Ok, I was very excited to hear that the Double Decker String Band has a new recording (see this other thread). Went to their site & listened to a couple of clips... got curious about one track: All Old Bachelors Are Hard to Please.

It apparently came from the Georgia Yellowhammers, of north Georgia.

Back in January on the Sugar in the Gourd site forum, a Gordon from my part of the world (Arid-zona) posted the lyrics below looking for the question marks to be filled in. I'd be interested, too.


All Old Bachelors Are Hard to Please

The Alabama's [they] live on Peas
The Tennessea's [they] eat what they please
The North Carolina's [they] eat tar and rosin [???]
The Georgia [towns?] gals got coon and possum
All old bachelors are hard to please, hard to please

I went out west to get me a wife
I thought I'd settle down for life
When I [got] landed there I like to fainted
To my surprise their lips were painted
All old bachelors are hard to please, hard to please

I went up north to make a trade
The first I met was a darned old maid
I thought that that was where I'd land {?]
She had her hair cut like a man
All old bachelors are hard to please, hard to please

I started then to try the South
Where I don't want no painted mouth
I Found that there they had their riches
Like their smiles [??} they wore their britches
All old bachelors are hard to please, hard to please

I'm going back, up in the hills
Where the doctor does not peddle pills
Take my fiddle and my old banjo
I may get married but I don't know
All old bachelors are hard to please, hard to please


~ Becky in Tucson