Author: Jim

Early This Morning

Jim,

Early this morning my baby made me sore (X2)
She said I'm leaving you papa, I don't need you any more.

Tell me pretty mama where did you sleep last night (X2)
She said none of your business baby, if I do you right.

I said I love you mama, yeah that ain't no lie (X2)
And the day that you quit me, mama that's the day you die..

Just because you see me sleeping don't you think I'm drunk (2X)
I got one eye on my pistol and the other on your trunk

Verse:

I IV I I7
IV IV I-IV I-VI
II V I-IV I

 

Driving Nails in My Coffin

Jim,

—Ernest Tubb

My sweetheart has gone and I'm so lonesome
She said that she and I were through
So I started out drinkin' for pasttime
Drivin' nails in my coffin over you

Chorus:
I'm just drivin' nails in my coffin
Every time I drink a bottle of booze
I'm just drivin' nails in my coffin
Lordy, drivin' those nails over you

Ever since the day that we parted
I've been so sad and so blue
I'm always thinkin' of you love
And I just can't quit drinkin' that old booze

Now you turned me down, you don't want me
There's nothin' now I can lose
I'm just drivin' those nails in my coffin
And worryin' my darlin over you

Verse and Chorus:

I I I V
I I I-V I

 

Drink Up and Go Home

Jim,

—Johnny Bond & Joe Maphis

You sat there a crying crying in your beer
You say you got troubles my friend listen here
Don't tell me your troubles I got enough of my own
Be thankful you're living drink up and go home

I'm fresh out of prison six years in the can
Lost my wife and family no one to call friend
Don't tell me your troubles I got enough of my own
Be thankful you're living drink up and go home

Now there stands a blind man a man that can't see
Yet he's not complaining why should you or me
Don't tell me your troubles I got enough of my own
Be thankful you're living drink up and go home

¾

Verse:

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

 

Drifting Too Far From the Shore

Jim,

Out on the perilous deep
Where danger silently creeps
And storms so vio—lent—ly sweep
You're drifting too far from the shore

Chorus:
Drifting too far from the shore
Drifting too far from the (peaceful) shore
Come to Jesus today, let him show you the way
You're drifting too far from the shore

Today the tempest rolls high
And clouds overshadow the sky
Sure death is hovering nigh
You're drifting too far from the shore

Why meet a terrible fate.
Mercies abundantly wait.
Turn back before it's too late.
You're drifting too far from the shore.

¾

Verse:

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

Chorus:

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

 


Down Where The River Bends

Jim,

It's hard to keep the tear out of my eyes
For this might be our last goodbye
Your country calls you to defend this great land
So do your part just like a man

Chorus:
Down where the river bends
With God's help we'll meet again
Under the same old sycamore tree
Proud of each other in the land of the free

I'll go down to the ocean blue
And get just as close as I can to you
Though the ocean wide may keep us apart
It won't keep you dear from out of my heart

If the worst should happen, and the poppies should wave
Over your far distant lonely grave
All the rest of my life I'll spend in prayer
I'll meet you in heaven, there'll be no wars there

Verse and Chorus:

I IV I V
I IV I-V I

 

Down to the River to Pray

Jim,

Verse:
As I went down to the river to pray
Studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the starry crown
Good Lord show me the way

Chorus:
Oh sisters let's go down
Let's go down come on down
Oh sisters let's go down
Down to the river to pray

Chorus 2:
Oh brothers let's go down…

Chorus 3:
Oh fathers let's go down…

Chorus 4:
Oh mothers let's go down…

Chorus 5:
Oh sinners let's go down…

Verse:

I I-V V-I
I I V I

Chorus:

V I I-IV IV-I
V I I-IV I

 

Down the Road

Jim,

Now down the road just a mile or two
Lives a little girl named Pearly Blue
About so high and her hair is brown
The prettiest thing boys in this town

Now anytime you want to know
Where I'm going, down the road
Get my girl on the line
You'll find me there most any old time

Now everyday and Sunday too
I go to see my Pearly Blue
Before you hear that rooster crow
You'll see me headed down the road

Now old man Flatt he owned the farm
From the hog lot to the barn
From the barn to the rail
He made his living by carrying the mail

Now every time I get the blues
I walk the soles right off my shoes
I don't know why I love her so
That gal of mine lives down the road

Verse:

|: I I I VIm
I I V I :|

 

Down In the Willow Garden

Jim,

Down in the willow garden where me and my love did meet
There we sat a—courting my love fell off to sleep
I had a bottle of burgundy wine which my true love did not know
And there I poisoned that dear little girl down by the banks below

I drew my saber through her which was a bloody knife
I threw her in the river which was an awful sight
My father often told me that money would set me free
If I would murder that dear little miss whose name was Rose Connelly

Now he sits by his old cabin door a wiping his tear—brimmed eyes
Mourning for his only son out on the scaffold high
My race is run beneath the sun the devil is waiting for me
For I did murder that dear little girl whose name was Rose Connelly

¾

Verse:

I I I VIm
I I VIm VIm
I I I VIm
I V I I

Chorus:

I I I I
I I VIm VIm
I I I VIm
I V I I

 

Down in the Valley

Jim,

See also Birmingham Jail

—Pete Seager version

Down in the valley valley so low
Hang your head over hear the wind blow
Hear the wind blow dear hear the wind blow
Hang your head over hear the wind blow

Roses love sunshine violets love dew
Angels in heaven know I love you
Know I love you dear know I love you
Angels in heaven know I love you

If you don't love me love whom you please
Throw your arms 'round me give my heart ease
Give my heart ease love give my heart ease
Throw your arms round me give my heart ease

Build me a castle forty feet high
So I can see him as he rides by
As he rides by love as he rides by
So I can see him as he rides by

Write me a letter send it by mail
Send it in care of Birmingham jail
Birmingham jail love Birmingham jail
Send it in care of Birmingham jail

Verse:

I I I V
V V V I
I I I V
V V V I

 

Dooley

Jim,

Dooley was a good old man, he lived below the mill
Dooley had two daughters and a forty gallon still
One gal watched the boiler the other watched the spout
Mama corked the bottles when old Dooley fetched them out

Chorus:
Dooley, slipping up the holler
Dooley, trying to make a dollar
Dooley, give me a swaller and I'll pay you back some day

The revenuers came for him a slipping through the woods
Dooley kept behind them all and never lost his goods
Dooley was a trader when into town he'd come
Sugar by the bushel and molasses by the ton

I remember very well the day old Dooley died
The women folk looked sorry and the men stood 'round and cried
Now Dooley's on the mountain he lies there all alone
They put a jug beside him and a barrel for a stone
Down In The Willow Garden Bill Monroe

Verse:

I IV I V
I IV I-V I  :|

Chorus:

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