Too Many Roosters by Pinetop Slim

1.
Oh he played the pied piper when his hammer did ring
Come along, we'll make beautiful things
With adze, planes and drawknives, turned rough walnut blocks
Into fiddles and grandfather's clocks
But one thing he always kept simple
'Twas a long narrow box made of pine
I don't need a yacht to cross Jordan
This old-fashioned boat will do fine

Chorus:
He saw too many roosters a-fightin'
He saw too many nights through moonshine
Two-hundred-eight souls rode his boats across Jordan
And you know they can't leave him behind

2.
Now some folks who had snubbed him cause he raised so much hell
Looked to heav'n when they asked if he'd sell
That long narrow pine box, for a dear loved one
Whose hard work on this good earth was done
He'd never say no to a neighbor
Least not when the lord's called one home
Just pay me for the board and the labor
The next one I'll build as my own

(Chorus)

3.
As his name spread around, a lot of plain-livin' folks
Sought the man who built old-fashioned boats
Keep it simple and rough, no fancies nor frills
Match my coffin to my life in these hills
In time, his saw's song fell silent
And sorrow soaked me right to the bone
He said son it's no time to be cryin'
Finish the boat that will carry me home

Final Chorus:
He saw too many roosters a-fightin'
He saw too many nights through moonshine
Two-hundred-eight souls rode his boats across Jordan
And you know they can't leave him behind
Lord, please make room for number two-hundred nine.

© Mark Flanagan