Author: Jim

Handsome Molly

Jim,

Well I wish was in London
Or some other seaport town
Step my foot in a steamboat
And sail the ocean round

Chorus:
Sailing round the ocean
Sailing round the sea
I'd think of Handsome Molly
Wherever she may be

She went to church last Sunday
She passed me on by
I knew her mind was changing
By the roving of her eye

Her hair as black as a raven's
Her eyes were black as coal
Her teeth shown like lilies
Out in the morning cold

Now do you remember Molly
When you give me your right hand
Said if you ever married
I'd be your man

Now you've broke your promise
Go marry whom you please
My heart is broken
'Til I get some ease

Verse:

I I I V
V V IV I

 

Gum Tree Canoe

Jim,

On the Tombigbee River so bright I was born
In a hut made of husks of the tall yellow corn
It was there I first met with my Julia so true
And I rowed her about in our gum tree canoe

Sing row away row o'er the water so blue
Like a feather we'll float in our gum tree canoe

All day in the field the soft cotton I'd hoe
I'd think of my Julia and sing as I go
I'll catch her a bird with a wing of true blue
And at night sail her round in our gum tree canoe

Sing row away row o'er the water so blue
Like a feather we'll float in our gum tree canoe

With my hands on the banjo and toe on the oar
I sing to the sound of the river's soft roar
While the stars they look down on my Julia so true
And dance in her eye in our gum tree canoe

Sing row away row o'er the water so blue
Like a feather we'll float in our gum tree canoe

One night the stream bore us so far away
That we couldn't come back, so we thought we'd just stay
We spied a tall ship with a flag of true blue
And she took us in tow in our gum tree canoe

Sing row away row o'er the water so blue
Like a feather we'll float in our gum tree canoe

Verse:

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

Chorus:

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

 

Ground Hog

Jim,

—New Lost City Ramblers version

Call up your hounds and whistle up your dogs
Call up your hounds and whistle up your dogs
We're goin' to the mountain to catch a ground hog
Oh, ground hog

Old Joe Digger, Sam and Dave,(x2)
Went a hog huntin' as hard as they could say
Oh, ground hog

Too many rocks and too many logs,(x2)
Too many rocks to catch a ground hogs ,
Oh, ground hog

Stand back, boys, and let's be wise,(x2)
I think I see his beady little eyes,
Oh, ground hog

Work, boys, work just as hard as you can tear,(x2)
The meat'll do to eat and the hide'll do to wear,
Oh, ground hog

Sam aimed the gun and Dave pulled the trigger (X2)
But the man that killed the groundhog was Old Joe Digger
Oh, ground hog

Out come Sally with a snigger and a grin,(x2)
Ground hog gravy all over her chin,
Oh, ground hog

Now catch him boys he's about to fall, (X2)
He's eaten so his pants won't button at all
Oh, ground hog

Goin' down the road and the road is mighty muddy, (X2)
I'm so damn drunk and I can't stand steady
Oh, ground hog

He's in here boys, the hole's wore slick,(x2)
C'mon, Sam with your forked stick,
Oh, ground hog

Little piece of cornbread sittin' on the shelf,(x2)
If you want any more you can sing it yourself,
Oh, ground hog

Verse:

I I I I
I I I-V I

 

Gotta Travel On

Jim,

—printed in Carl Sandburg's The American Songbag, 1927
Chorus:
I've laid around and played around this old town too long
Summers almost gone, winters coming on
I've laid around and played around this old town too long
And I feel like I've gotta travel on

High sheriff and police riding after me
Riding after me, yes, coming after me
High sheriff and police riding after me
And I feel like I've gotta travel on

Poppa writes to Johnny but Johnny can't come home
Johnny can't come home, no, Johnny can't come home
Poppa writes to Johnny but Johnny can't come home
Cause he's been on the chain gang too long

Want to see my honey, want to see her bad
Want to see her bad, oh, want to see her bad
Want to see my honey, want to see her bad
She's the best gal this poor boy ever had

Verse:

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

 

Gospel Plow

Jim,

—Mike Compton's version

Well, I got my hands on the gospel plow
and I wouldn't take nothin' for my journey now
Keep your hands on the plow of God

Chorus:
Hold on, hold on
Keep your hand on the plow, hold on

Well, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
All those prophets are dead and gone
Keep your hands on the plow of God

Well, I've never been to heaven but I've been told
The streets up there are made of gold
Keep your hands on the plow of God

Verse:

I VII I I
I VII I I
I I V I

Chorus:

VII VII I I
I I V I

 

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