Author: Jim

I Ain't Broke, But I'm Badly Bent

Jim,

— Martha Ellis, 1953

I'm going back to the country, cause I can't pay my rent
No I'm not completely broke, but brother I'm badly bent
Can't understand, where my money went
Well, I'm not broke, but I'm badly bent.

They warned me 'bout the city, about the city life
But I thought I knew everything, and took no one's advice.
Now I wonder where my money went
Well, ain't broke, but I'm badly bent.

When I get back to the country, I'll be livin' in a tent.
'Cause my Ma and Pa are gonna be mad 'bout all the money I spent
Can't understand where my money went
Well, I ain't broke, but I'm badly bent.

Well, I had plenty money, but to the city I went
I met too many purty gals, and now my money's spent
And now I know, where my money went
Well, I ain't broke, but I'm badly bent.

Tag:
Well, I know, just where it went
I ain't broke, but brother I'm badly bent.

I I IV I
IV I I I7
IV IV I I
V V I I

 

Wayne Benson Break


Ray Legere's Break


How Mountain Girls Can Love

Jim,

—Stanley Brothers

Chorus:
Get down boys, go back home
Back to the girl you love
Treat her right, never wrong
How mountain girls can love

Riding the night in the high cold winds
On the trail of the old lonesome pine
Thinking of you, feeling so blue
Wondering why you left me behind

Remember the night me strolled down the lane
Our hearts were gay and happy then
You whispered to me as I held your close
You hoped this night would never end

Verse:

I I V I
I I V I

Chorus:

IV I V I
IV I V I

 

How Long Blues

Jim,

—Frank Stokes

Oh, I never never never
can forget that day when you called me baby.
How long, how long
I ain't had no lovin' since my gal been gone

Have you seen my baby, baby.
Tell her to hurry home I ain't seen my good baby.
How long, how long
I ain't had no lovin' since my gal been gone

Now listen at me mama
why did you make me go—o—o baby
How long, how long
I ain't had no lovin' since my gal been gone

I hate that train, train
that carried my baby away and left me standin,'
How long, how long
I ain't had no lovin' since my gal been gone

Now listen at me mama
everything's alright with me, (now) run here baby,
How long, how long
I ain't had no lovin' since my gal been gone

No I never…
will see you any—moooor baby,
How long, how long
I ain't had no lovin' since my gal been gone

Verse:

I I I IV
IV I I V

 

Hot Corn, Cold Corn

Jim,

Chorus:
Hot corn cold corn bring along the demijohn ( x3 )
Fare thee well Uncle Bill see you in the morning.
Yes sir

Well it's upstairs downstairs out in the kitchen ( x3 )
See Uncle Bill just a rarin' and a pitchin'
Yes sir

Well it's old Aunt Peggy won't you fill 'em up again ( x3 )
Ain't had a drink since the lord knows when.
Yes sir

Well yonder comes the preacher and the children are crying ( x3 )
Chickens necks a wringin' and toenails a flyin' yes sir

All I need to keep me happy, is two little boys to call me Pappy
One named Sam and one named Davey.
Sam likes ham and Davey likes gravy.
Yes sir

Preacher's in the pulpit taking in the money
Children in the beehive getting all the honey
Old Aunt Peggy went and sold the farm
Another drink of whiskey can't do me any harm.
Yes sir!

Had a little dog and his name was Ned
He run that chicken til he fell dead
He got choked on old cornbread
Sure am sorry that dog am dead.
Yes sir!

Custom verse:

Saw ol'_____ with Long Tall Sally
Along came _____, Sally jumped back in the alley
Long Tall Sally, she's built for speed
But _____ got everything ol'_____ needs. Yes sir!

Verse and Chorus:

I I V V
I I V V
V-I I

 




Honey, Just Allow Me One More Chance

Jim,

—Bob Dylan

Honey, just allow me one more chance to get along with you
Honey, just allow me one more chance I'll do anything for you
Well, I'm a—walkin' down the road with my head in my hand
I'm lookin' for a woman needs a worried man
Just a one kind favor I'll ask of you
Allow me just—a one more chance

Honey, just allow me one more chance to ride your aeroplane
Honey, just allow me one more chance to ride your passenger train
Well, I've been lookin' all over for a girl like you
I can't find nobody, so you'll have to do
Just a one kind favor I ask you
Allow me just—a one more chance

Honey, just allow me one more chance to get along with you
Honey, just allow me one more chance I'd do anything for you
Well, lookin' for a woman that ain't got no man
I'm just lookin' for a needle that is lost in the sand
Just a one kind favor I ask you
Allow me just—a one more chance

Just—a one kind favor I ask you,
Allow me just—a one more chance

Verse:

I I IV I
I I II V
I I7 IV II7
I VI II – V I

 

Hold Watcha Got

Jim,

—Jimmy Martin

Chorus:
Hold whatcha got, I'm a—coming home baby
Hold whatcha got, and I don't mean maybe
Been a—thinking about you and I'm on my way
Don't sell the house, and don't wreck the car
Stay there, honey, right where you are
Hold whatcha got, I'm a coming home to stay

Well in my mind I can see
That's a pretty good sign that I need you
That's why I can't wait to get back home
So squeeze yourself real good and tight
I'll be there before daylight
If you hold whatcha got, I'm a coming home to stay

Well when I get back, honey, I ain't leaving
I been too long, a little too much grieving
When I get back this time I'm going to stay
Well we won't fuss and we won't fight
This time things is gonna be all right
If you hold whatcha got, I'm a—coming home to stay

Chorus and Verse:

|: I IV I V
I IV I-V I :|

 

Hit Parade of Love

Jim,

—Jimmy Martin

From what I've been a hearing dear you've really got it made
You've got a lot of fellers on your lover's hit parade
If I can't be your number one I don't know what I'll do
Gonna be plumb up to the top I'm so in love with you

Chorus:
On the hit parade of love I know I'll never stop
I've got a long long way to climb before I reach top
But if I do get there soon I'd really have it made
Then I'll know I'm number one your lover's hit parade

Now it's your heart I'm after 'cause it's so nice and kind
Another one to take your place would sure be hard to find
So put your arms around me dear and be my turtle dove
Then I'll feel like I'm number one on your hit parade of love

Now if we work together like all good lovers should
We can make a go of it everything will turn out good
We will can so much fun we'll really have it made
Then I'll know I'm number one on your lover's hit parade

Verse:

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

Chorus:

V V I I IIm
IIm IIm V V
I I I IV IV
V V V I I

 

Highway of Regret

Jim,

—Chubby Anthony, Ralph Stanley
Chorus:
Ain't talking, just walking
Down that highway of regret
Heart's burning, still yearning
For the best girl this poor boy's ever met

I never thought this thing could happen
I never thought you'd be untrue
Or go away with another
And break a heart that worshipped you

It makes no difference where I wander
You never seem to leave my mind
Your face is always there before me
I think about you all the time

Chorus:

I IV I V
I IV I-V I

Verse:

I I I V
IV I V I

 

High on a Mountain Top

Jim,

—Ola Belle Reed

Chorus:
High on a mountain top wind blowing free
Thinking about the days that used to be
High on a mountain top standing all alone
Wondering where the years of my life have flown

As I looked at the valleys down below
They were green just as far as I could see
As my memory returned, oh how my heart did yearn
For you and the days that used to be

Oh I wonder if you ever think of me
Or if time has blotted out your memory
As I listen to the breeze blow gently through the trees
I'll always cherish what you meant to me

Chorus:

I VII I IV
I V I I
I VII I IV
I V I I

Verse:

I VII I I
I VII I I
I VII I IV
I V I I

 

Hickory Wind

Jim,

—Bob Buchanan and Gram Parsons

In South Carolina there are many tall pines
I remember the oak tree that we used to climb
But now when I'm lonesome, I always pretend
That I'm getting the feel of hickory wind

I started out younger at most everything
All the riches and pleasures, what else could life bring?
But it makes me feel better each time it begins
Callin' me home, hickory wind

It's hard way to find out that trouble is real
In a far away city, with a far away feel
But it makes me feel better each time it begins
Callin' me home, hickory wind

Keeps callin' me home, hickory wind

Verse:

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