The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #55453   Message #867093
Posted By: Stewie
14-Jan-03 - 09:54 PM
Thread Name: Origins: Nine Pound Hammer
Subject: Lyr Add: ROLL ON BUDDY (from Ramblin' Jack Elliott
There's a Jack Elliott version in the second 'Roll on Buddy' link in Joe's useful 'related threads' at the top of this thread. The fullest recorded version by Jack and Derroll was in their early Italian sessions reissued on the 2CD set 'Selection of America' De Luxe DCD-768. More accessibly, it was also reissued on Tradition label. The version by them on the Topic Legendary Masters reissue - Jack Elliott 'Ramblin' Jack' [Topic TSCD477] - omits the first and last stanzas in the following:

ROLL ON BUDDY

Roll on buddy, roll on
Roll on buddy, roll on
You wouldn't roll so slow if you knew what I know
And it's roll on buddy, roll on

I got a home in Tennessee
I got a home in Tennessee
I got a home down in sunny Tennessee
And it's roll on buddy, roll on

Tempe wants a nine dollar shawl
Tempe wants a nine dollar shawl
I come over the hill with a forty dollar bill
And it's baby where's you been so long

Baby where you been so long
Yeah, baby where's you been so long
Well, I been in the pen with the rough and rowdy men
And its baby where's you been so long

Well, I never liked no railroad man
Yeah, never liked no railroad man
'Cos a railroad man will kill you if he can
Drink up your blood like wine

Baby, where'd you stay last night
Yeah, baby, where'd you stay last night
Well, I slept in the pen with the rough and rowdy men
And it's, baby, where'd you stay last night

Roll on buddy, roll on
Yeah, roll on buddy, roll on
You wouldn't roll so slow if you knew what I know
And it's roll on buddy, roll on

Source: Ramblin' Jack Elliott with Derroll Adams 'Early Sessions' Tradition TCD 1083.

The version that I have by George Pegram and Red Parham is short and sweet. It there's a 'wouldn't' at the beginning of line 3 of the chorus [which Jack sings and seems to make more sense] I can't hear it:

ROLL ON BUDDY

Chorus:
Roll on little buddy, roll on
Roll on little buddy, roll on
Rolls so slow, if you know what I know
Just roll on, little buddy, roll on

I got a little gal in Tennessee
I got a little gal in Tennessee
I a got a little gal down in East Tennessee
That's where I'm goin' to be

Chorus

I got a little home in Tennessee
I got a little home in Tennessee
I got a little home down in East Tennessee
That's where I'm goin' to be

Chorus

Source: Bascom Lamar Lunsford/George Pegram and Red Parham 'Music from South Turkey Creek' Rounder LP 0065.

--Stewie.