JIMMIE RODGERS
DOWN THE OLD ROAD - 1931-1932
(Rounder 1061)
1991
Produced by Ralph Peer
Jimmie Rodgers - vocals/ukelele
Wilber Ball, Bill Boyd, Weldon Burkes - guitar
Cliff Carlisle, Dick Bunyard - dobro
Fred Koone - bass
Red Young - mandolin
Ruth Ann Moore - piano
A.P. Carter - dialog
Sara Carter - vocal/dialog/guitar
Maybelle Carter - vocal/dialog/mandolin
Louisville Jug Band:
Clifford Hayes - violin
Cal Smith, Fred Smith - guitar
Earl McDonald - jug
George Allen - clarinet
Recorded:
June 12-17/1931, Louisville (1-9)
Feb 2-5/1932, Dallas (10-16)
1.
LOOKING FOR A NEW MAMA
(Jimmie Rodgers)
« © '31 Peer International, BMI »
I want a brand new mama I think I'll ever tie
I want a brand new mama I think I'll ever tie
I want a woman who can cook and one who won't tell me dirty lies
[ yodel ]
I had a good woman as kind as she could be
I had a good mama she was kind as she could be
Her daddy was a brakeman out on that old IC
[ yodel - dobro ]
When I get a woman I want her all to myself
When I get my mama I want her all to myself
There'll be no outside loving she's got to keep it on the shelf
[ yodel ]
I'm looking for a woman who's got lots of pep
I'm looking for a mama one who's got lots of pep
Don't love nobody but me and won't forget to watch her step
[ yodel ]
I don't want no skinny woman I want one with plenty of me
Don't want no skinny mama I want one with plenty of me
I want a gal who would rock all day she won't even stop to eat
[ yodel ]
**********
2.
LOOKING FOR A NEW MAMA
(Jimmie Rodgers)
« © '31 Peer International, BMI »
I want a brand new mama I think I'll ever tie
I want a brand new mama I think I'll ever tie
I want a woman who can cook and won't tell me no dirty lies
[ yodel ]
I had a mighty good woman kind as she could be
I had a good mama she was kind as she could be
Her daddy was a brakeman out on that old IC
[ yodel - dobro ]
When I get a woman I want her all to myself
When I get a woman I want her all to myself
And there'll be no outside lovin' she's got to keep it on the shelf
[ yodel ]
I'm looking for a mama one who's got lots of pep
I'm looking for a woman one who's got lots of pep
And don't love nobody but me won't forget to watch her step
[ yodel ]
Don't want no skinny woman I want one with plenty of me
Don't want no skinny mama I want one with plenty of me
I want a gal who will rock all day she won't even stop to eat
[ yodel ]
**********
3.
WHEN THE CACTUS IS IN BLOOM
(Jimmie Rodgers)
« © '31 Peer International, BMI »
The cattle growl and the cayotes howl out on that great divide
I never done no wrong just singing a song as down the trail I ride
The rattlesnakes rattle at the prairie doze you hear that mournful tune
It's roundup time around west when the cactus is in bloom
Daylight comes and the cowherds yell they call out every man
I throw my saddle on my old cowhorse and drink my coffee from a can
The sun goes down on the cattle trail and I'm gazing at the moon
It's roundup time around west when the cactus is in bloom
[ yodel - dobro ]
We don't have cold weather it never snows or rains
That is where the sunshine's best out on the western plains
Some other boys have gone away but they'll be back soon
For it's roundup time around west when the cactus is in bloom
Daylight comes and the cowherds yell...
[ yodel ]
**********
4.
JIMMIE RODGERS VISITS THE CARTER FAMILY
(Jimmie Rodgers)
« © '31 Peer International, BMI »
[ conversation ]
**********
5.
CARTER FAMILY AND JIMMIE RODGERS IN TEXAS
(Jimmie Rodgers)
« © '31 Peer International, BMI »
I go down this lonesome trail just galloping along
I love to sing this yodeling cowboy song
[ yodel ]
[ conversation ]
**********
6.
GAMBLING POLKA DOT BLUES
(Jimmie Rodgers - Roy E. Hall)
« © '33 Peer International, BMI »
I thought I was a gambler broke every shark in town
Until I met a rounder who called all I put down
We laid the cards on the table he drew an Ace high hand
He bet his watch and I called it and lost my money like a man
I've got them polka dot blues oh them polka dot blues
Lost my hat and my coat and my straight lace shoes
I sold my watch and went back to lose the mean old gambling polka dot blues
The gambling polka dot blues
[ piano ]
My gal had plenty so I got Twenty then went back and sat down
I got a Four but I thought it was more as we dealt the cards around
I set the deck on the table and bet him all I could stand
I turned over a measly Four he had another Ace high hand
I've got them polka dot blues...
**********
7.
MY GOOD GAL'S GONE
(Jimmie Rodgers)
« © '31 Peer International, BMI »
My good gal's gone don't know why she went away
Yes my good gal's gone don't know why she went away
All I know is she's gone she didn't have a word to say
[ yodel ]
Blow it boys blow it hey hey hey I know it's true
[ clarinet ]
When she left me Lord I just sat down and cried
Oh when she left me Lord I just sat down and cried
I felt so blue and lonesome I thought I would be died
[ guitar ]
Pick it boys pick it lord Lord
I want a new mama a good gal that won't leave
Yes I want a new mama a good gal that won't leave
We'll do some high great lovin' just like ol' Adam and Eve
[ yodel ]
**********
8.
MY GOOD GAL'S GONE
(Jimmie Rodgers)
« © '31 Peer International, BMI »
My good gal's gone don't know why she went away
Yes my mama's gone I don't know why she went away
All I know is she's gone she didn't have a word to say
[ yodel ]
Play it boys play it blow it brother blow it
[ clarinet ]
When she left me oh I sat down and cried
When she left me I just sat down and cried
Lord I felt so blue I thought I might be died
[ yodel - guitar ]
I want a new mama a good gal that won't leave
Yes I want a new mama a good woman that won't leave
We'll do some high great lovin' just like ol' Adam and Eve
[ yodel ]
**********
9.
SOUTHERN CANNONBALL
(Jimmie Rodgers - Roy E. Hall)
« © '31 Peer International, BMI »
I had to quit rail rollin' and it didn't agree at all
There was always something wrong with the Southern Cannonball
I once loved a maiden she was fair and tall
Her pa he was the engineer on the Southern Cannonball
She promised she would wed me and we married in the month of June
And go to the magic island to spend our honeymoon
At last my dreams were shattered when she put me off of the stall
She said the whistle was broken on the Southern Cannonball
I loved this girl so dearly so I fixed the whistle back
The next thing she told me was the cabooses off of the track
But days and nights a labored to get this back off of a train
Always ready for my highball when the bell refused to ring
I fixed the bell in a jiffy and I called the preacher done
Who married us in the old boxcar for the train refused to run
We mede our home in a boomer shack I loved that southern sky
And we rocked the baby to sleep each night by a train whistle lullaby
**********
10.
ROLL ALONG KENTUCKY MOON
(Bill Halley)
« © '32 Southern Music, ASCAP »
Well you old moon of Kentucky there's somebody lonesome and blue
We're nothing it seems but mem'ries and dreams waiting to whisper to you
Day is done and here am I alone and you know why
Roll along roll along Kentucky moon
Shed a ray of silver light at the one I love tonight
Roll along roll along Kentucky moon
You were watching on high as we whispered goodbye
Twas our love dreams that ended too soon
But wherever you may be go bring her back to me
Roll along roll along Kentucky moon
[ yodel ]
At dawning fond hopes come to cheer me but twilight brings sorrows anew
And night finds me here the world's sad and drear sending this message to you
Day is done and here am I alone and you know why
Shed a ray of silver light at the one I love tonight
Roll along roll along Kentucky moon
You were watching on high...
[ yodel ]
**********
11.
WHAT'S IT
(Jimmie Rodgers)
« © '32 Peer International, BMI »
I've got a gal oh what a gal she weights two hundred tons
But she is just my kind of girl the best one I have found
Can she peps oh how she peps while each night in the park
I take my cornfat mama out and nest where it is dark
Oh she takes a little what's it where she goes
A little funny what's it always shows
But when she's got down the street her little what's it can't be beat
Cause she's not too fat she's not too thin
But where she sticks out she should cave in
She takes a little what's it where she goes
And her what's it never grows
But when she stretch right down the street her little what's it can't be beat
But she's my gal my dog-faced gal from Nashville Tennessee
[ piano - yodel ]
Cause she has feet and oh what feet she wears the number nine
Her feet are big and she is strong this dog-faced gal of mine
And when we walk we always go to places she likes best
I walk a while then she sits down to let her what's it rest
Oh she takes a little what's it where she goes...
[ yodel ]
**********
12.
MY TIME AIN'T LONG
(Jimmie Rodgers)
« © '32 Peer International, BMI »
I will go to the gallows at sunrise they say I am going to hang
Through the opening will fall my young body on the end of a rope I will swing
My pals have all died on the gallows and I am a waiting my time
If you wander astray in the struggle your life will be wasted like mine
I think of my heart broken mother her pleadings have all been in vain
She sufferd to rear me from childhood and now I'm her sorrow and shame
Young man don't sin to your sorrow don't shatter your dear mother's name
My pals have all gone on before me and I am the last left in pain
[ yodel ]
No more will the boys gather round me the pals that I loved have all gone
I will die when the new day is dawning to pay for the deeds I've done wrong
Alone I will die on the gallows alone I will cross the devide
But bury me there by my sweetheart to sleep through the years by her side
Dear mother it's soon I'll be going oh mother I'll go with the dawn
The brights stars are nothing but growing dear mother my time won't be long
Oh mother I know how you love me but mother I'm going to hang
My pals have all gone on before me I guess I have played my last game
[ yodel ]
**********
13.
HOBO'S MEDITATION
(Jimmie Rodgers)
« © '32 Peer International, BMI »
Tonight as I lay on a boxcar just waiting for a train to pass by
What will become of the hobo whenever that time comes to die
Has the Master up yonder in heaven got a place that we might call our home
Will we have to work for a living or can we continue to roam
[ yodel ]
Will there be any freight trains in heaven any boxcars in which we might hide
Will there be any tough cops and brakemen will they tell us we cannot ride
Will the hobo chum with the rich man will we always have money to spare
Will they have respect for a hobo in the land that lies hidden up there
Will there be any freight trains in heaven...
[ yodel ]
**********
14.
NINETY-NINE YEARS BLUES
(Jimmie Rodgers - Roy E. Hall)
« © '32 Peer International, BMI »
Lord this night I'm blue ain't no fancy dream
If you had two lives to live you'd know just what I mean
When the judge read the verdict it nearly knocked me down
Said boy you've got to sentence there all upside down
[ yodel ]
They carried me to the jailhouse I fell down cross my bed Lord Lord
I couldn't sleep for cyring I wished to God I was dead
Lord I wished I was dead
It ain't good days I've been here it's the days I've got to say
All the old friends I ever had done shook hands and gone away
[ yodel ]
My good gal told me the day I hit this can hey honey
You made your bed in sorrow now sleep on it like a man hey hey honey
Ninety-nine and ninety-nine makes one hundred and ninety-eight
That's more years pretty mama than you can figure up on your sleight
[ yodel ]
All these old bootleggers are nearly doin' time
And left me here grinding on the same old ninety-nine
I don't know what else is in the world to do
Cause I've lost everything except these ninety-nine blues
[ yodel ]
**********
15.
MISSISSIPPI MOON
(Jimmie Rodgers)
« © '32 Peer International, BMI »
I've heard all about the tune called the Alabama Moon
But the Mississippi moon is just as bright
And I can't forget the time when I asked you to be me
While the moon was shining on that happy night
And you promised me then that you'd wed with me in June
That's why I love the Mississippi moon
Oh the Mississippi moon is smiling down tonight
And love just seems to fill the air
How our hearts would be so light while we wander there tonight
Underneath the Mississippi moon
[ yodel ]
Many years have come and gone since I met you there alone
But tonight I'm thinking just as much of you
As I did when hand in hand we wandered in that magic land
Where we gave our pledge to love each other true
Come and go back with me to that fonding memory
Just to see again that Mississippi moon
Oh that Mississippi moon is smiling down tonight
And love just seems to fill the air
How our hearts would be so light while we wander there tonight
Underneath the Mississippi moon
[ yodel ]
**********
16.
DOWN THE OLD ROAD TO HOME
(Jimmie Rodgers - Carey D. Harvey)
« © '32 Peer International, BMI »
Dear I'm thinking of you while here all alone
I'm wishing and longing for you and for home
I'd give this whole world if I could only say
I'm climbing that hill headed that way
[ yodel ]
For I'm lonesome and blue for some place to roam
And I wish it could be down the old road to home
With a troubled mind and a heart full of pain
I've searched the whole world for fortune and fame
But I'm longing to be with you once again
So we could stroll down old mem'ry lane
[ yodel ]
For I'm lonesome and blue...
There's a little red house on top of the hill
Not very far from an old sawmill
And I'd give this world if I could only say
I'm climbing that old hill headed that way
[ yodel ]
For I'm lonesome and blue...
[ yodel ]
**********