Author: Jim

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

 

Folsom Prison Blues

Jim,

—Johnny Cash

I hear the train a comin'
It's rolling round the bend
And I ain't seen the sunshine since I don't know when,
I'm stuck in Folsom prison, and time keeps draggin' on
But that train keeps a rollin' on down to San Antone..

When I was just a baby my mama told me. Son,
Always be a good boy, don't ever play with guns.
But I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die
When I hear that whistle blowing, I hang my head and cry..

I bet there's rich folks eating in a fancy dining car
They're probably drinkin' coffee and smoking big cigars.
Well I know I had it coming, I know I can't be free
But those people keep a movin'
And that's what tortures me…

Well if they freed me from this prison,
If that railroad train was mine
I bet I'd move it on a little farther down the line
Far from Folsom prison, that's where I want to stay
And I'd let that lonesome whistle blow my blues away…..

Verse and Chorus:

I I I I-I7
IV IV I I

 

Foggy Mountain Top

Jim,

—A.P. Carter

Chorus:
If I was on some foggy mountain top
I'd sail away to the West
I'd sail all around this whole wide world
To the girl I love the best

If I had listened to what mama said
I would not be here today
A lying around this old jailhouse
And weeping my sweet life away

Now if you see that girl of mine
There's something you can tell her
She need not fool her time away
To court some other feller

Oh she caused me to weep and she caused me to mourn
She caused me to leave my home
Oh the lonesome pines and the good old times
I'm on my way back home

Whenever you go a courtin' boys
I'm tellin' you how to do
Pull off the long-tailed roustabout
And put on your navy blues.

Verse and Chorus:

I IV I V
I IV I-V I

 



Fishin' Blues

Jim,

—Chris Smith 1911, first recorded 1928 by "Ragtime Texas" Henry Thomas. This is Taj Mahal's version

Betcha goin' fishin' all of the time,
Baby's goin' fishing too
Bet your life, your sweet wife's
Gonna catch more fish than you
Many fish bites if ya got good bait
Here's a little tip I would like to relate

Refrain:
Many fish bites if ya got a good bait
I'm a goin' fishin' yes I'm goin' fishin'
And my baby's goin' fishin' too

I went down to my favorite fishin' hole
And I grabbed me a pole and line
Caught a nine pound catfish on the bottom, yes I got him
And I took him on home 'bout supper time, provin'
Many fish bites if ya got good bait
Here's a little tip I would like to relate

Refrain

Baby brother 'bout to run me outta my mind
Sayin' can I go fishin' with you?
I took him on down to my fishin' hole
Now whattya think that he did did do?
Pulled a great big fish out the bottom of the pond
And he laughed and jumped 'cause he was real gone, provin'

Refrain

Put him in the pot baby, put him in the pan mama
Cook him til he's nice and brown
Make a batch of buttermilk hoe-cakes mama
And you chew them things
And you chomp 'em on down, singin'
Many fish bites if ya got good bait
Here's a little tip I would like to relate

Refrain

Verse:

I I I-V I
I I II V
I I IV IV – I

Refrain:

I I I I
I-V I

 


Fireball Mail

Jim,

Here she comes, look at her roll
There she goes, eaten that coal
Watch her fly, look at her sail,
Let her by, by, by, the Fireball Mail

Let her go, look at her steam,
Here the low, whistle and scream
Like a hound dog wagging its tail,
Let her by, by, by, the Fireball Mail

Engineer, making up time,
Tracks are clear, look at her climb
See that freight, clear the rail,
I'll bet she's late, late, late, the Fireball Mail

Watch her swerve, look at her sway,
Get that curve out of the way
Watch her fly, look at her sail,
Let her by, by, by, the Fireball Mail

Verse:

I I I V
I I I-V I

 


Feast Here Tonight

Jim,

a.k.a Rabbit in a Log

There's a rabbit in the log and I ain't got my dog
How will I get him I know
I'll get me a briar and twist it in his hair
That way I'll get him I know

I know ( yes I know )
I know ( I surely know )
That's how I'll get him I know
I'll get me a briar and twist in his hair
That way I'll get him I know

I'll build me a fire and I'll cook that old hare
Roll him in the flames and make him brown
Have a feast here tonight while the moon is shining bright
And find me a place to lie down

To lie down ( to lie down )
To lay down ( to lay down )
Find me a place to lie down
Have a feast here tonight while the moon is shining bright
And find me a place to lie down

I'm going down the track and my coat ripped up my back
Soles on my shoes are nearly gone
A little ways ahead there's an old farmer's shed
That's where I'll rest my weary bones

Weary bones ( weary bones )
Lazy bones ( lazy bones )
That's where I'll rest my weary bones
A little way's ahead there's an old farmer's shed
That's where I'll rest my weary bones

Verse:

I I I V
I I I-V I

Chorus:

IV I I V
I I I-V I

 


Fare Thee Well Blues

Jim,

—Joe Callicott and Vol Stevens 1930

Told me early fall, you never had no man at all
Fare thee, baby, fare thee well
Told me early fall, you never had no man at all
Well you got more men than a two ton truck can haul

Told me to my face there's a good man in my place
Fare thee, baby, fare thee well
Told me to my face there's a good man in my place
Fare thee, baby, fare thee well

Told me this early spring when the birds began to sing
Fare thee, baby, fare thee well
Told me early spring when the birds began to sing
Well this the last chance, kid, to be round here with me

I told you early in June when the flowers began to bloom
Fare thee, baby, fare thee well
I told you early in June, when the flowers began to bloom
You can't do no better, then a good girl can take your room

When I asked you when I'll let your curtain down
Fare thee, baby, fare thee well
When I asked you when I let your curtain down
Well you kept tellin' me, please don't joke around

Go on, put on your nightgown, baby, lets we go lie down
Fare thee, baby, fare thee well
Go on, puttin' on your nightgown, baby, let's a—go lie down
Well it's the last chance shakin' in the day with you

Verse:

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