Author: Jim

Columbus Stockade Blues

Jim,

—Jimmie Davis and Eva Sargent

Way down in Columbus, Georgia
Want to be back in Tennessee
Way down in Columbus Stockade
Friends all turned their backs on me

Chorus:
Well go away and leave me if you wish to
Never let me cross your mind
In your heart you love another
Leave me little darling I don't mind

Last night as I lay sleeping
I dreamt I held you in my arms
When I awoke I was mistaken
I was peering through the bars

Many a night with you I've rambled
Many an hour with you I've spent
Thought I had your heart forever
Now I find it's only lent

Verse:

I I I I
V V I I   :|

Chorus:

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

 

Cluck Old Hen

Jim,

My old hen's a good old hen
She lays eggs for the railroad men
Sometimes one and sometimes two
Sometimes enough for the whole darn crew.

Chorus:
Cluck old hen cluck and sing
Ain't seen an egg since way last Spring
Cluck old hen cluck and squall,
Ain't laid an egg since way last fall

I had an old hen she had a wooden leg
Best old hen that never laid an egg
Laid more eggs than any hen around the barn
Another drink of whiskey wouldn't do me any harm

My old hen's a good old hen
She lays eggs for the railroad men
Sometimes one sometimes two
Sometimes enough for the whole damn crew

Cluck old hen cluck when I tell you
Cluck old hen or I'm gonna sell you
Last time she cackled cackled in the lot
Next time she cackles cackle in the pot

I had a little chicken who wouldn't lay an egg
So I poured hot water up and down her leg
That chicken squawked, that chicken begged
But shed wound up layin' me a hard boiled egg.

Verse & Chorus:

I I – VII I V – I
I I – VII I V – I  :|

 




Clementine

Jim,

Chorus:
Oh my darling, oh my darling
Oh my darling, Clementine
You are lost and gone forever
Dreadful sorry, Clementine

In a cavern, in a canyon
Excavating for a mine
Dwelt a miner, forty-niner
And his daughter, Clementine

Light she was and like a fairy
And her shoes were number nine
Herring boxes, without topses
Sandals were for Clementine

Drove she ducklings to the water
Ev'ry morning just at nine
Hit her foot against a splinter
Fell into the foaming brine

Ruby lips above the water
Blowing bubbles, soft and fine
But, alas, I was no swimmer
So I lost my Clementine

How I missed her! How I missed her
How I missed my Clementine
But I kissed her little sister
I forgot my Clementine

Verse:

I I I V
IV I V I

 

Chump Man Blues

Jim,

—Blind Blake

I'm going down to the river, take a great big jump.
I'm going down to the river, take a great big jump.
I used to be a wise man, but this woman made me a chump.

Now, it sure is funny how hard a man can fall.
Now, it sure is funny how hard a man can fall.
When he gets to thinkin' that one woman has got it all.

Well, she threw me out; I went walkin' down the track.
She threw me out! I went walkin' down the track.
But I turned right around, (Lord have mercy),
and begged her to take me back.

Well, she ain't no good, but I can't leave her somehow.
Naw, she ain't no good, but I can't leave her somehow.
I used to be a wild cat, but this woman has chained me down.

Now she don't act sweet, she's that mean and naggin' kind.
Naw she don't act sweet, she's that mean and naggin' kind.
But she's got this little quiver, make a strong man lose his mind.

So, I'm goin' down to the river, take a great big jump.
Right after I get done singin' right here tonight, I'm gonna jump.
I used to be a wise man, but this woman made me a chump.

Verse:

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

 

Cash on the Barrelhead

Jim,

—Louvin Brothers

Got in a little trouble at the county seat
Lord they put me in the jailhouse, for loafing on the street
When the judge heard the verdict, I was a guilty man
He said forty—five dollars, or thirty days in the can

Chorus:
And that'll be cash on the barrelhead, son
You can take your choice, you're twenty—one
No money down, no credit plan
No time to chase you, 'cause I'm a busy man

Found a telephone number, on a laundry slip
Had a kind—hearted jailer, with a six—gun hip
He let me call long—distance, She said, "Number, please?"
No sooner than I told her, she hollered out at me

Chorus:
That'll be cash on the barrelhead, son
Not part, not half, but the entire sum
No money down, no credit plan
'Cause a little bird tells me that you're a traveling man

Thirty days in the jailhouse, four days on the road
I was feeling mighty hungry, my feet a heavy load
Saw a Greyhound a coming, stuck up my thumb
Just as I'd been seated, the driver caught my arm

Chorus:
That'll be cash on the barrelhead son
This old gray dog, gets paid to run
When engine starts, oh the wheels won't roll
That'll be cash on the barrelhead, I'll take you down the road

Verse:

I I I I (X4)

Chorus:

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

 




Carve That Possum

Jim,

—Sam Lucas via Dave Macon

My dog treed, I went to see, (On children, on)
There was a possum up that tree, (On children, on)
And that possum began to grin, (On children, on)
I reached up and took him in, (On children, on)

Chorus:
Carve that possum
Carve that possum, children
Carve that possum children
Oh, come children come.

Carried him home and dressed him on,
Hung him out that night to frost,
One way to cook the possum down,
First par boil then bake him brown

Possum meat am good to eat,
Always fat and good and sweet,
Grease potatoes in the pan,
Greatest eatin in the land.

Some eat early and some eat soon,
Some like a possum and some like coon,
That possum's just the thing for me,
Old Rattler's got another'n up a tree.

Verse:

I I V I I I (X4)

Chorus:

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

 

Careless Love

Jim,

Love oh love careless love
Love oh love careless love
Love oh love oh careless love
See what careless love has done

Once I wore my apron low (3x)
I couldn't keep you from my door

What oh what will mama say (3x)
When she learns I've gone astray

I love my mama and papa too (3x)
See what I get for lovin' you

Now I wear my apron high (3x)
You pass my door you walk on by

Verse and Chorus:

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

 


Can't You Hear Me Calling

Jim,

—Bill Monroe

The days are long the nights are lonely
Since you left me all alone
I miss you so my little darling
I worried so since you've been gone

Chorus:
Sweetheart of mine can't you hear me calling
A million times I love you best
I mistreated you, lord and I'm sorry
Come back to me is my request

I remember dear the night we parted
A big mistake had caused it all
If you come back sunshine will follow
If you stay away twill be my fall

The nights are long my little darling
Oh how I need your sweet embrace
When I awoke the sun was shining
I looked up and I saw your face

Verse and Chorus:

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

 

Can't Get No Better

Jim,

—John Hartford

Well he caressed her breast she hie di died his thigh
And the pill lit on the pillow amongst the wine bottles and the cheese
Took a Polaroid picture that was naughty and it slipped yes it did
And just when I thought it couldn't get no better then it did

Chorus:
Just when you think it can't get no better then it does
It's always so much better than it ever was
Seems like all the good things come at once, yes they do
And just when you think it can't get no better then it does

Well they knew what they liked they ain't neither one of them naive
She said I'll probably get in trouble but this time I don't care
Well I should go to work but I'd rather be with you instead
And just when I thought it couldn't get no better then it did

She taught school and he played the five string banjo
She lived here in town and he traveled the whole world wide
Well she packed the lunch brought the wine he drove the car and scored a lid
And just when I thought it couldn't get no better then it did

It was a perfect day for dalliance and a picnic
And a riverbank was an excellent place to love
Well the sun was a shining and the birds were singing overhead
And just when I thought it couldn't get no better then it did

Everything:

I III7 VI I7 IV V I

 

But That's All Right

Jim,

—Autry Inman

I gave my heart I gave my all
you built me up then you let me fall
You wore my ring upon your hand
but then you changed your mind
But that's all right
I looked around and found true love

You made me laugh you made me cry
I wished that day that I could die
You never dreamed that by and by
I'd be glad you changed your mind
Yes that's all right
I looked around and found true love

¾ and crooked

Verse and Chorus:

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