Author: Jim

Goodbye Liza Jane

Jim,

Swing Ma, swing Pa, goodbye, goodbye,
Swing that gal from Arkansas, Goodbye Liza Jane.

Chorus:
Oh how I loved her, ain't that a shame,
Oh how I loved her, Goodbye Liza Jane.

Charlotte Town is burning down, goodbye, goodbye.
Burning down to the ground, goodbye, Liza Jane.

Liza Jane had a dress of red, goodbye, goodbye,
Queen of hearts, or so she said, goodbye, Liza Jane.

Liza Jane countin' her toes
You can smell her feet wherever she goes.

I got a gal and a hound dog too,
She don't bite, but the hound dog do.

Liza Jane 'bout half grown,
Jumps on a man like a dog on a bone

Liza Jane, pretty as a rose,
Bites her nails and picks her nose.

Goin' down to Caro, goodbye, goodbye,
Goin' down to Caro, goodbye Liza Jane.

Well, I blacked my boots and I made 'em shine, goodbye, goodbye.
I blacked my boots and I made 'em shine, goodbye Liza Jane.

Take a chaw of tobacco, spit on the wall, goodbye, goodbye,
Swing that gal clear across the hall, Goodbye Liza Jane.

Three wheels 're off and the axel's draggin', goodbye, goodbye,
You can't ride the little red wagon, Goodbye Liza Jane.

Verse:

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

Chorus:

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

 

Gonna Paint the Town

Jim,

She's from the hills of Kentucky
With waving long black hair
And lips as sweet as warm red wine
No others can compare

Chorus:
I'm going Honky tonkin'
Everything's turned upside down
But when I finds that gal of mine
We're really gonna paint this town

They say we can't get married
They say I'm not worthy of you
They don't know what they're talking about
They don't know what we've gone through

Now when you see me coming
Better raise your window high
And when you see me leavin' lord, lord
Hang down your head and cry

Verse and Chorus:

I IV I V
I IV I-V I

 

Gone Home

Jim,

—Bill Carlisle

All of my friends that I loved yesterday,
Gone home (they have gone home) (x2)
The songbirds that sing in the dell seem to say,
Gone home (they have gone home) (x2)

Chorus:
They've joined the heavenly fold,
They're walking the streets of pure gold,
They left one by one as their work here was done,
Gone home (they have gone home) (x2)

Life here is lonely since they've gone before,
Gone home (they have gone home) (x2)
The old weeping willow that stands by the door,
Sadly says (they have gone home) gone home (they …)

The trumpet for will sound on that Great Judgment day,
Gone home (they have gone home) (x2)
We'll see all our friends that have gone on that way,
Gone home (they have gone home) (x2)

¾

Verse:

I IV – I V I
I IV – I V I

Chorus:

IV I I – II V
I IV V I

 

Gold Watch and Chain

Jim,

—A.P. Carter

Darling, how can I stay here without you
I have nothing to cheer my poor heart
This old world would seem sad, love, without you
Tell me now that we're never to part

I will pawn you my gold watch and chain, love
I will pawn you my gold diamond ring
I will pawn you this heart in my bosom
Only say that you'll love me again

Take back all the gifts you have given
But a ring and a lock of your hair
And a card with your picture upon it
It's a face that is false, but is fair

Tell me why that you do not love me
Tell me why that your smile is not bright
Tell me why you have grown so cold—hearted
Is there no kiss for me, love, tonight

Verse and Chorus:

|: IV I V I :|

 

Going to the Races

Jim,

Chorus:
I'm going to the races
To see my pony run
And if I win any greenbacks
We're sure gonna have some fun

They say we can't get married
They say I'm not worthy of you
They don't know what they're talking about
They don't know what we've been through

Now when you go a courtin'
There's something you should know
That long tail roustabout you wear
Don't do a thing for you

Now when you see me coming
You better raise your window high
And when you see me leaving little girl
Hang down your head and cry

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


Glad Rags

Jim,

—Johnny Bond

Honey you do the dishes and I'll feed the old sow
Also the chickens and our one Jersey cow
Take down your curlers and powder your nose
Big time at Jones's place, so wear your best clothes.

Chorus:
There'll be no evening gowns, not even a tux
They'll come in wagons, buggies, and pickup trucks
We'll do square dancing under kerosene lights
We'll wear our glad rags tonight, my honey,
We'll wear our glad rags tonight.

Sylvester Cunningham will fiddle a tune
Red-headed kids will swipe away his spittoon
They'll run and hide behind a bale of hay
But that old settin' hen will scare them away.

Chorus:
Look for me beside the the old cider keg
I'll set my cup down and we'll both shake a leg
Never a ballroom had a prettier sight
We'll wear our glad rags tonight, my honey,
We'll wear our glad rags tonight.

Verse:

VI VI VI VI
II II II II
V V V V
I I I I

Chorus:

VI VI VI VI
II II II II
IV IV#dim I VI
II V I I

 

Give Me Back My Five Dollars

Jim,

—Dave Macon

We decided to get married, my little girl and I
The day I bought the licence, I let my freedom fly
We walked up to the preacher, said yes to all he said
And if I had to do it again, I'd shoot myself instead

Chorus:
Oh, give me back my five dollars I paid for a wife
I was a fool to pay someone to sentence me for life

The first month she was sweet as a melon on the vine
I thought it was my lucky day when I asked her to be mine
She looked so doggone pretty she like to've took my breath
But when I saw my mother—in—law, I darn nigh choked to death

I took her to our home up east, I told her to see the sights
She'd come in about daylight, oh 'Where did you spend your nights?'
She bought out half the city, silk dresses and gold braid
I could have bought the Brooklyn bridge with all the bills I paid

So now, young men, stay single for married life's baloney
It would break a millionaire to pay her alimony
Oh, single men, stay single don't marry you a wife
A bachelor's life is heaven compared to married life

Verse and Chorus:

I I I V
V V V I

 


Freight Train

Jim,

—Elizabeth Cotton

Chorus:
Freight train, freight train, going so fast
Freight train, freight train, going so fast
Please don't tell what train I'm on
So they won't know where I've gone

When I am dead and in my grave
No more good times here I'll crave
Place the stones at my head and feet
And tell them all that I'm gone to sleep

When I die, lord, bury me deep
Way down on old Chestnut Street
So I can hear old Number Nine
As she comes rolling by

Verse:

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

 

Fox on the Run

Jim,

—Tony Hazzard

Chorus:
She walks through the corn leading down to the river
Her hair shone like gold in the hot morning sun
She took all the love that a poor boy could give her
And left me to die like a fox on the run
Like a fox, like a fox, like a fox, like a fox, on the run

Everybody knows, the reason for the fall
When woman tempted man down in paradise's hall
This woman tempted me, and took me for a ride
Like the lonely fox, I need a place to hide

We'll pour a glass of wine, to fortify our soul
We'll talk about the world and friends we used to know
I see a string of girls, who'll put me on the floor
The game is nearly over and the hounds are at my door

Chorus:

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

Verse:

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

 

Footprints in the Snow

Jim,

—Harry Wright 1880

Now some folks like the summertime when the they can walk about
Strolling through the meadow green it's pleasant there no doubt
But give me the wintertime when the snow is on the ground
For I found her when the snow on the ground

Chorus:
I traced her little footprints in the snow
I found her little footprints in the snow
I bless that happy day when Nellie lost her way
For I found her when the snow was on the ground

I dropped in to see her there was a big round moon
Her mother said she just stepped out but would be returning soon
I found her little footprints and I traced them in the snow
I found her when the snow was on the ground

Now she's up in heaven she's with the angel band
I know I'm going to meet her in that promised land
But every time the snow falls it brings back memories
For I found her when the snow was on the ground

Verse:

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

Chorus:

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