Lyr Req: A Short Life of Trouble

Subject: a short life of trouble
From: GUEST,Roberto
Date: 22 Oct 00 - 03:09 AM

I'd like the lyrics and some information about the song A SHORT LIFE OF TROUBLE. Thank you. Roberto

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: a short life of trouble
From: GUEST,Roberto
Date: 22 Oct 00 - 03:14 AM

I've found what I was looking for in the Forum Search. THank you. Roberto

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: a short life of trouble
From: Zebedee
Date: 22 Oct 00 - 03:33 PM

I couldn't find the lyrics but found a page that told me:

"Short Life of Trouble: The lyrics to this ancient ballad are a combination of versions by mountain music singers Grayson and Whitter, as well as Buell Kazee"

Don't know if this helps.

Zeb

Subject: Lyr Add: SHORT LIFE OF TROUBLE (from Emry Arthur)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 22 Aug 02 - 08:38 PM

AMG lists 22 recordings of "Short Life of Trouble," by the Blue Sky Boys, Doc Watson, Grayson & Whitter, Ralph Stanley, John Hartford, J. E. Mainer, and several others. Some sources call it traditional, and some attribute it to Grayson & Whitter.

Here's the way it was performed by Emry Arthur:

SHORT LIFE OF TROUBLE

Short life of trouble, a few more days till we part,
Short life of trouble, poor girl, for a boy with a broken heart.

Some o' these days, little woman, and it won't be very long,
You'll hang your head in sorrow, little girl, for I will be long gone.

[Repeat first verse twice]

[From the collection "The Music of Kentucky: Early American Rural Classics 1927-1937, Vol. 2," Yazoo CD 2014, 1995.]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: a short life of trouble
From: Midchuck
Date: 22 Aug 02 - 09:19 PM

The Charles River Valley Boys used to do this at the old Club 47 in the '60s, but they'd introduce it as "Short Wife Bent Double."

Peter

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: a short life of trouble
From: Stewie
Date: 22 Aug 02 - 09:55 PM

Earlier recordings than Arthur's (1931) included Burnett and Rutherford (1926), Buell Kazee (1928)unissued but now available on CD, and Grayson and Whitter (1928). These are all considerably longer than the Arthur recording posted by Jim. Riley Puckett recorded a version with a very languid guitar accompaniment for Decca in 1937. I will transcribe one of these later if no one beats me to it.

--Stewie.

Subject: Lyr Add: A SHORT LIFE OF TROUBLE
From: Stewie
Date: 23 Aug 02 - 11:18 PM

Here is a trio of versions from Kazee, Grayson & Whitter and Riley Puckett recordings:

A SHORT LIFE OF TROUBLE

A short life of trouble,
A few more days apart
A short life of trouble, dear girl,
For a boy with a broken heart

You know what you promised
It's been some time ago
You promised you would marry me
Standing on the ballroom floor

A short life of trouble,
A few more days apart
A short life of trouble, dear girl,
For a boy with a broken heart

I hear the train a-comin'
She's goin' by the station door
I'd rather be dead and in my grave
Than to see my darling go

A short life of trouble,
A few more days apart
A short life of trouble, dear girl,
For a boy with a broken heart

I see my coffin coming
The crowd is standing round
Oh take me to some lonesome graveyard
And let the grave be my home

And when I'm dead and buried
Will you come strew some flowers
To show the people round about you
The heart you've broken lies there

Weeping on my bedside,
My eyes all wet with dew
I'd give this world and half of my life
If I were married to you

A short life of trouble,
A few more days apart
A short life of trouble, dear girl,
For a boy with a broken heart

Source: transcription of Buell Kazee 'A Short Life of Trouble' recorded 17 January 1928 in New York City [unissued Brunswick 214]. Issued on Various Artists 'The Rose Grew Round the Briar: Early American Rural Love Songs Vol I' Yazoo CD 2030.


A SHORT LIFE OF TROUBLE

A short life of trouble,
Only a word to part
(A) short life of trouble, dear girl,
For a boy with a broken heart

You know what you promised
Not more than a week ago
You promised that you'd marry me
Standing in your mama's door

A short life of trouble,
Only a word to part
(A) short life of trouble, dear girl,
For a boy with a broken heart

Now you've broke your promise
Go marry whoever you may
This old world's so big and so wide
I'll ramble back some day

If I owned this whole wide world
All that's in it too
I'd give it all, both silver and gold
If I was only married to you

A short life of trouble,
Only a word to part
(A) short life of trouble, dear girl,
For a boy with a broken heart

Source: transcription of Grayson & Whitter 'A Short Life of Trouble' recorded 31 July 1928 in New York City. Issued as Victor V40105 in August 1928. Reissued on Grayson & Whitter 'Complete Recorded Works Vol II' Document DOCD-8055.


A SHORT LIFE OF TROUBLE

A short life of trouble, little girl
A few more words, then part
A short life of trouble, little girl,
For a boy with a broken heart

Remember that promise you made to me
Standing in the ballroom door
You promised me that you'd marry me
And you would roam no more

A short life of trouble, little girl
A few more words, then part
Short life of trouble, little girl,
For a boy with a broken heart

I hear that train a-comin'
I hear that whistle blow
I'd rather be dead and in my grave
Than to see my darling go

A short life of trouble, little girl
A few more words, then part
Short life of trouble, little girl,
For a boy with a broken heart

Sitting alone, talking with you
Gazing into your eyes
I'd give all this world and half of my life
If you were only my bride

A short life of trouble, little girl
A few more words, then part
A short life of trouble, little girl,
For a boy with a broken heart

Source: transcription of Riley Puckett 'A Short Life of Trouble' recorded on 28 September 1937 in New York City. Issued as Decca 5442 in November 1937. Reissued on Riley Puckett 'Old Time Greats Vol II' Old Homestead OHCD-4174