1. |
The Cuckoo
04:26
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Gonna build me, log cabin
On a mountain so high
So I can see Willie
As he goes passing by.
Jack of diamonds, Jack of diamonds
I know you from old
You robbed my poor pockets
Of their silver and gold.
I’ve played cards in England
I’ve played cards in Spain
I'll bet you ten dollars
That I’ll beat you this game.
Oh the cuckoo, she’s a pretty bird
Don’t I wish that she was mine
She don’t never drink water
She would only drink wine.
Oh the cuckoo, she’s a pretty bird
How she wobbles as she flies
She don’t ever holler cuckoo
Till the fourth day July.
I often have wondered
What makes women love men
Then I look back and I wonder
What makes men love them.
My horses ain't hungry
They won't eat your hay
I'll ride on a little further
I'll feed 'em on the way.
Hmmmm.....
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2. |
Poor Ellen Smith
02:39
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Poor Ellen Smith and it’s how she was found
Shot thru the heart lying cold on the ground
Oh I hushed back my tears when the people all said
That Peter DeGraff had shot Ellen Smith dead.
While I would have loved her and made her my wife
Lord I loved her too dearly to take her sweet life
They grabbed their Winchesters, they hunted me down
But I was away in old Mt. Airy town.
They carried me to Winston my trial for to stand
To live and to die as the law may command
McArthur will hang me, he will if he can
God knows if they hang me I'll die an innocent man.
Poor Ellen Smith and it's how she was found
Shot thru the heart lying cold on the ground
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3. |
Alone and Forsaken
04:13
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We met in the springtime when blossoms unfold
The pastures were green & the meadows were gold
Our love was in flower as summer grew on
Her love like the leaves now has withered & gone.
Alone & forsaken by fate & by man
Oh lord if you hear me please hold to my hand
Oh please understand.
The roses have faded, there’s frost at my door
The birds in the morning don’t sing anymore
The grass in the valley is starting to die
And out in the darkness the whipporwill cries.
Oh where has she gone to, oh where can she be
She may have forsaken some other like me
She promised to honor and love me always
Each vow was a plaything that she threw away.
The darkness is falling the sky has turned gray
The hound in the distance is starting to bay
I wonder, I wonder what she’s thinking of
Forsaken, forgotten, without any love.
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4. |
Backstep Cindy
02:18
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Note: These are random calls, and you can make up your own.
Step back Cindy (Hollyding-response)
C'mon back Cindy
Go round Cindy
Ring round Cindy
Circle left
Circle left
In to the center
Back again.
Step back Cindy
Ring round Cindy
Do si do
Swing your corner
Swing your partner
I got drunk
Fell on the floor
Old corn liquor
Won't drink no more
Hands up four
Hands up four
Circle left
Back away Cindy
Now step back Cindy
Circle right
Allemande left
Then promenade.
Way down yonder
In the middle of the branch
Old cow pat
And the buzzards dance
Circle right
Swing your partner
Bring 'em home.
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5. |
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You said you would be my sweet honey child
You said you'd be true to the end.
But now you have turned you back on me
And left me without a friend.
CHO: Now listen baby don't set and moan
Cause I don't mean to cry when you're gone
I don't mean maybe you'll be alone
Cause I don't mean to cry when you're gone.
You left me one day and went far away
And said you would love who you please
If you ever come back to our little shack
You'll have to come back on your knees.
Wearied and lonesome, lonesome and blue
Longing for someone that's true
I wish I could give you these mean old blues
And you'd feel the way that I do.
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6. |
Love Was the Price
01:38
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Forgotten, forgotten
Can no longer see
My eyes have gone blind, my soul can’t feel
The love we once had like a bird fallen down
Once gliding and soaring, now dyin on the ground
Nothin to hold it, no nowhere to go
Just down to the marshes to lay and grow cold.
And it wasn’t in May,
No it wasn’t December
The place that love ended had no name and no number
One by one the doors closed and the walls grew higher
Torment the seller and destruction the buyer
Til neither knew how, til neither knew why
Just knew it was done and that love was the price.
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7. |
Sail Away Ladies
03:05
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Refrain: Sail away, sail away, sail away ladies, sail away.
Never you mind what the rich folks say
May the mighty bless you sail away.
Never you mind what your daddy say
Shake your little foot and fly away.
Never you mind if your mama say
Devil's gonna take you, sail away.
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8. |
Doney
03:35
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Fare you well my Doney
Fare you well I say
Fare you well my Doney
Come another day.
Lips just like a cherry
Cheeks just like a rose
How I love my Doney
God Almighty knows.
Wish I had a bandbox
To put my Doney in
I'd take her out and kiss her
Put her back again
You may ride your gray mare
I will ride the roan
When you see my Doney
Tell her I'm setting' at home.
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9. |
Mama's Gone
03:17
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As I went down the railroad track
When that train comes rolling by
Waved my hand at the girl that I love (my mama)
Hung down my head and I cried.
My mama she’s gone, my mama she’s gone
And she left me to weep and mourn
She left me to weep and mourn
Just to think about my poor mama’s gone.
I went down to the freight depot
When that train comes rolling by
Waved my hand at my mama that I love
Hung down my head and cried.
She’s gone, she’s gone, she’s gone, she’s gone
And no cryin it won’t bring her back
Waved my hand at my mama that I love
She’s gone further down the track.
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10. |
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Sleep on beloved, sleep and take your rest
Lay down your head upon the Saviour’s breast
I love you well but Jesus loves you best
Good night, good night, good night.
Lord I bid you good night, good night, good night.
Calm is your slumber as an infant’s sleep
But you shall wake no more to toil and weep
Thine is a perfect rest secure and deep
Good night. . .
Lord I bid you good night, good night, good night.
Until the shadows from this earth are cast
Until he gathers in his sheaves at last
Until the twilight gloom be overpast
Good night. . .
Lord I bid you good night, good night, good night.
Until made beautiful by love divine
Thou in the likeness of the Lord shall shine
And he shall bring that golden crown of thine
Good night. . .
Lord I bid you good night, good night, good night.
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11. |
Lonesome Hill
03:33
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12. |
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I wandered up the pathway to my dear old cabin home
I knew before I entered that the folks would all be gone
They had long ago departed, not a one could there be seen
Around that little old log cabin of my dreams.
CHO: And I wondered if we’d ever be together just once more
If there’d be a path to heaven like the one to the cabin door
When we walk-ed there together o’er the hills and by the stream
Around that little old log cabin of my dreams.
I called out from the doorway, just an echo answered me
And it made me feel so lonesome when the folks I could not see
And my steps were slow and weary as I wandered ‘bout the room
Around that little old log cabin of my dreams.
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13. |
Lone Prairie
04:10
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O bury me not on the lone prairie
These words came low & mournfully
From the pale faced lips of a youth who lay
On his dying bed at the close of day
He'd wasted time til upon his brow
The shadowed clouds were gathered now
He thought of his home and his friends so nigh
O the cowboys gathered to see him die.
I fancy I listen to the well known words
Of the free wild wind and the sound of birds
He thought of his home in the cottonwood bower
Of the songs he'd learned in his childhood hour.
I often thot I'd be laid when I died
In the old churchyard neath the green hillside
By the side of my father let my grave be
O bury me not on the lone prairie
O bury me not on the lone prairie
Where the wild coyotes may howl o’er me
Where the buffalo roam and the wind blows free
O bury me not on the lone prairie
I want to be laid where a mother's prayers
& sister's tears will mingle there
Where friends may come and weep o'er me
O bury me not on the lone prairie
It's a mother's tears which will be shed
On a lonely grave neath a prairie bed
It breaks my heart to think of her now
O she's curled these locks and she's kissed this brow.
And thru these locks the rattlesnake hiss
Is like the spread of a cold grave kiss
For the sake of her waiting for me
O bury me not on the lone prairie
Where the dewdrops fall and the butterflies nest
Where the wild blossoms bloom and the buried rest
Where the buffalo roam and the wind blows free
O bury me not on the lone prairie.
O bury me not—and his voice fell there
We heeded not his dying prayer
In a narrow grave just 6 by 3
O we buried our boy on the lone prairie.
Yes we buried him there on the lone prairie
Where the hoot owl cries so mournfully
Where the buzzards beat and the wind blows free
O'er the lonely grave on the lone prairie.
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14. |
Cattlettsburg
03:03
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15. |
Alabama Waltz
03:15
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I was sad and blue, downhearted too
It seemed like the whole world was lost
When I took a chance and we happened to dance
To the tune of the Alabama Waltz.
CHO: Waltz, waltz, the Alabama Waltz
There all my fears & troubles were lost
There in your arms with all of your charms
We danced to the Alabama Waltz.
Oh the light in your eyes, warmed this cold heart of mine
And opened the door to my soul
All the heartaches and lies faded into the night
As we danced to the Alabama Waltz.
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16. |
Moses and the Israelites
02:50
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When Moses & the Israelites
From Egypt they did flee
Behind them were proud Pharaoh’s hosts
In front of them the sea.
God raised the waters like a wall
And opened up the way
The God that lived in Moses time
Is just the same today.
When David & Goliath met
The wrong against the right
Goliath armed with human power
And David with God’s might.
And David with his slinging stone
The giant low did lay
The God that lived in David’s time
Is just the same today
When Daniel faithful to his God
Would not bow down to men
The enemies of God threw him
Into the lions den.
God locked the lion’s jaws we read
And robbed them of their prey
The God that lived in Daniel’s time
Is just the same today.
When Pentecost had fully come
And fire from heaven did fall
The holy ghost as a rushing wind
Baptised them one and all.
3 thousand were converted then
Made soldiers right away
The God that lived at Pentecost
Is just the same today.
I’d rather be the least of all
And be the Lord’s alone
As to wear a royal diadem
And sit upon the throne.
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17. |
Little Margaret
03:35
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Little Margaret sittin' in her high hall door
Combin' back her long yellow hair
She saw Sweet William and his newly made bride
Ridin up the road so near.
She threw down her ivory comb
Throwed back her long yellow hair
Said I’ll go down to bid him farewell
And never more go there.
It was all lately in the night
When they were fast asleep
Little Margaret appeared all dressed in white
Standin at their bed feet.
Well how do you like your pillow says she
And how do you like your sheet
And how do you like that pretty little lady
Lyin' in your arms asleep.
Well it’s fine do I like my pillow said he
And fine do I like my sheet
Much better do I like the pretty young lady
Standin' at my bed feet.
He called on his serving man to go
And saddle the dapple roan
He rode till he came to her father’s house
And he knocked at the door alone.
Is Little Margaret in her room?
Or is she in the hall?
No, Margaret’s in her cold black coffin
With her face turned to the wall.
Unfold, unfold those snow white robes
Be they ever so fine
And let me kiss those cold cold lips
For I know they'll never kiss mine.
Once he kissed her lily white hand
Twice he kissed her cheek
Three times he kissed her cold copy lips
And he fell in her arms asleep.
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18. |
The Red Hot Breakdown
03:36
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Way down yonder where I come from
in the morning, in the morning, so soon (2x)
Way down yonder where I come from
They feed them children on cold corn pone
Sitting on a bench but it ain’t no use
Feet a-sticking out like a chicken on a roost
In the morning, in the morning, so soon.
Some folks say that a preacher won’t steal
in the morning, in the morning, so soon (2x)
Some folks say that a preacher won’t steal
But I caught two in my watermelon field
Eat all of the watermelon, part of the rind
Picking and a-praying the whole dang time
In the morning, in the morning, so soon.
Two little boys had em a fight
in the morning, in the morning, so soon (2x)
Two little boys had ‘em a fight
Tried to get to heaven on the tail of a kite
Kite tail broke and they both fell
Instead of going to heaven they went to . . .
In the morning, in the morning, so soon.
Two old maids drinking from a jar
in the morning, in the morning so soon (2x)
Two old maids drinking from a jar
Tried to get to heaven in an electric car
They pushed and the shoved but they didn’t get there
The darned old thing wouldn’t go that far
In the morning, in the morning, so soon.
If you wanna get to heaven I’ll tell you what to do
in the morning, in the morning, so soon (2x)
If you wanna get to heaven I’ll tell you what to do
Grease your palm with mutton stew
Grab the devil right by the hand
Slide right over in the promised land
In the morning, in the morning, so soon.
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19. |
Dear Friends Farewell
03:25
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Dear friends farewell, I do you tell
Since you and I must part
I go away, and here you stay
But still we’re joined in heart.
Your love to me has been most free
Your conversation sweet
How can I bear to journey where
With you I cannot meet.
Yet do I find, my heart inclined
To do my work below
When Christ doth call, I trust I shall
Be ready then to go.
I leave you all both great and small
In Christ’s encircling arms
Who can you save from the cold grave
And shield you from all harm.
Millions of years over the spheres
Shall pass in sweet repose
While beauty bright unto my sight
Its sacred sweets disclose.
Oh may we rest and be complete
And long together dwell
And serve the Lord with one accord
And so dear friends, farewell.
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Alice Gerrard Durham, North Carolina
A singer and songwriter, Alice’s recordings with Hazel Dickens during the 1960s and ’70s influenced a generation of women musicians from Laurie Lewis to the Judds. Nominated for a Grammy in 2015, she was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Assoc. Hall of Fame in 2017. A documentary film about Alice, "You Gave Me a Song" premiered at the Full Frame Independent Film Festival in 2019. ... more
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