Author: Jim

I'm Troubled

Jim,

—Blue Sky Boys

Chorus:
I'm troubled I'm troubled, I'm troubled in mind
If trouble don't kill me, I'll live a long time

Now courting is pleasure, and parting is grief
And a false—hearted lover, is worse than a thief
A thief can but rob you, and take what you've saved
But a false—hearted lover'll, take you to your grave

The grave will decay you, and turn you to dust
Not one girl in a million, that a poor boy can trust
They'll hug you, and kiss you, and tell you more lies
Than cross ties on a railroad, or stars in the sky

I'm going to Georgia, I'm going to roam
I'm going to Georgia, gonna make it my home
Gonna build me a cabin, on the mountain so high
So the wild birds and the, turtle doves can't hear my sad cry

Chorus and Verse:

I I IV I
I I V I

 

I'm Talking 'Bout You

Jim,

—Memphis Minnie

You can quit me, and do what you want to do
But some day you'll want me and I won't want you.

Chorus:
I'm a talking about you, I'm a talking about you
I'm a talking about you and I don't care what you do

You's a woman running round from hand to hand
I got me a woman, like you got your man.

I met when you're goin' from house to house
I knew you when your boyfriend throwed you out.

You can't be mine 'n someone else's too
I just can't stand the way that you do.

What you had for me the other night
You can put me down for tomorrow tonight.

You mistreat me, you don't treat me right
You can take it on back where you had it last night.

Well, look—a here, what you want me to do?
Won't be your daddy and your doctor, too

Verse:

IV IV IV IV
I I I I

Chorus:

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

 

I'm Satisfied With My Gal

Jim,

—J. Trent and P. DeRose

Well now, She ain't got no (Yes, she does )
No, she don't (Yes, she does )
I'm satisfied with my gal

Well, she don't wear no (Yes, she does)
No, she don't (You aint' never seen 'em)
I'm satisfied with my gal (I don't know why)

Bridge:
She got great big legs, pretty teeth
and I love her little dimpled chin
Golden hair, what a smile
Oh, what a mama she has been

Now, will she let me? (No, she won't)
Yes, she will (No, she won't)
I'm satisfied with my gal

Verse:

|: I I I VI
II V I 1. V:|   2. I

Bridge:

III7 III7 VI VI
II II V V

 

I'm On My Way Back to the Old Home

Jim,

Back in the days of my childhood
In the evening when everything was still
I used to sit and listen to the foxhounds
With my dad in the old Kentucky hills

Chorus:
I'm on my way back to the old home
The road winds on up the hill
But there's no light in the window
That shined long ago where I live

Soon my childhood days were over
I had to leave my old home
For dad and mother were called to heaven
I's left in this world all alone

High in the hills of old Kentucky
Stands the fondest spot in my memory
I'm on my way back to the old home
The light in the window I long to see

Verse and Chorus:

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

 


I'm Just Here to Get My Baby Out of Jail

Jim,

—Red Allen's version

I will wash all your clothes, I will scrub all your floors,
If that will get my baby out of jail.
Yes warden, I'm just here to get my baby out of jail.

I will pawn you my watch, I will pawn you my chain
I will pawn you my gold diamond ring
Yes warden, I'm just here to get my baby out of jail.

If that train runs right I'll be home tomorrow night,
You know I want my baby out of jail.
Yes warden, I'm just here to get my baby out of jail.

When those gates swung wide apart she held her darling to her heart.
She kissed her baby boy and then she died.
Yes warden, in the arms of her dear boy there she died.

Intro:

IV V I

Verse:

I I I – V I – I7
IV V I

 

I'm Just Here to Get My Baby Out of Jail

—Blue Sky Boys version

I'm not in your town to stay said a lady old and gray
To the warden of the penitentiary
I'm not in your town to stay and I'll soon be on my way
I'm just here to get my baby out of jail
Yes, warden, I'm just here to get my baby out of jail

I've tried to raise my baby right, I have prayed both day and night
that he'd never follow the footsteps of his dad
I have searched both far and wide, I had feared that he had died
And at last I find my baby here in jail
Yes, warden, but it's good to find my baby here in jail

I will pawn you my watch, I will pawn you my chain
I will pawn you my gold diamond ring
I will wash all your clothes, I will scrub all your floors
If that will get my baby out of jail
Yes, warden, you know I want my baby out of jail

Then I heard the warden say to the lady old and gray
I will send your baby boy to your side
Those wide gates swung wide apart,
she held her darling to her heart
She kissed her darling boy and then she died
But smiling in the arms of her boy there she died

Verse:

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

I'm Just an Old Chunk of Coal

Jim,

—Billy Joe Shaver

Chorus:
I'm just an old chunk of coal,
But I'm gonna be a diamond some day,
I'm gonna grow and glow 'til I'm so plu pure perfect,
I'm gonna put a smile on ev'rybody's face.

Verse:
I'm gonna kneel and pray ev'ry day,
Lest I should become vain along the way.
I'm just and old chunk of coal now Lord,
But I'm gonna be a diamond some day.

Chorus:
I'm gonna learn the best words to talk,
Gonna search and find a better way to walk, yeah!
I'm gonna spit and polish my old rough-edged self,
'Til I get rid of ev'ry single flaw.

Verse:
Well I'm gonna be the world's best friend,
Gonna go 'round shakin' ev'rybody's hand, yeah!
I'm just an old chunk of coal now Lord,
But I'm gonna be a diamond some day,

Oh, I'm gonna be the cotton-pickin' rage of the age,
I'm gonna be a diamond some day.

Chorus:

I I I I
III7 III7 VIm VIm
IV IV I I
II II V V

Verse:

I I I I
III7 III7 VIm VIm
IV IV I I
I V I I

 

I'm Gonna Sleep With One Eye Open

Jim,

I just found out today the little game you play
I've been sleeping all my life away
You've been stepping so they say between midnight and day
So I'm gonna sleep with one eye open from now on

Chorus:
From now on (from now on) all night long (all night long)
You won't have a chance to treat your daddy wrong
You've been stepping so they say between midnight and day
So I'm gonna sleep with one eye open from now on

There's honky tonk down the road just a mile or so
I understand that's where you spend your time
Baby I got news for you your little game is through
From now on baby you're gonna toe the line

You thought you were being wise running around with other guys
And leaving me to spend my time alone
But you'll find out today it don't work out that way
You started a little game that two can play

Verse:

I I I V
I I I – V I

Chorus:

IV I I V
I I I – V I

 

Tim O'Brien's Break – D


Tim O'Brien's Break – C


I'm Going Back to Old Kentucky

Jim,

—Bill Monroe

Chorus:
I'm going back to old Kentucky
There to see my Linda Lou
I'm going back to old Kentucky
Where the skies are always blue

When I left my old Kentucky
Linda kissed me and she cried
I told her that I would not linger
I'd be back by and by

Linda Lou she is a beauty
Those pretty brown eyes I loved so well
I'm going back to old Kentucky
Never more to say farewell

Linda Lou you know I love you
I long for you each night and day
When the roses bloom in old Kentucky
I'll be coming back to stay

Chorus and Verse:

I I I V
I I V I

 

I'm Free from the Chain Gang Now

Jim,

—Jimmie Rodgers

I got rid of the shackles that bound me
And the guards who were always around me
Like a bird in the tree I found my liberty
And I'm free from the chain gang now.

Long ago I was known and respected
Then one day I was wrongly suspected
And they put me in chains working out in the rain
But I'm free from the chain gang now.

I know my mother's poor heart was broken
For she knew an untruth was spoken
There were tears on the mail that she sent me in jail
But I'm free from the chain gang now.

All the years I was known by a number
Were just years that I spent without slumber
After long years of shame I have won back my name
And I'm free from the chain gang now.

Now I'm going back home to another
She's my sweetheart who's waiting with Mother
And I'll dry all the tears that's been shedding for years
'Cause I'm free from the chain gang now

¾

Verse:

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

 

I'm Eatin' High on the Hog

Jim,

—Mac Wiseman

My girl's a honey, she's got the money
Honey and money, everything's sunny.
Her name is Katy and she's a lady
I'm eatin' high on the hog.

Yes she's my honey, she's got the money
A big limousine and a flyin' machine.
She's quite a baby and there's no maybe
I'm eatin high on the hog.

Delighting, exciting, very inviting
Sweeter than julep, cute as a tulip
She dresses neatly, kisses so sweetly
I'm eatin high on the hog.

She's quite romantic, she drives me frantic
Shot Cupid's dart straight through my heart
I'm shackled and tied, but I'm satisfied
I'm eatin high on the hog.

Peachy complexion picture perfection
Blue eyes that glisten lips that need kissin'
She's quite a beauty and she's my cutie
I'm eatin high on the hog.

I popped the question, was her suggestion
Said she'd be mine, said her daddy would sign
I'm looking over a four—leafed clover
I'm eatin high on the hog.

Verse:

V V V V
I IV V I