—Bill Monroe
A:
Sitting alone in the moonlight
Thinking of the days gone by
Wondering about my darling
I can still hear her saying goodbye
B:
Oh the moon grows pale as I sit here
Each little star seems to whisper and say
Your sweetheart has found another
And now she's far, far away
¾
A:
| |: I | Ib | I | I |
| IV | V | I | I :| |
B:
| |: IV | V | I | I |
| IV | V | I | I :| |
—Mississippi Sheiks' original
Was in the spring, one sunny day
Just when she left me, she's gone to stay
But now she's gone, and I don't worry
Oh I'm sitting on top of the world
Was all the summer, and all the fall,
Just trying to find my little all in all
But now she's gone, and I don't worry
Lord I'm sitting on top of the world
Went to the station, down in the yard
Gonna get me a freight train, work's done got hard
But now she's gone, and I don't worry
Oh I'm sitting on top of the world
There have been days, I didn't know my name
Why should I worry or cry in vain
But now she's gone, now I don't worry
Lord I'm sitting on top of the world
An' you come runnin', holdin' up your hand
Can get me a woman, quick as you got you a man
But now you're gone, and I don't worry
Lord I'm sitting on top of the world
The lonesome days, they have gone by
Why should I beg you? You said goodbye
But now she's gone, and I don't worry
Oh cause I'm sitting on top of the world
Verse:
| I | I-IV | IV | I |
| I | V | I-V | I |
—Doc Watson's version
Was in the spring, One sunny day
My sweetheart left me, Lord, she went away
And now she's gone, And I dont' worry
Lord, I'm sitting On top of the world
She called me up From down in El Paso
She said "Come back, daddy Ooh, I need you so"
And now she's gone And I dont' worry
Lord, I'm sitting On top of the world
If you don't like my peaches Don't you shake my tree
'n Get out of my orchard Let my peaches be
And now she's gone And I dont' worry
Lord, I'm sitting On top of the world
And don't you come here runnin' Holding out your hand
I'm gonna get me a woman Like you got your man
And now she's gone And I dont' worry
Lord, I'm sitting On top of the world
't Was in the spring One sunny day
My sweetheart left me Lord, she went away
And now she's gone And I dont' worry
Lord, I'm sitting On top of the world
Verse:
| I | I | IV | I |
| I | V | I-V | I |
—Bill Monroe's version
It was in the spring one sunny day
My good gal left me Lord she went away
And now she's gone but I don't worry
'Cause I'm sitting on top of the world
She called me up from down in El Paso
Said come back, daddy, Lord I need you so
And now she's gone but I don't worry
'Cause I'm sitting on top of the world
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust
Show me a woman a man can trust
And now she's gone but I don't worry
'Cause I'm sitting on top of the world
Mississippi River, long, deep and wide
The woman I'm loving is on the other side
And now she's gone but I don't worry
'Cause I'm sitting on top of the world
You don't like my peaches, don't you shake my tree
Get out of my orchard, let my peaches be
And now she's gone but I don't worry
'Cause I'm sitting on top of the world
Don't you come here running, holding out your hand
I'll get me a woman like you got your man
And now she's gone but I don't worry
'Cause I'm sitting on top of the world
Verse:
| I | I | IV | I |
| I | I | I-V | I |
—Traditional
Garcia/Grisman Version
Peaches in the summer time, Apples in the fall
If I can't have the girl I love, I don't want none at all
Chorus:
Shady Grove, my little love, Shady Grove, I know
Shady Grove, my little love, I'm bound for Shady Grove
I wish I had a banjo string, Made of golden twine
Every tune I'd play on it, I wish that girl were mine
I wish I had a needle and thread, As fine as I could sew
I'd sew that pretty gal to my side, And down the road I'd go
Some come here to fiddle and dance, Some come here to tarry
Some come here to fiddle and dance, I come here to marry
Every night when I go home, My wife, I try to please her
The more I try, the worse she gets, Damned if I don't leave her
Chorus and Verse (minor):
| Im | VII | Im | Im |
| III | VII | Im – VII | Im |
Doc Watson Version:
Chorus:
Shady Grove, my little love, Shady Grove I say
Shady Grove, my little love, I'm a bound to go away
Cheeks as red a a blooming rose, And eyes are the prettiest brown
She's the darling of my heart, Sweetest little girl in town
I wish I had a big fine horse, And corn to feed him on
And Shady Grove to stay at home, And feed him while I'm gone
Went to see my Shady Grove, She was standing in the door
Her shoes and stockins in her hand, And her little bare feet on the floor
When I was a little boy, I wanted a Barlow knife
And now I want little Shady Grove, To say she'll be my wife
A kiss from pretty little Shady Grove, Is sweet as brandy wine,
And there ain't no girl in this whole world, That's prettier than mine
Bill Monroe Version:
Coffee grows on white oak trees, The river flows with brandy
The rocks on the hill all go where they go, And the girls love 'lasses candy
Chorus:
Shady Grove, my little miss, Shady Grove my darlin'
Shady Grove, my little miss, I'm goin' back to Harlan
Oh I guess you think my pretty little miss, I can't live without you
I'll let you know before I go, If I hear a little about you.
Every time I go that road, It's always dark and cloudy
Every time I see that girl, I always tell her howdy
Chorus and Verse:
| I | I | I | I |
| I | I | V | I |
—Riley Puckett (mostly)
I come here to tell you people I'm ragged but right
I'm a thief and a gambler I get drunk every night
Get a porterhouse steak three times a day for my board
That's more than any loafer in this town can afford
Got a big electric fan to keep me cool while I sleep
A little baby girl plays around at my feet
I'm a ramblin' gambler and I'm drunk every night
I tell you boys, I'm ragged but right.
Bridge:
I go everywhere, I don't pay no fare
I can ride a freight train just anywhere
If I win or lose I don't get the blues
It's gamblin' and roamin' for me.
I hopped on a freight train in North Caroline
Rode down to Atlanta and bought me some shine
Went into a card game with 39 cents
And came out with enough for another month's rent.
I got an ol' lazy hound dog who brings me my shoes.
He sleeps at my feet and we drink the same booze
Oh he's a tramp and a rounder, he leads a dirty life
I tell you people we're ragged but right.
Verse:
| I | V | V | I I7 |
| IV IV#º | I VI | II | V |
| I | V | V | I I7 |
| IV IV#º | I VI | II V | I |
Bridge:
| I | I | I | II V |
| I | IV | I V | I |
—The Greenbriar Boys' version
Well I just come here to tell you people I'm ragged but right
A thief and a gambler and I'm drunk every night
It's three porterhouse steaks each night and day for my board
More'n any flatfoot in your town can afford
Well it's a big electric fan to keep me cool while I sleep
A pretty little woman just to tickle my feet
I'm a rambler a gambler and I'm lit up every night
I'm a rootin' tootin' dope fiend, but right.
Bridge:
Oh, I go everywhere, I don't pay no fare
I can ride a freight train most everywhere
If I win or lose oh, I don't get the blues,
Oh a ramblin' joker that's me.
I got an ol' lazy hound dog who brings me my shoes.
He sleeps at my feet and we drink the same booze
Oh he's a rambling gambler, he gets drunk every night.
I tell you people we're ragged but right.
My house is bought with pawnshop tickets, red, white and blue
My clothes are made from zebra skins right out of the zoo
I got a mess of mash right in the back, I made it myself
And the hearts of all my girlfriends lyin' right there on the shelf
Well now I've sung my song, and I've given you a taste,
I'd like to linger longer but I got to make haste,
I'm always wheelin' and dealin' with plenty of feelin' and high as a kite,
I tell you folks I'm ragged but right.
I hopped on a freight train in North Caroline.
Rode down to Atlanta and bought me some shine.
Went into a card game with 39 cents,
And came out with enough for another month's rent.
Well you may think I'm bragging but don't get me wrong
I can't run for office while I'm singing this song
I'm a thief and a gambler and I'm drunk every night
I tell you boys I'm ragged but right.
'Cause I'm a ramblin' man, a gamblin' man, and Lord, am I tight!
I just called to tell you that I'm ragged but right.
(Feast Here Tonight)
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
Chorus:
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
Chorus:
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
Chorus:
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 |
—Vernon Dalhart, 1925
Chorus:
Oh meet me tonight, love oh meet me
Meet me out in the moonlight alone
For I have a sad story to tell you
Must be told in that moonlight alone.
Now if I had the wings of an angel
Over these prison bars I would fly
And I'd fly to the arms of my darling
And there I'd be willing to die
If I had a great ship out on the ocean
All mounted with silver and with gold
And before would see my darling suffer
That ship would be anchored and sold
Oh I wish I had someone to love me
Yes someone to call me their own
Oh I wish I had someone to sleep with
Cause I'm tired of sleeping all alone
Verse and Chorus:
| I | IV | V | I |
| I | IV | V | I |
—Bill Monroe
I'll never love no one else but my darlin'
Even though we both had to part
I'll never love no one else but my darlin'
For wherever she goes she'll always have my heart.
Chorus:
As most people say absence makes the heart grow cold
But the kind of love we had each other's heart we'll hold
I'll never love no one else but my darlin'
As we travel down two different lonesome roads
I'll never let no one take your place my darlin'
For you know you meant the world to me
I'll never let no one take your place my darlin'
For your love won't let my heart be free.
Verse:
| I | I | I | V |
| I | I | I – V | I |
Chorus:
| IV | I | IV | I-V |
| I | I | I – V | I |
I've been in this prison twenty years or more
I shot my woman with a .44
I'll be right here till my dyin' day
I got 99 years and one dark day
Well the food is bad and the beds are hard
I spend all day breakin' rocks in the yard
Well there ain't no change, gonna stay that way
I got 99 years and one dark day
I never learned to read, I never learned to write
My whole life's been one big fight
I never heard about the righteous way
I got 99 years and one dark day
There ain't no singer that can sing a song
(to) Convince the warden that I ain't wrong
His mind's made up, gonna stay that way
I got 99 years and one dark day
Verse:
| I | I | V | V |
| V | V | I | I |
| I | I | IV | IV |
| I | V | I | I |
—Jim McGuinn
Woke up this morning with light in my eyes.
And then realized it was still dark outside
It was a light coming down from the sky
I don't know who or why
Must be those strangers that come every night
Those saucer shaped lights put people uptight
Leave blue—green footprints that glow in the dark
I hope they get home all right
Chorus:
Hey, Mr. Spaceman won't you please take me along
I won't do anything wrong
Hey, Mr. Spaceman won't you please take me along for a ride
Woke up this morning, I was feeling quite weird
Had flies in my beard, my toothpaste was smeared
Over my window, they'd written my name
Said, so long, we'll see you again
Verse:
| |: I | II | V | I :| |
Chorus:
| V | IV | IIm | I |
| V | IV | V | I |
—Arthur Smith version, 1936
Chorus:
There's more pretty girls than one
There's more pretty girls than one
Now don't be blue, I'll tell you true
There's more pretty girls than one.
Well, I am a rambling man
I done roam this world around
I've always been a rounder boys
Since my girl turned me down.
The reason that I ramble
I'll tell you if I can
The only girl I ever loved
Left me for another man.
Now listen all you rounders
Let me tell you what you'd do
Don't fall in love with a pretty little girl
Unless you know she's true.
3/4
Verse and Chorus:
| I | I | IV | I |
| IV | I | I-V | I |
—origninal Leonard & John D. Rutherford, 1929 version
Up and down that lonesome road,
Hang down your head and cry,
Thinking about those pretty girls,
And I wish I'll never die.
Chorus:
There's more pretty girls than one,
There's more pretty girls than one;
Everywhere I ramble around,
There's more pretty girls than one.
There's fish that's never been caught
Pretty shoes that's never been bought
Everywhere I ramble around,
There's more pretty girls than one.
My mama told me one day,
She gave me good advice,
She told me to quit my ramblin' 'round,
And marry me a lovin' wife.