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.
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
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.
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
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
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
My bills are all due and the baby needs shoes and I'm busted
Cotton is down to a quarter a pound, but I'm busted
I got a cow that went dry and a hen that won't lay
A big stack of bills that gets bigger each day
The county's gonna haul my belongings away cause I'm busted.
I went to my brother to ask for a loan cause I was busted
I hate to beg like a dog without his bone, but I'm busted
My brother said there ain't a thing I can do,
My wife and my kids are all down with the flu,
And I was just thinking about calling on you 'cause I'm busted.
Well, I am no thief, but a man can go wrong when he's busted
The food that we canned last summer is gone and I'm busted
The fields are all bare and the cotton won't grow,
Me and my family got to pack up and go,
But I'll make a living, just where I don't know cause I'm busted.
—Holy Modal Rounders, originally Charles E. Trevathan late 1800's
Have you heard about the bully that's just come into town?
He's rounding up the people and layin' their bodies down.
And I'm looking for the bully of the town.
I just got here from Tennessee, and I can't allow
No redneck rebel roustabout with me to raise a row
And I'm looking for that Bully to make him bow.
Chorus:
As I walk this levee round, round, round, round,
Every night I can't be found, found, found, found,
As I walk this levee round, just lookin' for that bully, and he must be found.
I'm goin' to the corner with my ax in my hand,
I'm gonna find that bully, and I'll sweep him off the land.
And I'm lookin' for that bully, to make him stand.
I'm goin' to the corner, to get my razor blade,
I'm gonna find that bully and lay him in the shade,
And I'm lookin for the bully of the town.
Chorus
Now when you see me comin' heist your window high,
And when you see me goin' hang your head and cry,
And I'm lookin' for that bully and he must die.
My madness keeps a—risin' I ain't gonna get left,
I'm gettin' so evil I'm scared of myself.
And I'm gonna put that bully on a shelf.
Chorus
Verse:
I
Ib
I
I – I7
IV
IV
IV
II7
V
V
I
I
Chorus:
I
I
V
V
V
V
I
I
I
I7
IV
IV
V
V
I
I
*Stringbean's version
I'm looking for that bully, the bully of your town
I'm looking for that bully, that bully can't be found.
I'm looking for that bully of your town
Chorus:
Oh out on the levee walkin' round, round, round
Every day I may be found, found, found,
When you see me walkin' this round
I'm looking for that bully of your town
When I met that bully way down in southern town
When I met that bully we both went round and round
I was put by the bully of your town
Chorus
Well I've been east and I've been west
And I've been all around
I'm huntin' for that bully, that bully can't be found
I'm looking for that bully of your town
Chorus
Repeat verse 1.
Among the many extra verses…
When I got done with that bully, a doctor and a nurse
Weren't no good to him, so they put him in a hearse,
A cyclone couldn't have tore him up much worse.
You don't hear 'bout that fella that treated folks so mean,
Go down to the levee and his face just won't be seen.
Now there's only one boss bully, and that one's me.
