Jimmie Rodgers

I had a friend named Ramblin' Bob
Who used to steal gamble and rob
He thought he was the smartest guy in town
But I found out last Monday
That Bob got locked up Sunday
They've got him in the jailhouse way down town
He's in the jailhouse now he's in the jailhouse now
I told him once or twice quit playin' cards and shootin' dice
He's in the jailhouse now

Yodel...

He played a game called poker pinoccle with Dan Yoker
But shooting dice was his greatest game
Now he's downtown in jail nobody to go his bail
The judge done said that he refused a fine
He's in the jailhouse now he's in the jailhouse now
I told him once or twice quit playin' cards and shootin' dice
He's in the jailhouse now

I went out last Tuesday met a gal named Susie
Told her I was the swellest guy around
We started to spend my money
Then she started to call me honey
We took in every cabaret in town
We're in the jailhouse now
We're in the jailhouse now
I told the judge right to his face
We didn't like to see this place
We're in the jailhouse now

Yodel...

I'll pack my grip for a farewell trip
Kiss Susie Jane goodbye at the fountain
I'm going, said I, to the land of the sky
Away out on the mountain

Where the wild sheep grows and the buffalo lows
And the squirrels are so many you can't count them
Then I'll make love to some turtle dove
Way out on the mountain

When the north winds blow and we're gonna have snow
And the rain and the hail comes bouncing
I'll wrap myself in a grizzly bear coat
Away out on the mountain

Where the snakes are vile and the zebras' wild
And the beavers paddle on walking canes
Then I'll send my boots with a buffalo hide
Away out on the mountain

Where the whippoorwills sing me to sleep at night
And the eagle roosts on the rocks of spontan
I'll feast on the meat and the honey so sweet
Way out on the mountain

I woke up this morning
The blues all around my bed
I woke up this morning
The blue's all around my bed
I didn't have nobody
To hold my aching head

If you don't want me, woman
Give me your right hand
If you don't want me, woman
Give me your right hand
'Cause I can find me another mama
And I know you can find a man

I love you, Memphis
You know I love, love you so
Lord, I love you, Memphis
Tennessee, I love you so
And I'd rather be here
Than any other place I know

I've got my ticket
I'm sure gonna ride this train, hey, hey, hey
Lord, I've got my ticket
I'm sure gonna ride this train
I'm goin' some place
Where I won?t hear 'em call your name

I'm goin' to the river
Take me a rockin' chair, sing them blues, boy
I'm goin' to the river
And take me a rockin' chair
And if the blues don't leave me
I'll rock all the way from here

I don't want you, mama
And I know you don't want me, Lord, Lord, Lord
I don't want you, woman
And I know you don't want me
So I'm goin' to New Orleans
From there on across the sea

My heart is longing for you, love
I cared for you more then you knew
Though you have broken each promise
Yesterday's dreams are untrue


Alone, I'll be yearning tomorrow
When sunshine brings memories of you
My sunshine will turn into sorrow
As a dream of the love you once knew


Why should I always be lonesome
When sunny and blue are the skies
While shadows and loneliness linger
I'm dreaming with tears in my eyes


Why did you promise me sweetheart
Never to leave me alone
Yesterday's sunshine is faded
You're love wasn't true like my own


Alone, I'll be yearning tomorrow
When sunshine brings memories of you
My sunshine will turn into sorrow
As a dream of the love we once knew


Why should I always be lonesome
When sunny and blue are the skies
While shadows and loneliness linger
I'm dreaming with tears in my eyes

All around the water tank waitin' for a train
I'm thousand miles away from home sleepin' in the rain
I walked up to a brakeman just to give him a line of talk
He said if you've got money I'll see that you don't walk
I haven't got a nickel not a penny can I show
Get off get off you railroad bum he slammed the boxcar door

Well he put me off in Texas a state I dearly love
The wide open spaces all around me the moon and stars up above
Nobody seems to want me or lend me a helping hand
I'm on my way from Frisco goin' back to Dixie Land
My pocketbook is empty my heart is full of pain
I'm a thousand miles away from home waitin' for a train

The sweetest girl in the world
Is my blue-eyed Jane
We fell in love like turtledoves
While the moon was shining down
I asked her then, I asked her when
Wedding bells would ring
She said, "Oh, dear, it seems so queer
That this could happen here."

You are my little pal
And I never knew a sweeter gal
My little blue-eyed Jane
I love you so
And when the sun goes down
And the shadow's creeping over town
Just meet me in the lane
My blue-eyed Jane

Janie dear, listen here
I've come to say farewell
The world is drear without you, dear
But now I cannot linger here
I'm going away this very day
Oh please, come go with me
I'll be sad and blue wanting you
Longing all day through

My little blue-eyed Jane
You'll always be the same sweet thing
I know you'll never change
I love you so
And when the sun goes down
And the shadow's creeping over town
Then I'll come back again
My blue-eyed Jane

And when the sun goes down
And the shadow's creeping over town
Then I'll come back again
My blue-eyed Jane

When it's peach picking time in Georgia, apple picking time in Tennessee
Cotton picking time in Mississippi, everybody picks on me
When it's roundup time in Texas the cowboys make whoopee
Then down in old Alabama it's gal picking time to me

Yodel ay-hee o, olay-hee o, olay-hee.

There's the bluegrass down in Kentucky; Virginia's where they do the swing
Carolina, now I'm coming, to you to spend the spring
Arkansas, I hear you calling; I know I'll see you soon
There's where I'll do a little picking underneath the Ozark moon.

Yodel ay-hee o, olay-hee o, olay-hee.

Now when hard times overtake you, I hope they don't get me
For I've got a sweetie waiting, for me down in Tennessee
I know I'm going to see her, I hope it won't be long
There's where we'll pick a little cabin, and call it our mountain home

Yodel ay-hee o, dee yodel ay-hee o, dee yodel ay-hee.

When the pickaninnies pick the cotton, I'll pick a wedding ring
We'll go to town and pick a little gown, for the wedding in the spring
I hope the preacher knows his business; I know he can't fool me
When it's peach picking time in Georgia, it's gal picking time to me

Yodel ay-hee o, dee yodel ay-hee o, dee yodel ay-hee.

(Jimmie Rodgers)

I said T for Texas
T for Tennessee
Oh, yeah, I said T for Texas
T for Tennessee
Said, T for old Thelma
The gal who made a wreck out of me

Well, if you don't want me momma
You sure don't have to start
Ah, if you don't want me momma
You sure don't have to start
'Cause I can get more women
Than a passenger train car

Yeah, I said T for Texas
T for Tennessee
Whoa, T for Texas
T for Tennessee
I said, T for old Thelma
The gal who made a wreck out of me

I'm gonna buy me a pistol
Just as long as I am tall
I'm going to buy me a pistol
Just as long as I am tall
I'm gonna shoot down old mean Thelma
Just to watch her jump and fall

I said T for Texas
T for Tennessee
I said T for Texas
T for Tennessee
T for old Thelma
The gal who made a wreck out of me

Gonna buy me a shotgun
With a great long shiny barrel, oh yeah
I'm gonna buy me a shotgun
With a great long shiny barrel
Gonna shoot down that rounder
That stole away my girl

I'm going where the water
Tastes like cherry wine
Yeah, I'm going where the water
Tastes like cherry wine
'Cause the water down here in Georgia
Tastes like turpentine

I said T for Texas
T for Tennessee
Oh I said, T for Texas
T for Tennessee
I said T for old Thelma
The gal who made a wreck out of me
Oh yeah, women make a fool out of me

I'll pack my grip for a farewell trip
Kiss Susie Jane goodbye at the fountain
I'm going, said I, to the land of the sky
Away out on the mountain

Where the wild sheep grows and the buffalo lows
And the squirrels are so many you can't count them
Then I'll make love to some turtle dove
Way out on the mountain

When the north winds blow and we're gonna have snow
And the rain and the hail comes bouncing
I'll wrap myself in a grizzly bear coat
Away out on the mountain

Where the snakes are vile and the zebras' wild
And the beavers paddle on walking canes
Then I'll send my boots with a buffalo hide
Away out on the mountain

Where the whippoorwills sing me to sleep at night
And the eagle roosts on the rocks of spontan
I'll feast on the meat and the honey so sweet
Way out on the mountain

I woke up this morning
The blues all around my bed
I woke up this morning
The blue's all around my bed
I didn't have nobody
To hold my aching head

If you don't want me, woman
Give me your right hand
If you don't want me, woman
Give me your right hand
'Cause I can find me another mama
And I know you can find a man

I love you, Memphis
You know I love, love you so
Lord, I love you, Memphis
Tennessee, I love you so
And I'd rather be here
Than any other place I know

I've got my ticket
I'm sure gonna ride this train, hey, hey, hey
Lord, I've got my ticket
I'm sure gonna ride this train
I'm goin' some place
Where I won?t hear 'em call your name

I'm goin' to the river
Take me a rockin' chair, sing them blues, boy
I'm goin' to the river
And take me a rockin' chair
And if the blues don't leave me
I'll rock all the way from here

I don't want you, mama
And I know you don't want me, Lord, Lord, Lord
I don't want you, woman
And I know you don't want me
So I'm goin' to New Orleans
From there on across the sea

Dear sweetheart, as I write to you
My heart is filled with pain
For if these things I hear are true
I'll never see you again

They tell me, darlin', that tonight
You'll wed another man
But if you do, I'll tell you true
My boat will never land

You promised that you would wait for me
That nothin' could come between
That in my arms someday you'd be
My wife and lovely queen

I builded you that cozy home
And made a garden there
And planted too with my own hands
Sweet flowers rich and rare

My future hopes are placed in you
You've been my guidin' star
Please write and tell me that you're true
To the sailor who waits afar

Just tell me that you love me yet
Still long to be my wife
I'll return and then we'll wed
And live a happy life

I never knew that the place i grew
Is the grandest place on earth
Till I roamed around from town to town
But now I know what it's worth
Listen while I tell you about the place I mean
It's my little old home down in New Orleans

Oh-de-lay-ee

In the sunny south where the black oil flows
That's where I long to be
The dixie land where the white cotton grows
Is calling now to me
And soon i'll be in the land of my dreams
It's my little old home down in New Orleans

Oh-de-lay-ee

I've been east, and way out west
Been around most everywhere
Now I'm headed south for a good long rest
I'll be glad when I get there
All the wonderful things in the world it seems
Are awaiting for me down in New Orleans

Oh-de-lay-ee

In the sunny south where the black oil flows
That's where I long to be
The dixie-land where the white cotton grows
Is calling now to me
And soon I'll be in the land of my dreams
And that's my little old home down in New Orleans

Oh-de-lay-ee

For weary weeks I waited
And hoping for the best
But blues will make me ramble
And the rails are leading west

I'm feeling oh, so lonesome
Pleasure I can't find
I'm leaving you mean mama
Just to worry you off of my mind

That old kindly whistle
Just fall in line and smile
Mean, my mama haunts me
And I crave the peace of mind

I don't know where I'm going
I'm feeling kind of square
I've been from several places
And I'm going to be from here

Seems there's something missing
There's feelings in my breath
I crave to cover distance
So mean mama give me wreath

I hear the rails a singing
The sky is clear and blue
I'm going to leave you mama
When the train comes rolling through

No money in my pocket
I'm roving around so flat
And soon I'll be strolling
Down that railroad track

And when I'm miles away
Riding all the while
I think of you mean mama
I think of you and smile

Oh ley-he-he-he, ah-le-oh-lay-he-he-he
D'yo-del-ay-he-he, d'yo-del-ay-hee

I just received your letter
You're down and out, you say
At first I thought I would tell you
To travel on the other way

But in my memory lingers
All you once were to me
I'm going to give you another chance
To prove what you can be

Any old time you want to come back home
Drop me a line and say, no more you'll roam
You had your chance to play the game fair
And when you left me, sweetheart you only left a load of care

Now that you're down I'm going to stick by you
If you will only say your roaming days are through

You'll find me here like the day you left me alone
Any old time you wanna come back home

You'll find me right here like the day you left me alone
Any old time you wanna come back home, home, home

Well, when I was a young man
never been kissed
I got to thinkin' it over
how much I had missed
So I got me a girl and
I kissed her and then, and then
Oh, lordy, well I kissed 'er again
Because she had kisses
sweeter than wine
She had, mmm, mmm, kisses
sweeter than wine
(Sweeter than wine)

But I asked her to marry and
be my sweet wife
I told her we'd be so happy
for the rest of our life
I begged and I pleaded
like a natural man
And then, whoops oh lordy,
well she gave me her hand

Because she had kisses
sweeter than wine
She had, mmm, mmm, kisses
sweeter than wine
(Sweeter than wine)

Well we worked very hard
both me and my wife
Workin' hand-in-hand
to have a good life
We had corn in the field and
wheat in the bin
And then, whoops oh lord,
I was the father of twins

Because she had kisses
sweeter than wine
She had, mmm, mmm, kisses
sweeter than wine
(Sweeter than wine)
Well our children they numbered
just about four
And they all had a sweetheart
a'knockin' on the door
They all got married and
they wouldn't hesitate
I was, whoops oh lord,
the grandfather of eight

Because she had kisses
sweeter than wine
She had, mmm, mmm, kisses
sweeter than wine
(Sweeter than wine)
Well now that I'm old and
I'm a'ready to go
I get to thinkin'
what happened a long time ago
Had a lot of kids,
a lot of trouble and pain
But then, whoops oh lordy,
well I'd do it all again
Because she had kisses
sweeter than wine
She had, mmm kisses
sweeter than wine

Well, when I was a young man never been kissed
I got to thinkin' it over how much I had missed
So I got me a girl and I kissed her and then, and then
Oh, lordy, well I kissed 'er again
CHORUS
Because she had kisses sweeter than wine
She had, mmm, mmm, kisses sweeter than wine
(Sweeter than wine)
Well I asked her to marry and to be my sweet wife
I told her we'd be so happy for the rest of our life
I begged and I pleaded like a natural man
And then, whoops oh lordy, well she gave me her hand
CHORUS
Well we worked very hard both me and my wife
Workin' hand-in-hand to have a good life
We had corn in the field and wheat in the bin
And then, whoops oh lord, I was the father of twins
CHORUS
Well our children they numbered just about four
And they all had a sweetheart a'knockin' on the door
They all got married and they wouldn't hesitate
I was, whoops oh lord, the grandfather of eight
CHORUS
Well now that I'm old and I'm a'ready to go
I get to thinkin' what happened a long time ago
Had a lot of kids, a lot of trouble and pain
But then, whoops oh lordy, well I'd do it all again
Because she had kisses sweeter than wine
She had, mmm, kisses, sweeter, than wine

Well, when I was a young man never been kissed
I got to thinkin' it over how much I had missed
So I got me a girl and I kissed her and then, and then
Oh, lordy, well I kissed 'er again

CHORUS
Because she had kisses sweeter than wine
She had, mmm, mmm, kisses sweeter than wine
(Sweeter than wine)

Well I asked her to marry and to be my sweet wife
I told her we'd be so happy for the rest of our life
I begged and I pleaded like a natural man
And then, whoops oh lordy, well she gave me her hand

CHORUS

Well we worked very hard both me and my wife
Workin' hand-in-hand to have a good life
We had corn in the field and wheat in the bin
And then, whoops oh lord, I was the father of twins

CHORUS

Well our children they numbered just about four
And they all had a sweetheart a'knockin' on the door
They all got married and they wouldn't hesitate
I was, whoops oh lord, the grandfather of eight

CHORUS

Well now that I'm old and I'm a'ready to go
I get to thinkin' what happened a long time ago
Had a lot of kids, a lot of trouble and pain
But then, whoops oh lordy, well I'd do it all again

Because she had kisses sweeter than wine
She had, mmm꿮isses꿺weeter꿻han꿾ine

Well, when I was a young man never been kissed
I got to thinkin' it over how much I had missed
So I got me a girl and I kissed her and then, and then
Oh, lordy, well I kissed 'er again

CHORUS
Because she had kisses sweeter than wine
She had, mmm, mmm, kisses sweeter than wine
(Sweeter than wine)

Well I asked her to marry and to be my sweet wife
I told her we'd be so happy for the rest of our life
I begged and I pleaded like a natural man
And then, whoops oh lordy, well she gave me her hand

CHORUS

Well we worked very hard both me and my wife
Workin' hand-in-hand to have a good life
We had corn in the field and wheat in the bin
And then, whoops oh lord, I was the father of twins

CHORUS

Well our children they numbered just about four
And they all had a sweetheart a'knockin' on the door
They all got married and they wouldn't hesitate
I was, whoops oh lord, the grandfather of eight

CHORUS

Well now that I'm old and I'm a'ready to go
I get to thinkin' what happened a long time ago
Had a lot of kids, a lot of trouble and pain
But then, whoops oh lordy, well I'd do it all again

Because she had kisses sweeter than wine
She had, mmm꿮isses꿺weeter꿻han꿾ine

Do do do do do do do do do do do do
Do do do do do do do do do do do do

Why must I meet you in a secret rendevous
Why must we steal away to steal a kiss or two
Why must we wait to do the things we want to do

Why, oh why, oh why, oh why, oh why

Wish we didn't have to meet, secretly
Wish we didn't have to kiss, secretly
Wish we didn't have to be afraid to show the world that we're in love

Till we have the right to meet, openly
Till we have the right to kiss, openly
We'll just have to be content to be in love, secretly

Why, oh why, oh why, oh why, oh why

Wish we didn't have to meet, secretly
Wish we didn't have to kiss, secretly
Wish we didn't have to be afraid to show the world that we're in love

Till we have the right to meet, openly
Till we have the right to kiss, openly
We'll just have to be content to be in love, secretly

Well, when I was a young man never been kissed
I got to thinkin' it over how much I had missed
So I got me a girl and I kissed her and then, and then
Oh, lordy, well I kissed 'er again

CHORUS
Because she had kisses sweeter than wine
She had, mmm, mmm, kisses sweeter than wine
(Sweeter than wine)

Well I asked her to marry and to be my sweet wife
I told her we'd be so happy for the rest of our life
I begged and I pleaded like a natural man
And then, whoops oh lordy, well she gave me her hand

CHORUS

Well we worked very hard both me and my wife
Workin' hand-in-hand to have a good life
We had corn in the field and wheat in the bin
And then, whoops oh lord, I was the father of twins

CHORUS

Well our children they numbered just about four
And they all had a sweetheart a'knockin' on the door
They all got married and they wouldn't hesitate
I was, whoops oh lord, the grandfather of eight

CHORUS

Well now that I'm old and I'm a'ready to go
I get to thinkin' what happened a long time ago
Had a lot of kids, a lot of trouble and pain
But then, whoops oh lordy, well I'd do it all again

Because she had kisses sweeter than wine
She had, mmm꿮isses꿺weeter꿻han꿾ine

(Honeycomb)
(Honeycomb)

Well it's a darn good life
And it's kinda funny
How the Lord made the bee
And the bee made the honey
And the honeybee lookin' for a home
And they called it honeycomb

And they roamed the world
And they gathered all
Of the honeycomb into one sweet ball
And the honeycomb from a million trips
Made my baby's lips

Oh, Honeycomb, won't you be my baby
Well, Honeycomb, be my own
Got a hank o' hair and a piece o' bone
And made a walkin' talkin' Honeycomb

Well, Honeycomb, won't you be my baby
Well, Honeycomb, be my own
What a darn good life
When you got a wife like Honeycomb

(Honeycomb)

And the Lord said now that I made a bee
I'm gonna look all around for a green, green tree
And He made a little tree and I guess you heard
Oh, then well he made a little bird

And they waited all around until the end of Spring
Gettin' every note that the birdies sing
And they put 'em all into one sweet tome
For my Honeycomb

Oh, Honeycomb, won't you be my baby
Well, Honeycomb, be my own
Got a hank o' hair and a piece o' bone
And made a walkin' talkin' Honeycomb

Well, Honeycomb, won't you be my baby
Well, Honeycomb, be my own
What a darn good life
When you got a wife like Honeycomb

(Honeycomb)

And the Lord said now that I made a bird
I'm gonna look all round for a little ol' word
That sounds about sweet like "turtledove"
And I guess I'm gonna call it "love"

And He roamed the world lookin' everywhere
Gettin' love from here, love from there
And He put it all in a little ol' part
Of my baby's heart

Oh, Honeycomb, won't you be my baby
Well, Honeycomb, be my own
Got a hank o' hair and a piece o' bone
And made a walkin' talkin' Honeycomb

Well, Honeycomb, won't you be my baby
Well, Honeycomb, be my own
What a darn good life
When you got a wife like Honeycomb

(Honeycomb)