Author: Jim

I Wonder How the Old Folks Are at Home

Jim,

—F.W. Vandersloot

Well I wonder how the old folks are at home
I wonder if they miss me while I roam
I wonder if they pray for the boy who went away
And left his dear old parents all alone

Chorus:
You could hear the cattle lowing in the lane
You could see the fields of blue grass where I've grown
You could almost hear them cry as they kissed their boy goodbye
Well I wonder how the old folks are at home

Just a village and a homestead on the farm
And a mother's love to shield you from all harm
A mother's love so true a sweetheart that loves you
A village and a homestead on the farm

Verse:

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

Chorus:

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

 

I Saw the Light

Jim,

—Hank Williams

I wandered so aimless my heart filled with sin
I wouldn't let my dear Savior in
Then Jesus came like a stranger in the night
Praise the Lord I saw the light

Chorus:
I saw the light I saw the light
No more darkness no more night
Now I'm so happy no sorrow in sight
Praise the Lord I saw the light

Just like a blind man I wandered alone
Worries and fears I claimed for my own
Then like the blind man that God gave back his sight
Praise the Lord I saw the light

I was a fool to wander and stray
For straight is the gate and narrows the way
Now I have traded the wrong for the right
Praise the Lord, I saw the light

Verse and Chorus:

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

I Don't Love Nobody

Jim,

—Skillet Lickers

Chorus:
Well I don't nobody, nobody loves me
All they want's my money, they don't care for me
I just want to live single, happy and carefree
I don't love nobody, nobody loves me

One day I went out walking, walking down Johnson street
I met a little old lady, she smiled at me so sweet
Said hello my honey, how are you today
Just as I started to kiss her, these words I heard her say

Lord, I don't love nobody, nobody loves me
All they wants my money, they don't care for me
I want to live single, happy and carefree
I don't love nobody, nobody loves me

Next day I went out walking, walking down Johnson street
I met the same little lady, she was dressed up so neat
She smiled at me and said hello, how are you today
Tipped my hat and said hello and journeyed on my way

Cause I don't love nobody, nobody loves me
All they wants my money, they don't care for me
I want to live single, happy and carefree
I don't love nobody, nobody loves me

Verse:

I IV – I I II – V
I IV – I IV – I V – I

 

I Did the Leaving for You

Jim,

—Junior Sisk

All you ever talk about's how bad you got it here,
Say that all I ever do is sit here drinking beer.
But if you'd listen to yourself, you might just drink one too,
You say you wanna leave me, well here's your chance to follow through.

Chorus:
I called your Mama, so you'd have a place to stay,
And there's some money packed inside your old suitcase.
You won't have to worry, or wonder what to do,
I packed your bags and did the leaving for you.

After twenty years of fightin', we just couldn't make it work,
No matter what I'd do for you, it only gets worse.
The car is all gassed up, and darlin' here's the key,
It's time for me to start over, and time for you to leave.

Verse:

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

Chorus:

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

 

I Am a Pilgrim

Jim,

— Merle Travis

Chorus:
I am a pilgrim and a stranger
Traveling through this wearisome land
And I've got a home in that yonder city, good Lord
And it's not (good Lordy it's not) not made by hand

I got a mother, a sister and a brother
Who have gone to that sweet home
And I am determined to go and see them, good Lord
Over on (good Lordy over on) that distant shore

I'm going down to that river Jordan
Just to bathe my weary soul
If I could touch but just the hem of His garment, good Lord
I believe (good Lordy I believe) that it would make me whole

Now when I'm dead, laying in my coffin
All of my friends all gather round
They can say that he's just laying there sleeping, good Lord
Sweet peace (Lordy sweet peace) his soul is found

Chorus and Verse:

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

 

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