Author: Jim

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

 

I'm Blue, I'm Lonesome

Jim,

—Hank Williams and Bill Monroe

The lonesome sigh of a train going by
Makes me want to stop and cry
I recall the day it took you away
I'm blue, I'm lonesome too

Chorus:
When I hear that whistle blow
I want to pack my trunk* and go
The lonesome sound of a train going by
Makes me want to stop and cry

In the still of the night, in the pale moonlight
The winds they moan and sigh
These awful blues I just can't lose
I'm blue I'm lonesome too

*also: suitcase, troubles

Verse:

|:  I IV – I I – V I  :|

Chorus:

V I II V
I IV – I I – V I

I'll Fly Away

Jim,

—Albert E Brumley

Some bright morning when this life is o'er,
I'll fly away,
To that home on God's celestial shore,
I'll fly away.

Chorus:
I'll fly away, Oh Glory,
I'll fly away (in the morning),
When I die, Hallelujah, by and by,
I'll fly away.

When the shadows of this life have gone,
I'll fly away,
Like a bird from these prison walls I'll fly,
I'll fly away.

Oh how glad and happy when we meet,
I'll fly away,
No more cold iron shackles on my feet,
I'll fly away.

Just a few more weary days and then,
I'll fly away,
To a land where joys will never end,
I'll fly away.

Verse & Chorus:

I I IV I
I I I – V I

 



I'll Cry Tomorrow

Jim,

—Buzz Busby

I'll cry tomorrow, 'cause my love's gone away

I'll cry tomorrow, I won't cry today
Cause when I see you I want to be brave
You were out with another, I saw you last night
Standing there on your doorstep
You were holding him tight

Chorus:
I'll cry tomorrow, I won't cry today
I'll cry tomorrow, 'cause my loves gone away

A handshake, a kiss, a smile, a pleasant goodbye
Is better than false words and all alibis
And when you're gone, love you'll never know why
Today I won't weaken, tomorrow I'll cry

I'll cry tomorrow, I won't cry today
I'll cry tomorrow, 'cause your loves gone away

¾

Intro:

IV I I V I I

Verse:

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

Chorus:

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

 

I'll Be Your Baby Tonight

Jim,

—Bob Dylan

Close your eyes, close the door
You don't have to worry anymore
I'll be your baby tonight

Shut the light, shut the shade
You don't have to be afraid
I'll be your baby tonight

Bridge:
Well, that mockingbird's gonna sail away
We're gonna forget it
That big, fat moon is gonna shine like a spoon
But we're gonna let it, you won't regret it

Kick your shoes off, do not fear
Bring that bottle over here
I'll be your baby tonight

Verse:

I I II II
IV V I I

Bridge:

IV I II V

 

I Wonder Where You Are Tonight

Jim,

—Johnny Bond

Tonight I'm sad my heart is weary
Wondering if I'm wrong or right
To think about you though you left me
I wonder where you are tonight

Chorus:
The rain is cold and slowly falling
Upon my window pane tonight
And though your love seems even colder
I wonder where you are tonight

Your heart was cold you never loved me
Though you often said you cared
And now you've gone to find another
Someone who knows the love I shared

Then came the dawn the day you left me
I tried to smile with all my might
But you could see the pain within me
That lingers in my heart tonight

Verse:

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

Chorus:

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