Wayfairing Stranger

I am a poor wayfaring stranger,
Wandering through this world of woe.
A world of trouble. A world of danger.
Nowhere to stay, nowhere to go.

Once I had a dear companion,
who always traveled by my side.
He could not follow over Jordan.
He could not follow, could not bide.

Now dark clouds, they gather around me.
Now my waking is a sleep.
The moon is black, the sky is dying,
while dimming stars still vigil keep.

I am a poor wayfaring stranger,
gone far away from all I know.
He could not follow over Jordan.
I could not stay. He could not go.

My heart’s a desert, the sun a shadow;
for all the blaze of brighter fire.
I have seen angels, always weeping,
while men on wings try to climb higher.

Once I had a dear companion,
who always traveled by my side.
He could not follow, over Jordan.
He could not follow, could not bide.

I’m only going over Jordan,
gone far away from all I know.
I’m only going over Jordan.
I’m only going over home.

Stagger Lee

Lot of people told you 'bout Stagger Lee.
I think it's time you heard from me.
He was mean and he was hard
You know he met the devil in a Voodo graveyard.

Devil sold him a banjo, sold him a hat
said "Even I can't get you if you wearin' that."
They're gonna call you Stagger Lee from now on too.
'Cause you're gonna run the Stags, baddest pimps in St. Lou.

Yea, he was bad. He'd do you wrong.
He shot his own wife for cookin' eggs too long.
What could you do ‘bout him, do ‘bout that?
Nothin, long as he wore that devil hat.

He had a woman so fine just lookin' made you holler.
Best gambler in town, they called me Stack o' Dollars.
They never lost a game in the underground mine
club run by that fool boy Billy de Lyons.

Stag started losin’ on a cold stormy night.
De Lyons and him, lawd, they had fight.
Billy shot a seven. Stack O'Dollars said she'd pass.
Stag said to him, "You done shot your last."

They each had 'em a 44.
There was Stack O' Dollars lookin' at the door.
Said, "What would we do if that Devil walked in here?”
there's de Lyons' tryin to act like he ain't scared.

Boom! Boom! Boom! With a 44.
De Lyons' dyin' on the floor.

Sherrif was there gamblin', Deputy was too.
Billy said to them, in the last breath he blew,
"Deputy? Sherriff? Why that be?
You arrest everybody but Stagger Lee."

They took their badges,laid them on the shelf.
Said, "If you want to get him, get him yourself.
Wait for him in hell, he ain't gonn a stay in jail.
Devil posted Stagger Lees' ever-lasting bail."

Billy had pretty widow. Once he was in the ground,
It won't too long before old Stag came around.

Took off his big black boots, took off his long black tie,
wouldn't take off his Stetson hat, he won't about to die.
That de Lyons woman, took his hat right off his head;
snuggled up with a gattlin'-gun and shot him dead.

He went down to the Devil, Devil he smiled.
Said "Boy you lost your hat, you gonna fry awhile.
Stuck to you like a shadow, mornin' noon and night,
gonna be de Lyons, moanin' "Took my life, can't take my wife."

Jack O' Diamonds

Jack o' Diamonds, Jack o' Diamonds
I know you of old.
You've robbed my poor pocket
of silver and gold.

Whiskey eyed,
whiskey like a rye.
If a tree don't fall on me,
I'll live till I die.

Oh Bobby, oh Bobby, for your sake understand.
I’m leaving you Bobby, strongest in the land.
Your Daddy don't like me, he says I'm too poor.
He says I'm unworthy to enter your door.

If the ocean was whiskey
and I was a duck,
I'd dive to the bottom
and never come up.

Now the ocean ain't whiskey,
and I ain't a duck,
but I play Jack o'Diamonds
and trust too much.

Jack o' Diamonds, Jack o' Diamonds,
I know you of old.
You've robbed my poor pocket
of silver and gold.

Whiskey eyed,
whiskey like a rye.
If Whiskey don't kill me
I'll live till I die.

I drink all I want to, my money is my own.
And them that don't like me can leave me alone.
Oh Bobby, Oh Bobby, for your sake understand,
I think of you, Bobby when in distant lands.

Jack o' Diamonds, Jack o' Diamonds,
I know you of old.
You've robbed my poor pocket
of silver and gold.

Whiskey eyed,
whiskey like a rye.
If Whiskey don't kill me,
I'll live till I die.

Willie the Weeper

Folks, here's a story 'bout Willie the Weeper.
When he works he's a chimney sweeper.
Mostly he he lays ‘round a table
talkin’ ‘bout what he’ll do soon as he's able.

All the Smokeys' dreamin'; Willie most of all.
Mostly dreamin' the worlds' at his beck and call.
Every day he takes at least a dozen pills.
Figures it cures all his aches and ills.

He's got it, got it bad.
Listen, while I tell you 'bout a dream he had:

Soon as he gets smokin’, he falls asleep.
One night he was sailin’ on the ocean deep.
He woke up in the river Nile
ridin' on a feathered crocodile.

Cleopatra was there with the Queen of Sheba.
They gave him everything he’d been a needin’.
Bought him an orchard full of diamond trees
and a whole lot of friends to keep him company.

He turned around, took another smoke.
Smoked it gone. Woke up broke.
Back to chimney sweepin' just like before.
Turns up bangin' at his womans’ door.

First he kissed her, but she made him pout,
when...bing, bang, bing...the smoke gave out.

Now thats' the story of Willie the Weeper.
When he works he's a chimney sweeper.
Some day a pill too many he'll take
and dreaming he’s dead he’ll forget to wake.

John Hardy

I'm on my hanging ground.
On my hanging ground.
I've travelled this wide world round,
now I guess I'm gonna hang around.

There's a girl glad to see me go,
a girl glad to see me go.
But another loves me so
she says she'll follow
but I don't know where I'll go.

Was my last dollar I played.
Pulled my gun when he pulled a straight.
Laid him in his grave.
Laid him in his cold, cold grave.

Guns they don't tell no lies.
No, guns they don't tell no lies.
I can't help but cry.
'Cause now I'm bound to die.
I'm on my hanging ground.

I almost got away.
Hopped on a westbound train
to where no one knew my name.
Sherrif got me anyway.

Now I'm on my hanging ground.
On my hanging ground.
Travelled this wide world round,
now I guess I'm gonna hang around.

John Henry

When John Henry was a little baby
no bigger than the palm of your hand,
His Mamma looked at John Henry and said,
Johnny be a steel drivin’ man;
lawd, lawd.
Johnny be a steel drivin man."

Peabody bought a steam hammer,
said, "A man ain't nothin but a man.
You’ll never beat this machine of mine.
Don’t need you or those hammers in your hands;
lawd, lawd.
Don’t need you or those hammers in your hands."

John Henry said, “Mr. Peabody,
a main ain't nothin’ but a man.
But before that steam hammer beat me down
I'll die with my hammer in my hand;
lawd, lawd,
I'll die with my hammer in my hand.”

John Henry drove steel 'round that mountain.
Shook so hard Peabody cried, "It's was cavin’ in."
“A man ain’t nothin’ but a man Peabody.
And that ain’t nothin’ but my hammer suckin’ wind,
lawd, lawd,
ain't nothin' but my hammer suckin' wind.”

John Henry hammered up that mountain,
called to his wife, who’d come to see,
“I'm up so high I can touch the sky
but it’s gonna be the death of me,
lawd, lawd,
it’s gonna be the death of me.”

Mr. Peabody came to measure,
couldn’t believe his eyes.
John Henry laid down 12 feet of cold hard track.
They tell me that steam hammer laid 5.
Lawd, lawd,
they tell me that steam hammer laid 5.

John Henry died that evening.
left his pretty Polly Ann.
Buried him where he hears trains go rumblin’ by.
They say yonder lies a steel drivin’ man;
lawd, lawd,
yonder lies a steel drivin’ man.

Streets of Laredo

As I walked out in the Streets of Laredo,
cold was the morning and dark was the day.
In a hospital window, I saw a young cowboy
It was early one mornin', mornin' month of May.

He called from the window, "I used to go riding.
I never lost a hand that I played.
I still can’t quit drinkin’. Come sit down beside me.
I’ve no one to tell and dyin’ words to say."

His body was aching. His heart was breaking.
All for a girl, his love but not true.
He was wrapped up, wrapped up in old linen;
wrapped up white linen, cold as the dew.

"First I left for Texas. I worked for a rancher."
I moved far away from all I knew.
Then I started drinkin’. I started gamblin'.
Now here I am with no one but you.

"Write her a letter, tell her I love her
tell her that now she's no need to be true
remind her she said she'd tell no other
say my poor darling, we both died for you.

"Had she but told me before he found me.
Had she but told me about it in time.
I might have got pills. I might have got mercury.
Instead I'm shot down in the height of my prime.

"Swing your rope slowly. Rattle your spurs lowly.
Give a wild call as you follow me along.
Have six gamblers carry my coffin.
Have six dance-hall girls sing me a song."

We beat the drum slowly, played the fife lowly,
sounded a dead march, carried him in a line.
Threw bunches of roses all over his coffin;
he was a young cowboy, cut down in his prime.

Over his headstone these words were written:
"All you cowboys take warnin' from me.
Stay away from women, drinkin’ and gamblin',
mostly from women, one's been the death of me."

St. James Infirmary

I went down to old Joe's barroom,
on the corner by the square.
Taps were flowing like fountains
and the usual crowd was there.

I stood by old Joe Kennedy,
my eyes were bloodshot red;
tried to hide from the crowd around me,
they asked, “What’s wrong?” I said:

I went down to St. James Infirmary,
saw my baby there.
Stretched out on a long white table,
so sweet, so cold, so fair.

Went up to see the doctor,
"Don’t look good," he said;
sent me back to see my baby,
saw him but saw him dead.

He's roamin', romain' round heaven;
or wherever he may be.
He's gonna roam the wide world over,
never gonna find me.

When I die, I want six crap shootin' pall bearers,
I want six men singin' me a song.
Put a red hot jazz band at the top of my head
and we'll raise hell as we go along.

Now that you've heard my story,
give me 19 shots of that booze.
And if anyone should ask you,
I've got the St. James Infirmary blues

House of the Rising Sun

There is a house in New Orleans.
They call the Rising Sun.
It's been the ruin of many a poor girl.
And me, O God, I'm one.

If I had listened to my mother,
I'd be home today.
But I was young and foolish,
let a rambler lead me astray.

That rambler, he's a drunk man,
drinks from town to town.
Only pleasure he gets out of life
is passin' a glass around.

The only thing a drunk man needs
is a suitcase and a trunk.
The only time he's satisfied
Lord is when he's drunk.

One foot is on the platform
and the other on the train.
I'm going back to New Orleans
to wear that ball and chain.

Going back to New Orleans,
my race is almost run.
Going back to spend my days
beneath that Rising Sun.

Go and tell my sister,
never do like I have done.
Or she'll end in that house in New Orleans
they call the Rising Sun.

Chain Gang Blues
re-arrangement of several songs by Ma Rainey

Went to bed last night, and boy I was asleep. (2x)
Woke up this mornin', the police was shakin' me.

It was early this morning that I had my trial. (2x)
Ninety days on the county road, judge didn't even smile.

Many days of sorrow, many nights of woe
and a ball and chain everywhere I go.
Chains on my feet, padlock on my hand,
it's all 'cause I stole some womans' man.

Ninety days ain't long if you can spend them as you choose. (2x)
But it's hell in a cell, got to have booze to go with these blues.

Many days of sorrow, many nights of woe
and a ball and chain everywhere I go.
Chains on my feet, padlock on my hand,
it's all 'cause I stole some womans' man.

Where Did You Sleep Last Night/In the Pines

“My girl, my girl, don't lie to me.
Where did you stay last night?”
“In the pines, in the pines where the sun never shines
And I shiverred when the cold wind blew.”

"My girl, my girl, don't lie to me.
Where did you stay last night?
You didn't come, where did you go?
You weren't home, why weren't you with me?"

"My husband was a railroad man.
Last night, about a mile from here,
they found his head in the engine wheel.
His body won’t ever be found.

"It was the longest train I ever saw
on the C & O line.
I ran to find him and then all
night wandered in the pines.

“My girl, my girl, where will you go?”
“I'm going where the cold wind blows.
to the pines, to the pines,
where the sun don't ever shine
I'll shiver the whole night through.

"In the pines, in the pines,
where the sun never shines
I'll shivver the whole night through."

Pretty Peggy of Fyvie-O
(Peggy-O)

As we marched in to Fyvie-O;
as we were quartered in Fyvie-O,
the Captain fell in love with a lady like a dove;
so pretty she was called pretty Peggy-O.

"Come trippin' down the stair, Pretty Peggy-O. (2x)
Come trippin' down the stair, combin' back your yellow hair.
Bid a long farewell to your Mother-O."

"You're the man that I adore, handsome William-O. (2x)
You're the man that I adore, but you are too poor.
I'm afraid my mother would be angry O."

"I can’t, I can’t be a soldiers' lady-O. (2x)
A lady can’t ride and follow by a soldiers' side.
I'll not take you down to my chamber-O."

"I'll drink no more of your wine sweet Willaim-O.
I'll drink no more from your glasses-O."
"Tomorrow is the day when I must ride away."
"So farewell to your pretty Fyvie Peggy-O."

"The Colonel he cried, march, boys, march on-O!"
"The Captain, he cried, tarry, tarry-O!
O tarry yet a while, just another day or so;
till I see if I can marry Pretty Peggy-O."

In the early morning, they marched off-O.
And O, but the Captain he was sorry-O.
The drums they did beat on the sunny banks of Gight,
but the band played Pretty Peggy of Fyvie-O.

Long before they came to Auchterlass,
they had their Captain to carry-O.
And long before they came into the streets of Aberdeen,
they had their Captain to bury-O.

Green grow the trees on pretty Ethanside.
Low lie the lowlands of Fyvie-O.
The Captain's name was Will and he died for a girl.
He died for Pretty Peggy of Fyvie-O.

Jack Monroe
(Jack a Roe)

There was a silk merchant, in London he did dwell.
Of his daughter Polly Oliver, the truth to you I’ll tell;
oh, the truth to you I’ll tell.

It was in her father's garden, 'neneath the willow tree,
Jack took her in his arms, and kiss'd her tenderly.
Oh, he kissed her tenderly.

Her father was close by he heard all that Jack did say.
He said to his daughter, "Ill send him far away.
"Off to war I’ll send your Jack Fraizer away."

"His body you may have, my heart you can't confine.
There's none but Jack Fraizer that can hold this heart of mine
Do what you will, you’ll never me confine."

Her father sent him off to war, across the raging sea.
"Where I'm sure he will no more keep you company!"
He sent him off to war, across the troubled sea.

She went to a tailor and dressed in men's array.
And soon convinced a sailor to carry her away.
Jack was on the ship that carried her away.

“Before you step onboard sir, your name I’d like to know.”
She smiled all over, “They call me Jack Monroe.
They call me Jack Monroe."

But he thought she’d lost her sailor, feared his face she’d see no more.
When they landed at San Flanders on the dismal sandy shore
On the dismal sandy shore.

It was the twenty-first of August, a battle begun.
And foremost in the battle they placed the farmer's son;
oh, they placed Jack the farmers’ son.

The drums did beat and rattle and the cannon balls did fly.
A ball from the enemy caused her darling down to lie.
Caused him to fall before the foe and lie.

Into the surgeon's cabin they carried him away.
It was there he saw his true love they say,
she rushed to his side and by his side did stay.

The drums still beat and rattle, the fife did sweetly play.
She marched to the enemy in vengeance and bravely fought away.
Oh she bravely fought away.

When the wars were over they sailed back again.
They went to her father's house and this is what she said.
Oh and this is what she said.

"I dressed as a soldier and in the wars I was brave.
I fought a hundred battles and a hundred towns did raid.
oh, more than a thousand did I raid.

After she’d stood there by the gate for awhile,
Her father said, "Bless you! My own and lovely child!
How I’ve missed you oh my own and lovely child."

Her parents they sent for he parson to come,
And marry the lovers who'd follow'd the drum;
Who had followed the rattle of the drum.

Johnny I Hardly Knew You

Chorus:

With your drums and guns and guns and drums, hurroo,hurroo
With your drums and guns and guns and drums, hurroo,hurroo
With your drums and guns and guns and drums,
The enemy nearly slew you
Oh my darling dear, You look so queer
Johnny I hardly knew you.

Where are your eyes that were so wild, hurroo, hurroo
Where are your eyes that were so wild, hurroo, hurroo
Where are your eyes that were so wild,
When my heart you so beguiled
Why did you run from me and the child
Oh Johnny, I hardly knew you.

Chorus

Where are your legs that used to run, hurroo, hurroo
Where are your legs that used to run, hurroo, hurroo
Where are your legs that used to run,
When you went for to carry a gun
Indeed your dancing days are done
Oh Johnny, I hardly knew you

Chorus

They're rolling out the guns again, hurroo, hurroo
They're rolling out the guns again, hurroo, hurroo
They're rolling out the guns again,
But they never will take our sons again
No they never will take our sons again
Johnny I'm swearing to you

Chorus

Jane Reynolds and James Harris
(House Carpenter)

The most beautiful of all in Plymouth town
was Jane Reynolds in her youth.
But that's not the only reason she was renowned.
And that is the very truth.

Among many men a seaman brave
to Jane Reynolds came.
A kind and handsome man he was
James Harris was his name.

To each other seceretly
they made a solemn vow.
Promised they would be
together forever and now.

James Harris, he was sent to sea.
He didn't want to go.
Forced to leave his love behind
whether they liked it or no.

He was gone some time when a carpenter
heard of beautiful Jane.
Just as James had done before
for her love he came.

When for a few days he had to go,
a ghost came whispering low
all night at the window of his wife
a frightening yet welcome sight.

"James Harris is my name," he said,
whom you once swore you loved so true.
And I have traveled for your sake
at least 7 years for you.

Forsake, forsake your carpenter,
him and your children 3.
I will forgive you everything
if you come away with me.

The ship where you will sail my love
is glorious to behold.
The sails are made of shimmering silk
And the mast of shining gold."

I could have married a kings daughter there
and she would have married me
but I have forsaken her and her crown.
All for the love of thee.

Off together away they went
far from the English shore.
Since that time, Jane Reynolds,
was never seen no more.

When the carpenter came home
tears fell from his eyes.
And in the open streets he ran
with heavy, doleful cries.

In this sad, distracted state
he hanged himself for woe
upon a tree near to the place.
The truth of all is so.

"What hills, what hills are those my love,
that are so bright and free?"
"Those are the hills of Heaven, my love
but they're not for you and me."

"What hills, what hills, are those, my love,
that are so dark and low?"
"Those are the hills of Hell, my love
where you and I must go."

"Farewell, farewell, my own true love.
Farewell, farewell," cried she,
"I have forsaken my house carpenter
Now I'll die at the bottom of the sea"

She had not sailed on sea three weeks.
I'm sure not sailed on four.
Till she threw herself into the murky sea
and her weeping was heard no more.

Her curse did follow this sea sailor's life.
Her curse did follow this sea sailor's life.
For the robbing of a house carpenter,
and stealing away his wife.

Once around spun our gallant ship.
Twice around spun she.
Three times spun around our gallant ship.
Til she sank to the bottom of the sea.

The Singing Bones
(The Wind and Rain)

Two sisters walked by a millers' stream.
O the wind and the rain.
The one behind pushed the other one in.
O the dreadful wind and rain.

She pushed the other then walked alone.
O the wind and the rain.
They both loved the millers' son.
O the dreadful wind and rain.

The miller's son was a fiddler fair,
O the wind and the rain.
He loved the one with the golden hair.
O the dreadful wind and rain.

Sometimes she sank, sometimes she swam.
O the wind and the rain.
He found her in his fathers' dam.
O the dreadful wind and rain.

She floated on down to the millers’ pond.
O the wind and the rain.
Stop the dam there swims a swan!
O the dreadful wind and rain.

The millers’ son ran down the hill.
O the wind and the rain.
Pulled her out of his mill wheel.
O the dreadful wind and rain

The millers' son was a fiddler fair.
O the wind and the rain.
He strung his bow with her golden hair.
O the dreadful wind and rain.

He made a little fiddle of her breastbone,
O the wind and the rain.
Whose sound would melt a heart of stone.
O the dreadful wind and rain.

The only tune that the fiddle would play
was, "O the wind and the rain."
The only tune that the fiddle would play,
was, "O the dreadful wind and rain."

The only tune it would play again,
was, "O the wind and the rain,
for your love she threw me in.
O the dreadful wind and rain."

Johnny has Gone for a Soldier

Siúil, siúil, siúil a ruin
Siúil go sochair agus siúil go ciuin
Siúil go doras agus ealaigh liom
Is go dte tu mo mhuirnin slan

Here I sit, alone on a hill.
Who can blame me? I cry my fill.
Ev'ry tear would turn a mill.
Johnny has gone for a soldier.

His hair was black and his eyes were blue.
His arms were strong and his words were true.
I wish in my heart that I were with you,
and a blessing walk with you, my love.

Shule, shule, shule agra.
Only death can cease my woe.
Since the man of my heart from me did go.
Go thee thu Mavourneeen slaun!

Said he'll be a captain bold with a brave, gallant crew
Said he'll be a captain bold with a spy-glass too
Said he'll come home and marry me, marry me
He'll come home and marry me.

With fife and drum he marched away.
He would not heed what I did say.
He'll not come back for many a day.
Johnny has gone for a soldier.

Shule, shule, shule agra.
Sure, ah sure, and he loves me.
When he comes back we'll married be.
Iss go jay too mavoorneen slahn.

I wish, I wish, I wish in vain.
Wish I was a maid again.
Then my parents would not complain.
Johnny has gone for a soldier.

The rose is red, the grass is green.
The days are past that Johnny I've seen.
And there is another where I have been.
Johnnny has gone for a soldier.

Siúil, siúil, siúil a ruin
Siúil go sochair agus siúil go ciuin
Siúil go doras agus ealaigh liom
Is go dte tu mo mhuirnin slan
Shule, shule, shule agra

Green Leaves

He sat down below a thorn,
fine flowers in the valley.
On an early April morn,
the green leaves they grow rarely.

He remembered her smile. Then he said,
fine flowers in the valley,
”You smile so. You’ll smile me dead.”
The green leaves they grow rarely.

”When you go through the valley,
I’ll be waiting for you there.
I will wait till there is no waiting.
The green leaves they grow rarely.”

They brought him back. She was gone,
fine flowers in the valley.
She could not stay long alone.
The green leaves they grow rarely.

When he walked through the valley,
he found her waiting for him there.
She waited until there was no waiting.
The green leaves they grow rarely.

She said, “I wanted you to be mine.”,
fine flowers in the valley;
”Only you, then you left me behind.”
The green leaves they grow rarely.

”I did not leave. I still can’t go”,
fine flowers in the valley.
“you were my light and you smile so.”
The green leaves they grow rarely.

One day he walked through the valley
and found her waiting for him there.
She had waited until there was no waiting.
The green leaves they grow rarely.