barking at the chickens on the fence…
The chicken flew off and hit him in the jaw…
You oughta heard that dog holler ha ha haw…<
—Riley Puckett (mostly)
I come here to tell you people I'm ragged but right
I'm a thief and a gambler I get drunk every night
Get a porterhouse steak three times a day for my board
That's more than any loafer in this town can afford
Got a big electric fan to keep me cool while I sleep
A little baby girl plays around at my feet
I'm a ramblin' gambler and I'm drunk every night
I tell you boys, I'm ragged but right.
Bridge:
I go everywhere, I don't pay no fare
I can ride a freight train just anywhere
If I win or lose I don't get the blues
It's gamblin' and roamin' for me.
I hopped on a freight train in North Caroline
Rode down to Atlanta and bought me some shine
Went into a card game with 39 cents
And came out with enough for another month's rent.
I got an ol' lazy hound dog who brings me my shoes.
He sleeps at my feet and we drink the same booze
Oh he's a tramp and a rounder, he leads a dirty life
I tell you people we're ragged but right.
Verse:
I
V
V
I I7
IV IV#º
I VI
II
V
I
V
V
I I7
IV IV#º
I VI
II V
I
Bridge:
I
I
I
II V
I
IV
I V
I
—The Greenbriar Boys' version
Well I just come here to tell you people I'm ragged but right
A thief and a gambler and I'm drunk every night
It's three porterhouse steaks each night and day for my board
More'n any flatfoot in your town can afford
Well it's a big electric fan to keep me cool while I sleep
A pretty little woman just to tickle my feet
I'm a rambler a gambler and I'm lit up every night
I'm a rootin' tootin' dope fiend, but right.
Bridge:
Oh, I go everywhere, I don't pay no fare
I can ride a freight train most everywhere
If I win or lose oh, I don't get the blues,
Oh a ramblin' joker that's me.
I got an ol' lazy hound dog who brings me my shoes.
He sleeps at my feet and we drink the same booze
Oh he's a rambling gambler, he gets drunk every night.
I tell you people we're ragged but right.
My house is bought with pawnshop tickets, red, white and blue
My clothes are made from zebra skins right out of the zoo
I got a mess of mash right in the back, I made it myself
And the hearts of all my girlfriends lyin' right there on the shelf
Well now I've sung my song, and I've given you a taste,
I'd like to linger longer but I got to make haste,
I'm always wheelin' and dealin' with plenty of feelin' and high as a kite,
I tell you folks I'm ragged but right.
I hopped on a freight train in North Caroline.
Rode down to Atlanta and bought me some shine.
Went into a card game with 39 cents,
And came out with enough for another month's rent.
Well you may think I'm bragging but don't get me wrong
I can't run for office while I'm singing this song
I'm a thief and a gambler and I'm drunk every night
I tell you boys I'm ragged but right.
'Cause I'm a ramblin' man, a gamblin' man, and Lord, am I tight!
I just called to tell you that I'm ragged but right.
There's a rabbit in the log and I ain't got my dog
How will I get him I know
I'll get me a briar and twist it in his hair
That way I'll get him I know
Chorus:
I know ( yes I know )
I know ( I surely know )
That's how I'll get him I know
I'll get me a briar and twist in his hair
That way I'll get him I know
I'll build me a fire and I'll cook that old hare
Roll him in the flames and make him brown
Have a feast here tonight while the moon is shining bright
And find me a place to lie down
Chorus:
To lie down ( to lie down )
To lay down ( to lay down )
Find me a place to lie down
Have a feast here tonight while the moon is shining bright
And find me a place to lie down
I'm going down the track and my coat ripped up my back
Soles on my shoes are nearly gone
A little ways ahead there's an old farmer's shed
That's where I'll rest my weary bones
Chorus:
Weary bones ( weary bones )
Lazy bones ( lazy bones )
That's where I'll rest my weary bones
A little way's ahead there's an old farmer's shed
That's where I'll rest my weary bones
Chorus:
Oh meet me tonight, love oh meet me
Meet me out in the moonlight alone
For I have a sad story to tell you
Must be told in that moonlight alone.
Now if I had the wings of an angel
Over these prison bars I would fly
And I'd fly to the arms of my darling
And there I'd be willing to die
If I had a great ship out on the ocean
All mounted with silver and with gold
And before would see my darling suffer
That ship would be anchored and sold
Oh I wish I had someone to love me
Yes someone to call me their own
Oh I wish I had someone to sleep with
Cause I'm tired of sleeping all alone
Oh Polly, Pretty Polly, would you take me unkind
Polly, Pretty Polly, would you take me unkind
Let me set beside you and tell you my mind
Well my mind is to marry and never to part
My mind is to marry and never to part
The first time I saw you it wounded my heart
Oh Polly Pretty Polly come go along with me
Polly Pretty Polly come go along with me
Before we get married some pleasures to see
Oh he led her over mountains and valleys so deep
He led her over hills and valleys so deep
Pretty Polly mistrusted and then began to weep
pretty fair maid
Oh Willie, Little Willie, I'm afraid to of your ways
Willie, Little Willie, I'm afraid of your ways
The way you've been rambling you'll lead me astray
Oh Polly, Pretty Polly, your guess is about right
Polly, Pretty Polly, your guess is about right
I dug on your grave the biggest part of last night
Oh she knelt down before him a pleading for her life
She knelt down before him a pleading for her life
Let me be a single girl if I can't be your wife
Oh Polly, Pretty Polly that never can be
Polly, Pretty Polly that never can be
Your past recitation's been trouble to me
Oh went down to the jailhouse and what did he say
He went down to the jailhouse and what did he say
I've killed Pretty Polly and trying to get away
—Bill Monroe version
A pretty fair maiden in the garden
A cowboy he came ridin' by
He rode up to the bench beside her
Said pretty fair maiden won't you be my bride
Oh no no no, no sir she answered
Why do you impose on a girl like me
I have a sweetheart among the cowboys
Who has for years been gone from me
Perhaps your sweetheart he is drownded
Or perhaps he's on some battlefield slain
Or perhaps he's to some pretty girl married
Or perhaps he'll never return again
Oh if he's dead I know he's happy
And if he's alive I'll see him again
And if he's to some pretty girl married
I'll love the girl that married him
Down on his knees he knelt beside her
And he asked of her to be his bride
And he told her that he was her cowboy
Who had returned to be by her side
