Author: Jim

I've Waited As Long As I Can

Jim,

—Hylo Brown

I've waited for you and I've always been true
But this waiting no longer I can stand
I know you've had time dear to make up your mind
I've waited as long as I can

Chorus:
I'm waiting to hear you say you love me
And long for the day you take my hand
I asked again last night for your love so divine
I've waited as long as I can

Done all I can do said all I can say
Oh why can't I make you understand
I wanted you for mine but I'm wasting my time
I've waited as long as I can

Now I'll just say goodbye the tears fall from my eyes
For you have made it plain that I can't win
No one will ever know the pain that I've been through
I've waited as long as I can

Verse:

I IV I V
I IV I – V I

Chorus:

I – IV I I V
I IV I – V I

 

I've Endured

Jim,

—Ola Belle Reed

Born in the mountains fifty years ago
I've trod the hills and valleys through the rain and snow
I've seen the lightning flashing I've heard the thunder roll
I've Endured I've Endured how long can one endure

Barefoot in the summer on into the fail
Too many mouths to feed they couldn't clothe us all
Sent to church on Sunday to learn the golden rule
I've Endured I've Endured how long can one endure

I've worked for the rich I've lived with the poor
I've see many a heartache there'll be many a more
Lived loved and sorrowed been to success's door
I've Endured I've Endured how long can one endure

Verse:

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

 

I've Been All Around This World

Jim,

Up on the Blue Ridge Mountains, there I'll take my stand.
Up on the Blue Ridge Mountains, there I'll take my stand.
A rifle on my shoulder, six—shooter in my hand;
Oh Lord, I been all around this world.

Lulu, my Lulu come and open the door.
Lulu, my Lulu come and open the door.
Before I have to walk in with my old 'forty—four'.
Oh Lord, I been all around this world.

Mama and Papa, little sister makes three.
Mama and Papa, little sister makes three.
They're comin' in the mornin' ; that's the last you'll see of me.
Oh Lord, I been all around this world.

Hang me, oh, hang me, so I'll be dead and gone.
Hang me, oh, hang me, so I'll be dead and gone.
I wouldn't mind your hangin', boys but you wait in jail so long.
Oh Lord, I been all around this world.

Up on the Blue Ridge Mountains, there I'll take my stand.
Up on the Blue Ridge Mountains, there I'll take my stand.
A rifle on my shoulder, six shooter in my hand;
Oh Lord, I been all around this world.

Verse:

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

 



Working On a Building

Jim,

—Bill Monroe

Well, if I was a sinner I'd a tell you what I would do
I would quit my sinnin' and I'd work on a buildin' too

Chorus:
I'm workin' on a buildin', I'm workin' on a buildin'
I'm workin' on a buildin' for my Lord, for my Lord
It's a Holy Ghost buildin', it's a holy ghost buildin'
It's a Holy Ghost buildin' for my Lord, for my Lord

Well, if I was a gambler I tell you what I would do
I would quit my gamblin' and work on a buildin' too

Well, if I was a drunkard I tell you what I would do
I would quit my drinkin' and work on a buildin' too

Well, if I was a preacher I tell you what I would do
I would go on preachin' and I'd work on a buildin' too

Verse:

I I I I
I I V I

Chorus:

I I I I
I V V-I I  :|

 


I'm Walkin' the Dog

Jim,

—Cliff & Tex Grimsley / Webb Pierce

I'm walking the dog and I'm never blue
I'm walking the dog I ain't thinking bout you
I don't need no one to tie me down
I'm walking the dog and I'm painting the town.

Chorus:
Such an easy life I never knew
Until the day that I left you
Well I'm a carefree lad that seen the light
I'm walking the dog all the day and all night

Well I'm full of pep I just can't grow old
I got a one track mind so I've been told
But I'm fancy free I don't worry no how
And I'm walking the dog all the law will allow

Final Chorus: ends:
Such an easy life I never knew
I can't believe it's really true…

Verse:

I IV I V
I IV I – V I

Chorus:

IV I II (or I) V
I IV I – V I

 

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