1. |
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If you don’t want to get in trouble
If you don’t want to get in trouble
If you don’t want to get in trouble
You better let that liar alone.
Well let me tell you people what a liar will do
He’s always comin with somethin new
Steal your heart with false pretense
Make out like he’s your bosom friend.
When a liar takes a notion to bend the truth
Lay around his neighbors to get the news
Nearly every day when you look out
You can see that liar comin to your house.
He’ll tell you such a lie to surprise your mind
Mix a little truth for to make it shine
When he finds out you believe what he says
Then that liar’s gonna have his way.
When everything is in perfect peace
Here comes that liar with his deceit
When he gets his business fixed just right
Then that liar’s gonna cause a fight.
Well he makes out like he loves you so well
Everything he hears he must come and tell
Let me tell you sister if you only knew
What a certain somebody said about you
He studies up a lie, tell it so smooth
That you think absolutely that it must be true
He’ll urge you out to trace the tale
If you don’t mind you’ll be put in jail
A hypocrite, a liar both kicks up a fuss
They’re both very bad but a liar’s the worst.
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2. |
Payday At the Mill
02:23
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I got a swing in my walk, I got a song in my talk
I’m a weekday workin’ woman, weekend queen
Time clock lady with a lazy dream,
I ain’t got no fancy furs diamond rings or silks,
But I’m just right for Saturday night
It’s payday at the mill.
8 hours sewin up collars and sleeves
The pay’s too little and I gotta live cheap
So I stitch and I sew, I sew and I stitch
And all I get’s tired while the boss gets rich
But look out now I’m countin’ the hours, til I break out of this old jail
I’m just right for Saturday night
It’s payday at the mill.
Hard to be a working woman in a boss man’s world
If I slow down they’ll find another girl
But Saturday’s a-comin’ and the only time I’ll keep, is to the rhythm and the beat
Fancy duds, dancing shoes
Good times where you been hid
I’m just right for Saturday night
It’s payday at the mill.
Now there’s some weary mornings at quarter to 6
When I wish I had a man to bring a pay check in
But you can’t have it all and you can't disagree that I come when I want, go when I please
So backstep you good old boys, I’m kicking up my heels
I’m just right for Saturday night
It’s payday at the mill.
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3. |
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Tu m’as pris pour voyager, pour voyager dans le gran bois.
Pour voyager dans le gran bois, pour combattre la misere
et pleurer de la créve de faim.
J‚ai passe devant la porte, la porte de ton papa.
Il etait assis sous un arbre, apres charcouter la misere,
et pleurer de la créve de faim.
J‚ai passe devant la porte, la porte de ta maman.
Elle etait assis sur la gallerie, apres radouter la misere,
et pleurer de la créve de faim.
J‚ai passe devant la porte, devant la porte de ta maison.
Moi j‚etais dans mon buggy ,
Apres, crier la misere
et pleurer avec mon grand top.
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4. |
Bowling Green
02:34
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Wish I was in Bowling Green settin’ in my chair
One arm around my whiskey keg
The other round my dear
Other round my dear, oh Bowling Green
Oh, good old Bowling Green.
If I was a bumblebee sailing thru the air
Take my true love by my side
Touch him if you dare
Touch him if you dare, oh Bowling Green
Oh, good old Bowling Green.
If you see that gal of mine tell him once for me
If he loves another man
I'll set him free
I'll set him free, oh Bowling Green
Oh, good old Bowling Green.
Sailing thru this whole wide world, sailing thru alone
Sailing thru this whole wide world
Aint got no home,
Aint got no home, oh Bowling Green
Oh, good old Bowling Green.
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5. |
La Fille de Quatorze Ans
02:27
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C’est une fille de quatorze ans
Voila grand Dieu, c’est une belle brune
Un jour elle a dit a son papa
Papa je veux me marier
Taise-toi fille jeune, t’as pas encore,
Encore quinze ans
Elle avait pris q’un seul ‘tit frere
Pour la reconsoler de nuit et jour’
Reconsole-toi ma cher soeur,
Papa te mettra dans un couvent
Dans un couvent des orphelins,
Et ou on prie a Dieu mais bien souvent
Son beau gallant, il est parti en guerre
Il s’est battu quatre ans de temps
Quand il est revenu de sa revolt,
Droit au logis de chez sa pere
Bonsoir, bonsoir mes beaux yeaux noirs
Je vouvrais les revoir encore une fois
Il a repondu, “La belle a toi,
Elle est plus la pour la revoir encore
Oh elle est mort et enterre
Trois jours de temps
Qui est pas bien longtemps
Je me ferai faire un beau crepe noir,
Et dessus-moi je la porterai
Bonsoir, bonsoir mes beaux yeux noirs,
Tu es dans ta tombe
Je t’aime toujours.
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6. |
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Jolie Blon, regardez donc quoi t’as fait
Tu m’as quitte pour t’en aller
Pour t’en aller chère, avec un autre que moi
Mais quel espoir et quel avenir mais moi je vais avoir
Jolie blon, mourir c’est ire pas de rien
C’est que de reste dans la terre aussi longtemps
Je voir pas quoi faire donc
Si tu t’reviens pas bebe
Va venir avec mois dans la Louisiane
Jolie blonde, tu m'as laissé moi tout seul
Pour t'en aller chez ta famille
Si t'aurais pas ecouté tous les conseils de les autres
Tu serais ici avec moi aujourd'hui
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7. |
Safety's Sake
03:06
|
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O my best friend called me the other day
She said you know I’ve got a man I want to give away
He’s a charming boy if you have nothing at stake
Won’t you take him please just for safety’s sake.
I’m not the kind to fool around
With any old charmin’ boy in this town
I’m tellin you now I don’t want no rake
I will check him out just for safety’s sake
O he came by about a quarter to 9
And I surely must say he was lookin fine
Had a mouth like a rose, eyes deep as a lake
O I kept my distance for safety’s sake
We sat for an evening 2 cats in a cage
In opposite corners our senses engaged
I told myself this is a chance you must take
And he stayed all night just for safety’s sake
My god what a night
Til the dawn’s early light
The touch of his hand made me quiver and quake
O the hell I tell you with safety’s sake.
Half of the men I had occasion to see
They wanted of me what I just couldn’t be
But my mama once told me it’s cheatin to fake
O you’re cheatin yourself just for safety’s sake’
You know I love whiskey I’m crazy for gin
But the way that you love me I know it’s a sin
The sound of your laughter would make my heart ache
Oh the hell I tell you with safety’s sake
So ladies here is advice for free
You’d do yourself well just to listen to me
A lot of these people are out on the take
And you got to be careful for safety’s sake
But if your best friend is tried and true
I know she won’t send over no bummers to you
You just never know what love you might make
If you let down your guard for safety’s sake
Well you might lose your mind
Your heart it may break
But you can’t live your life just for safety’s sake.
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8. |
That's the Way Love Goes
02:40
|
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I’ve been throwing old horseshoes
Over my left shoulder
I’ve spent most all my life
Searching for that 4-leaf clover
Yet you run with me
Chasin’ my rainbows
Honey I love you too,
That’s the way love goes.
Cho:
That’s the way love goes babe
That’s the music, ah babe
For the whole wide world to sing
It never gets old--it only grows.
Losin’ makes me sorry
You say don’t you worry
Honey I love you too
That’s the way love goes.
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9. |
Papa's On the Housetop
02:41
|
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Mama made papa be quiet as a mouse
Papa climbed up on top of the house
Made a lot of whoopee, made lot of noise
Stood up and cheered with the rest of the boys
Now baby’s in the cradle, brother’s gone to town
Sister’s in the parlor flying up and down
Mama’s in the kitchen messing all around
Papa’s on the housetop and won’t come down
Blues they come, blues they come
Nobody knows where the blues come from
Blues they go, blues they go
And everybody’s happy when the old blues go.
Papa saw a chicken out in the yard
Picked up a rock and hit him hard’
Hit him hard, killed him dead
Now the chicken’s in the gravy and the gravy’s on the bread.
Hush you little baby don’t you cry
Blues are gonna leave you by and by
Papa come in as sure as you’re born
Put the baby in the cradle, tossed the blues outdoors.
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10. |
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Voir ma fille quoi c’est mal Je vas faire
pour te donner de l’argent pour toi garder
Cher ‘tite blond
Tu joue aux cartes, et tu bois whiskey
Tu fume des cigarettes, tu devrais pas
Ca fait pas rien
Quand je t’ai demander, pour toi tu quittes tout ca
Tu m’as repondu, tu preferais me quitter moi
Mais ca c’est dur
J’ai fait mon idee, en faisant mon paquet
Que je t’aurais quitter, pour m’en aller
C’est pour toujours.
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11. |
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I came to the place where the lone pilgrim lay
And pensively stood by his tomb
When in a low whisper I heard something say
How sweetly I sleep here alone.
The tempest may howl & the loud thunder roar
And gathering storms may arise
But calm is my feeling, at rest is my soul
The tears are all wiped from my eyes.
The cause of my master compelled me from home
No kindred or relatives nigh
I met the contagion & sank to the tomb
My soul flew to mansions on high.
Go tell my companion & children so dear
To weep not for me now I’m gone.
The same hand that led me thru scenes most severe
Has kindly assisted me home.
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12. |
Sky Over Michigan
03:40
|
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I was raised in the country, a dirt farmers child
Just a stop on the road to a dirt farmer’s wife
It was a world of never-ending hard work, til at night the tv
Changed my world to pretty ladies, easy riches, & dreams--
Still, it was hard to leave warm hearts & lovin’ behind
And mama & papa tried to smile as they cried
But the tv ladies all promise & guile
They beckoned to me & they smiled as they lied--
Cho:Sky over Michigan take me back home again
My soul is weary of my discontent
Let me rest my eyes, lift my spirit on high
Wipe the trouble from my mind you Michigan sky.
I traded quiet country evenings for bright city sounds
Hard work & worry for hard work & doubt
And this dirty old factory job in Detroit town is a far cry
From a glass slipper & a satin ball gown.
If wishes were dollars the tv ladies fine
Would work every day at my job on the line
And I’d catch one of those evening clouds & I’d just lay back & ride
& let the wind blow me home thru a Michigan sky. . .
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13. |
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Glory at the meetinghouse, glory in the fields
Glory to the birds, the little fishes and the eels
Glory to the sunshine, glory to the rain
Glory to the fiddler when he plays the tune again.
Glory to the old folks, glory to the young
Glory to the sinners who are having all the fun
Glory to the sunshine, glory to the rain
Glory to the fiddler when she plays the tune again.
Glory to the flowers, glory to the trees
Glory to the mountains and the rivers and the sea
Glory to the sunshine, glory to the rain
Glory to the fiddler when she plays the tune atain.
Glory at the meetinghouse, glory in the fields
Glory to the birds, the little fishes and the eels
Glory to the sunshine, glory to the rain
Glory to the fiddlers when they play the tune again.
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14. |
Going Across the Sea
02:22
|
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Goin across the sea,
Goin across the line
Goin across the ocean love
To see that boy of mine.
Cho:
Won’t you come and go
Come my love and go
Leave this world of sorrow
And troubles here below.
I wish I had a nickel
Wish I had a dime
Wish I had a pretty little boy
To kiss and call him mine.
Remember what my mama told me
It has come to pass
Drinkin’ and a gamblin’
Will be my ruin at last.
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15. |
Sad Affairs
04:07
|
|||
You didn’t give me much warning
When you told her me wanted to leave me
That old truth that I counted on, together forever
Sure did deceive me
And now I’m lonesome and blue
And wonder what you’re doin
I looks for you in places, faces remind me of you
But a thought grows on my mind—
CHO: These are sad affairs, such sad affairs
But the saddest affair
Is that most likely
Soon if not sooner
I won’t even care.
I was so looking forward
To the kids bein’ grown, to my time, oh my time
Hold hands cross the table, candles at bedtime
Smiles in the morning
And now I reach out at night
Trace your body with my mind
I still feel your touch—hush baby don’t you cry
Cause that thought stays on my mind.
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16. |
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17. |
What's the News?
01:35
|
|||
When you meet one on the way
What’s the news, what’s the news
Pray what’s the order of the day
What’s the news, what’s the news
I’ve got good news today
Music helps you find the way
That’s what we’re here to say
That’s the news, that’s the news.
When you meet one on the way
What’s the news, what’s the news
You have always something to say
What’s the news, what’s the news
Since my soul learned how to sing
I feel joy in everything
That’s the message we’re here to bring
That’s the news, that’s the news.
When you meet one on the way
What’s the news, what’s the news
Pray what’s the order of the day
What’s the news, what’s the news
I’ve got good news to tell
Music helps to keep you well
Soothes the soul and makes you whole
That’s the news, that’s the news.
When you meet one on the way
What’s the news, what’s the news
You have always something to say
What’s the news, what’s the news
We’ll tell you with no shame
In song we will proclaim
Music helps to spread the flame
That’s the news, that’s the news.
That’s the news, oh that’s the news
That’s the news, oh that’s the news
Music helps to spread the flame
That’s the news, that’s the news
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18. |
Voices of Evening
02:17
|
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Voices of evening, voices of night
Hold me and calm me til mornings grey light
Til the chains that bind me fall to the ground
My spirit shall soar, and I will be found.
Voices of evening, voices of night
Blessings on those who have finished the fight
And praises for all who have felt of the sky
Remember this woman who cannot fly.
Voices of evening, voices of night
Whisper to me of a world of delight
Oh open these eyes that in death must be closed
And let me see peace and truth finally unfold.
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19. |
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20. |
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Grasshopper sittin’ on a sweet potato vine
Grasshopper sittin’ on a sweet potato vine
Grasshopper sittin’ on a sweet potato vine
Having a mighty fine time.
Kitty cat sittin’ in the sweet potato patch
Kitty cat sittin’ in the sweet potato patch
Kitty cat sittin’ in the sweet potato patch
About to make a mighty fine catch.
Grasshopper sittin’ on a sweet potato vine
Grasshopper sittin’ on a sweet potato vine
Grasshopper sittin’ on a sweet potato vine
June bug says will you be mine.
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21. |
Chicken in a Wok
01:32
|
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22. |
Things Are Coming My Way
02:00
|
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I got the left hind leg of a rabbit
Things are coming my way
All I got to do is just reach out and grab it
Things are coming my way
Oh me, oh my I feel happy all the time
I ain’t got nothing to worry my mind
Because things are coming my way.
I got the left hind leg of a rabbit,
Things are coming my way
All I got to do is just reach out and grab it
Things are coming my way
Oh me, how good I feel
I come calling in an automobile
I can eat chicken and I don’t have to steal
Because things are coming my way.
I got the left hind leg of a rabbit
Things are coming my way…
All I got to do is just reach out and grab it
Thingsn are coming my way
Oh me I feel so fine
If it starts raining I don’t pay no mind
‘ Like a pie in the oven or a fruit on the vine
You know things are coming my way.
My clothes are tailor made and my shoes are patent leather
And things are coming my way
All I got to do is just stitch myself together
And things are coming my way
Oh me, me oh my
I feel happy all the time
I ain’t got nothing to worry my mind
Because things are coming my way.
I got the left hind leg of a rabbit
Things are coming my way
All I got to do is just reach out and grab it
Things are coming my way
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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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