DTStudy: Darlin' Corey / Little Maggie

Subject: lyr. req: Darlin' Corey
From: Richie
Date: 02 Dec 02 - 01:57 PM

I know there is one version in the DT, but I don't know who it's by.
I was wondering if anyone has the lyrics to any of these versions of "Darlin' Corey" I found on Grateful Dead site?

Buell Kazee (April 20, 1927)
B. F. Shelton (1927)
Monroe Brothers (1936)
The Wayfaring Stranger : Burl Ives (1955)
Live At Carnegie Hall : The Weavers (1956)
Blood, Booze 'n Bones : Ed McCurdy (1956)
Buell Kazee Sings and Plays : Buell Kazee (1958)
Folk Scene U.S.A. : Cumberland Three with John Stewart (1960)
The Watson Family : Doc Watson (1963)
Dick Farina & Eric Von Schmidt : Richard Farina & Eric Von Schmidt
Smokey Mountain Ballads : Monroe Brothers (1964)
Single : Bill Monroe & his Blue Grass Boys (1964)
Folk Box : Pete Seeger (1964)
Celebrations for a Grey Day : Mimi and Richard Farina (196?)

Thanks, any other info would also be welcome,

Richie

Subject: DTStudy: Darlin' Corey
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Dec 02 - 05:26 PM

Let's make this an edited DTStudy thread, and see what we can find out.
-Joe Offer-

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This is an edited DTStudy thread, and all messages posted here are subject to editing and deletion.
This thread is intended to serve as a forum for corrections and annotations for the Digital Tradition song named in the title of this thread.

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Search for other DTStudy threads

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Here's the entry from the Digital Tradition:

Darling Corey

DESCRIPTION: "Wake up, wake up, darling Corey, what makes you sleep so sound? The revenue officers are coming, Gonna tear your still-house down." The singer describes Corey's wild career as a moonshiner, and (dreams of) her death and burial
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1918 (Cecil Sharp collection)
KEYWORDS: drink police death burial dream
FOUND IN: US(Ap)
REFERENCES (11 citations):
Fuson, pp. 134-135, "Little Cora" (1 text, an unusually full version though with several floating verses)
SharpAp 152, "The Gambling Man" (2 texts, 2 tunes, but only the "B" text is this song; the "A" text is "I Wonder Where's the Gambler")
Ritchie-Southern, p. 39, "Little Cory" (1 text, 1 tune)
Lomax-FSUSA 87, "Darlin' Corey" (1 text, 1 tune)
Lomax-Singing, pp. 302-303, "Dariling Corey" (1 text, 1 tune)
Lomax-FSNA 135, "Dig a Hole in the Meadow" (1 text, 1 tune)
Arnett, p. 173, "Darlin' Corrie" (1 text, 1 tune)
Botkin-SoFolklr, p. 734, "Darling Cory" (1 text, 1 tune)
PSeeger-AFB, p. 73, "Darlin' Corey" (1 text, 1 tune)
Silber-FSWB, p. 193, "Darlin' Corey" (1 text)
DT, DARLCORY
Roud #5723
RECORDINGS:
Logan English, "Little Cory" (on LEnglish01)
Roscoe Holcomb, "Darlin Corey" (on Holcomb2, HolcombCD1)
Buell Kazee, "Darling Cora" (Brunswick 154, 1927); "Darling Corey" [fragment] (on Kazee01)
Pleaz Mobley, "Darling Cory" (AFS; on AAFS 69, LC14)
Monroe Brothers, "Darling Corey" (Bluebird B-6512, 1936; Victor 27493, 1941)
Pete Seeger, "Darling Corey" (on PeteSeeger02, PeteSeegerCD01)
B. F. Shelton, "Darling Cora" (Victor 35838, 1927; on ConstSor1)
Jack Wallin, "Darling Cora" (on Wallins1)
Doc Watson, Gaither Carlton & Arnold Watson, "Darling Corey" (on Watsons01)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Little Maggie" (words)
cf. "Country Blues" (words)
cf. "Don't Get Trouble in Your Mind" (floating phrase)
File: LxU087

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The Ballad Index Copyright 2016 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.

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You'll find a wide variety of recordings listed here at the Folk Music Index.
I wonder if Richie found the song at this Grateful Dead Website, which says the Dead performed the song only once, and did not record it.

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Darlin' Corey
From: GUEST,Richard Bridge
Date: 02 Dec 02 - 05:48 PM

Er - they left Lonnie Donegan off that list or is my memory playing tricks?

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Hi, Richard - The Traditional Ballad Index chooses only certain books and recordings to index. They tend to emphasize early recordings of the song. I guess Lonnie Donegan didn't make the cut.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: ADD Version: Darling Corey
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Dec 02 - 05:51 PM

This is the version from Pete Seeger's American Favorite Ballads (Oak Publications, 1961). I learned the song from the Seeger recording - I don't think the recording's words are the same.
-Joe Offer-

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DARLING COREY

Wake up, wake up, Darlin' Corey.
What makes you sleep so sound?
The revenue officers are comin'
Gonna tear your still-house down.

Go 'way, go 'way darlin' Corey,
Quit hangin' around my bed,
Pretty women run me distracted,
Corn liquor's killed me most dead.

Oh yes oh yes my darlin',
I'll do the best I can,
But I'll never give my pleasure,
To another gamblin' man.

The first time I saw darlin' Corey,
She was standing on the banks of the sea,
She had a pistol strapped around her body,
And a banjo on her knee.

The last time I saw darlin' Corey,
She had a dram glass in her hand,
She was drinkin' down her troubles,
With a low down gamblin' man.

Dig a hole, dig a hole in the meadow,
Dig a hole in the cold, cold ground,
Go and dig me a hole in the meadow,
Just to lay darlin' Corey down.

Don't you hear them blue-birds singing'?
Don't you hear that mournful sound?
They're preachin' Corey's funeral,
In the lonesome graveyard ground.

Subject: ADD Version: Darlin' Corey
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Dec 02 - 06:14 PM

This version is from The Folk Songs of North America. (Folk Song USA), by Alan Lomax (1960). The notes say this is a modernized "hillbilly" version of "Darlin' Corey."
-Joe Offer-

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DIG A HOLE IN THE MEADOW

CHORUS:
Dig a hole, dig a hole in the meadow,
Dig a hole in the cold, cold ground,
Dig a hole, dig a hole in the meadow,
Just to lay little Lulie down.

The first time I saw little Lulie,
She was standin' in the still-house door,
Brogan shoes all in her hand
An' her stockin' feet on the floor. (CHO.)

Wake up, wake up, little Lulie,
And go get me my gun,
I ain't no man for trouble,
But I'll die before I'll run. (CHO.)

Last time I saw little Lulie,
She was standin' on the banks of the sea,
Two pistols strapped round her body,
And a banjo on her knee. (CHO.)

Wake up, wake up, little Lulie,
What makes you sleep so sound?
The highway robbers are comin',
Gonna tear your playhouse down. (CHO.)

     -or-

Them revenue officers are comin'
To tear your still-house down. (CHO.)

Subject: ADD Version: Darlin' Corey
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Dec 02 - 06:22 PM

This version is from Best Loved American Folk Songs (Folk Song USA), by John And Alan Lomax (1947).

DARLIN' COREY

1. Wake up, wake up, darlin' Corey,
What makes you sleep so sound?
The revenue officers is a-comin'
To tear your stilihouse down.

2. The first time I saw darlin' Corey,
She was standin' in the door,
Her shoes and stockin's in her hands
And her feet all over the floor.

3. Go 'way from me darlin' Corey,
Quit hangin' around my bed,
Pretty women run me distracted,
Corn liquor's killed me dead.

4. The next time I saw darlin' Corey,
She was standing on the banks of the sea,
She had two pistols strapped around her body
And a banjo on her knee.

5. Last night as I lay on my pillow,
Last night as I lay on my bed,
Last night as I lay on my pillow,
I dreamed darlin' Corey was dead.

6. The last time I saw darlin' Corey
She had a wine glass in her hand
She was drinkin' that cold pizen liquor
With a low-down sorry man.

7. Go and dig me a hole in the meadow,
A hole in the cold, cold ground,
Go and dig me a hole in the meadow,
Just to lay darlin' Corey down.

8. Don't you hear them blue-birds singin'?
Don't you hear that mournful sound?
They're preachin' Corey's funeral
In the lonesome graveyard ground.

Subject: ADD Version: Darling Corey
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Dec 02 - 06:38 PM

These versions are all pretty close to one another, but I think it's worthwhile to see the differences. They tunes are all pretty much what we have in the Digital Tradition. I found another version of the lyrics in the Weavers Song Book, and another variation on the recording by the Cumberland Three, but I think maybe enough is enough. Because of its source, I do thing the following version is significant.

This is from Our Singing Country (John and Alan Lomax, 1941). The other Lomax books were unclear as to the sources of the song, but this version was from the singing of Aunt Molly Jackson.

DARLING COREY

1. Wake up, wake up, darling Corey,
what makes you sleep so sound?
The revenue officers is a-comin'
To tear your stillhouse down.

2. Go away from me, darling Corey,
Quit hanging around my bed,
Pretty women run me distracted,
Corn liquor's killed me stone-dead.

3. The last time I saw darling Corey,
She had a dram glass in her hand;
She was drinkin' down her troubles
With that low-down, dirty man.

4. Last night as I lay on my pillow,
Last night as I lay on my bed,
Last night as I lay on my pillow,
I dreamed darling Corey was dead.

5. I'm going across deep waters,
I'm going across the sea,
I'm going across deep waters,
Going to bring darling Corey to me.

6. Go and dig me a hole in the meadow,
Go and dig me a hole in the ground,
Go and dig me a hole in the meadow,
Just to lay darling Corey down.

7.Don't you hear them bluebirds singing,
Don't you hear that mournful sound,
They're preaching darling Corey's funeral
In the lonesome graveyard ground.

8. The last time I saw darling Corey,
She had a wineglass in her hand,
She was drinking down her troubles
With a low-down, sorry man.

Subject: Lyr Add: LITTLE MAGGIE
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Dec 02 - 07:46 PM

There's a close correlation between "Little Maggie" and "Darling Corey," and I think it's worthwhile to consider them together.
-Joe Offer-

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Here's the Digital Tradition entry for "Little Maggie."

Little Maggie

DESCRIPTION: Singer laments Maggie's drinking and straying ("Over yonder stands little Maggie... She's a drinking away her troubles and a-courting some other man"). He praises her beauty extravagantly, saying she was made to be his, but plans to leave town.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1928 (recording, Grayson & Whitter)
KEYWORDS: jealousy courting love rejection parting drink travel
FOUND IN: US(Ap,SE)
REFERENCES (7 citations):
Cambiaire, pp. 23-25, "Hustling Gamblers" (1 text, very long and with so much floating material that it could be linked with several songs, but "Little Maggie" seems to be the largest and most distinct part)
MHenry-Appalachians, pp. 102-104, "Hustling Gamblers" (1 text, from the same informant as Cambiaire, though apparently taken down independently and with some small differences, many of them orthographic)
Shellans, p. 11, "Little Maggie" (1 text, 1 tune)
Cohen/Seeger/Wood, p. 48, "Little Maggie" (1 text, 1 tune)
Darling-NAS, p. 277, "Little Maggie" (1 text)
Silber-FSWB, p. 193, "Little Maggie" (1 text)
DT, LILMAGGI*
Roud #5723
RECORDINGS:
Frank Bode, "Little Maggie" (on FBode1)
[G. B.] Grayson & [Henry] Whitter, "Little Maggie With a Dram Glass In Her Hand" Victor V-40135, 1929; Bluebird B-7072, 1937; rec. 1928)
J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers [or Wade Mainer], "Little Maggie" (Bluebird B-7201, 1937)
Wade Mainer, Zeke Morris & Steve Ledford, "Little Maggie" (Bluebird B-7201/Montgomery Ward M-7309, 1937; on GoingDown)
Ivor Melton & band, "Little Maggie"
New Lost City Ramblers, "Little Maggie" (on NLCR16)
Frank Proffitt, "Little Maggie (on USWarnerColl01)
The Stanley Brothers, "Little Maggie" (Rich-R-Tone 423, rec. c. late 1947)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Darling Corey" (words)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
Little Maggie With a Dram Glass In Her Hand
NOTES: Although this shares several verses with "Darling Corey", it leaves out the latter song's central theme of moonshining; that, a different tune, and several divergent verses lead me to call this a different song. - PJS
Roud, who is a lumper, of course lumps them. I agree with Paul, and in any case the Ballad Index errs toward splitting.
The notes to USWarnerColl01 note that this is widely recorded but rarely collected in the field; they speculate that its popularity derives from one or another old time country recording. This seems likely, with the first Grayson and Whitter version being the obvious candidate. - RBW
Last updated in version 2.6
File: CSW048

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Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: LITTLE MAGGIE and DARLIN COREY
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Dec 02 - 08:20 PM

Well, I think I have only one source for "Little Maggie," Silber & Silber's Folksonger's Wordbook (1973, Oak Publiscations). The Traditional Ballad Index lists entries in the New American Songster (Darling) and the New Lost City Ramblers Songbook (Cohen/Seeger/Wood). Here's the entry from the Silber book, along with their entry for Darlin Corey.
-Joe Offer-

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LITTLE MAGGIE

Little Maggie
Well yonder stands little Maggie,
With a dram glass in her hand,
And she's drinkin' down her troubles,
And she's foolin' some other man.

Tell me how can I ever stand it,
Just to see those two blue eyes.
They're shining like a diamond,
Like a diamond in the sky.

Sometimes I have a nickel,
Sometimes I have a dime.
And it's sometimes I have ten dollars,
Just to buy Little Maggie some wine.

Now she's marching down to the station,
Got a suitcase in her hand.
She's going for to leave me,
She is bound for some distant land.

Pretty flowers were made for blooming,
Pretty stars were meant to shine.
Pretty girls were made for boys to love,
And Little Maggie was made for mine.

Well the first time I seen Little Maggie,
She was sitting by the banks of the sea.
Had a forty-five strapped around her shoulder,
And a banjo on her knee.

CHORDS

        D                    C
  Well yonder stands little Maggie,
          D         C       D
  With a dram glass in her hand,
                              C
  And she's drinkin' down her troubles,
              D           C     D
  And she's foolin' some other man.

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DARLIN COREY

Wake up, wake up, darlin' Corey,
What makes you sleep so sound?
The revenue officers are comin'
Gonna tear your still-house down.

Go 'way, go 'way darlin' Corey,
Quit hangin' around my bed,
Pretty women run me distracted,
Corn liquor's killed me most dead.

Oh yes, oh yes my darlin',
I'll do the best I can,
But I'll never give my pleasure,
To another gamblin' man.

The first time I saw darlin' Corey,
She was standing on the banks of the sea,
She had a pistol strapped around her body,
And a banjo on her knee.

The last time I saw darlin' Corey,
She had a dram glass in her hand,
She was drinkin' down her troubles,
With a low down gamblin' man.

Dig a hole, dig a hole in the meadow,
Dig a hole in the cold, cold ground,
Go and dig me a hole in the meadow,
Just to lay darlin' Corey down.

Don't you hear them blue-birds singing?
Don't you hear that mournful sound?
They're preachin' Corey's funeral,
In the lonesome graveyard ground.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE GAMBLING MAN
From: masato sakurai
Date: 02 Dec 02 - 08:24 PM

From Sharp, English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians (1932, no. 152; with tune).

THE GAMBLING MAN (version B)
(Sung by Mrs. Clercy Deeton at Mine Fork, Burnsville, N.C., Sept. 19, 1918)

1. My pocketbook full of money,
    My friends all a-standing around;
    My pocketbook are empty,
    And I ain't got a friend to be mine.

2. Last night as I lay on my pillow,
    Last night as I lay on my bed,
    Last night as I lay on my pillow
    I dreamed little Bessy was dead.

3. Go dig me a hole in the meadow,
    Go dig me a hole in the ground,
    Go dig me a hole in the meadow
    When I lie this poor gambler down.

4. The first time I saw darling Corie,
    She had a dram glass,
    Drinking away her trouble
    And a-going with a gambling man.

5. The next time I saw darling Corie,
   She had a sweet smile on her face;
   Drinking away her troubles
   And a-going in another girl's place.

Recordings before the early 1940s (from Meade et al.'s Country Music Sources):

DARLING CORY

Little Corey - Clarence Gill (01/06/1927)
Darling Cora - Buell Kazee (04/19/1927)
Darlin' Cora - B.F. Shelton (07/29/1927)
Little Lulie - Dick Justice (ca.05/1929)
Darling Corey - Monroe Brothers (06/21/1936)
Little Lulie - Homer Brierhopper (06/09/1938)

~Masato

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The following version is in the Digital Tradition. I missed it before.
-Joe Offer-

THE GAMBLING MAN

My pocketbook full of money,
My friends are all standing around.
My pocketbook are empty
And I ain't got a friend to be mine (found)

Last night as I lay on my pillow,
Last night as I lay on my bed,
Last night as I lay on my pillow,
I dreamed little Bessy was dead.

Go dig me a hole in the meadow
Go dig me a hole in the ground.
Go dig me a hole in the meadow
When I lie this poor gambler down.

The first time I saw Darling Corie
She had a dram glass (in her hand)
Drinking away her trouble
And a-going with a gambling man.

The next time I saw darling Corie
She had a sweet smile on her face.
Drinking away her troubles
And a-going in another girl's place.

From Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, Sharp
Collected from Mrs. Clancy Deeton, NC 1918
@banjo
filename[ DARLCOR2
TUNE FILE: DARLCOR2
CLICK TO PLAY
RG
apr96

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Subject: Lyr Add: COUNTRY BLUES
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Dec 02 - 08:43 PM

The Ballad Index links one more song with Corey & Maggie - "Country Blues." I'll see if I can find lyrics.
-Joe Offer-

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Country Blues

DESCRIPTION: Floating verses; singer is in jail, possibly dying, lamenting his fate and hard living.
AUTHOR: Unknown, possibly Homer Crawford; add'l verses by Dock Boggs
EARLIEST DATE: 1927 (recording, Dock Boggs)
KEYWORDS: captivity crime prison death floatingverses
FOUND IN: US
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Asch/Dunson/Raim, p. 90, "Country Blues" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #428
RECORDINGS:
Dock Boggs, "Country Blues" (Brunswick 131A, 1927; on AAFM3, RoughWays1) (on Boggs1, BoggsCD1, ClassOT)
New Lost City Ramblers, "Country Blues" (on NLCR05) (on NLCR16)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Darling Corey" (words, tune)
cf. "Moonshiner" (words)
cf. "Sweet Heaven" (words)
cf. "Sweet Heaven (II)" (floating lyrics)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
Give Me Corn Bread When I'm Hungry
Hustling Gamblers
NOTES: This is ALMOST a nonballad, but not quite; there is a hint of narrative. And while most of the verses show up elsewhere, this song as a gestalt comes squarely from its performer, Dock Boggs. -PJS
Some people consider this a version of "Darling Corey," the tune is very close and they share a lot of lyrics. But I tentatively agree with Paul: There are several unrelated verses on the front, and *they* make this a separate song.
Roud lumps the piece with "I Wonder Where's the Gambler" [Laws H22]. It may perhaps have been inspired by fragments of that song. - RBW
Last updated in version 3.5
File: ADR90

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That Asch/Dunson/Raim book is the Anthology of American Folk Music, not to be confused with the "Harry Smith" Anthology with the same name. The Smith Anthology has a Dock Boggs recording of "Country Blues," and I may have to break down and transcribe it by ear. for the price I paid for that Anthology, I thought Smithsonian/folkways would have provided lyrics, but I can't find any. Click here for the information they do provide.

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COUNTRY BLUES

Come all you good-time people
While I have money to spend
Tomorrow might be Monday
And I neither have a dollar nor a friend

When I had plenty of money, good people,
My friends were all standing around
Just as soon as my pocketbook was empty
Not a friend on earth to be found

I gambled all over Kentucky, good people,
I gambled all the way through Spain (?)
Goin' back to old Virginia
For to gamble my last card game

Last time I seen my little woman, good people,
She had a wine glass in her hand
She's a drinkin' down her troubles
With an old damn sorry man

I wrote my woman a letter, good people,
I told her I'se in jail
She wrote me back an answer
Sayin' honey, I'm a-come to go your bail

All around this old jailhouse is hanted (?), good people
Forty dollars won't pay my fine
Corn whiskey has surrounded my body, poor boy
Pretty women is a-troublin' my mind

But if you don't quit your drinkin'
Sometime you'll be just like me
A-workin' our your livin'
In the penitentiary

Oh, my daddy taught me a-plenty, good people,
My mamma, she told me more
If ever didn't quit my rowdy way (?)
I'll have trouble at my door (?)

In the bottom of the whiskey glass
A lurking devil dwells
It burns your breast a drinkin', boys
It'll send your soul to hell

Go dig a hole in the meadow, good people
Go dig a hole in the ground
Come around, all you good people
And see this poor rounder go down

When I am dead and buried
And my pale face turned to sun
You can come around and mourn, little woman
And face the way you will die (?)

transcribed by ear from the Smithsonian Folkways CD, Dock Boggs: His Folkways Years, 1963-1968

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Darlin' Corey / Little Maggie
From: michaelr
Date: 02 Dec 02 - 09:02 PM

Hmmm -- the song I know as "Darling Corey" has the following chorus:

I wake with the blues at dawn
My darling Corey is gone

Any connection?

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: Lyr Add: DARLING COREY (Monroe Brothers)
From: masato sakurai
Date: 02 Dec 02 - 09:38 PM

DARLING COREY
(Monroe Brothers, 1936)

Dig a hole, dig a hole in the meadow
Dig a hole in the cold, cold ground
Dig a hole, dig a hole in the meadow
They're gonna lay darling Corey down

Well, the last time I saw darling Corey
On the banks of the deep blue sea
Two pistols around her body
And a banjo on her knee

Wake up, wake up, darling Corey
And go get me my gun
I ain't no man for trouble
But I'll die before I'll run

Wake up, wake up, darling Corey
What makes you sleep so sound
The highway robbers are coming
They're gonna tear your playhouse down

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Darlin' Corey / Little Maggie
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 02 Dec 02 - 09:51 PM

"Little Maggie with a Dram Glass in Her Hand," sung by Grayson and Henry Whitter, is on Honking Duck.

Subject: Chords Add: LITTLE MAGGIE
From: Richie
Date: 02 Dec 02 - 10:20 PM

Michael-

I have your bluegrass song as "Cora Is Gone" by Odell McCleod? It's a different song. I'm not sure of the origin.

Joe- Great start on this thread. Thanks also Masato for your contribution.

I have a few versions which I will post. I consider Darling Cory to be different song than "Little Maggie" although both have similar chord structures and modes. The mixolydian mode uses the flat 7 note and chord. Both songs use the flat 7 chord is a substitute for the dominant. In the key of G: F to G instead of D to G. Other songs like this are the Red-Haired By and Old Joe Clark.

The normal chords for Little Maggie in the key of D are:

         D                     C
   Well yonder stands little Maggie,
           D         A       D
   With a dram glass in her hand,
             D                 C
   And she's drinkin' down her troubles,
             D            A     D
   And she's foolin' some other man.

Traditional Chord Structure: I I bVII bVII I V I I (Repeat)
                   Key of G: G G F    F   G D G G (Repeat)

Many bluegrass groups play it in G but to get the high lonesome sound the guitar is capoed on the 4th fret, making the key B. It is also played with a capo on 2nd fret.

The origins of both songs are mysterious. Stewie in another thread made some great points which I will elaborate on later.

Any other earlier versions?

Subject: ADD Version: Little Maggie
From: Richie
Date: 02 Dec 02 - 10:27 PM

The chords in the previous post did not appear over the correct words but I think it's easy to understand.

Guest Q- I already had transcribed "Little Maggie" from Grayson and Whittier. Here are the lyrics"

LITTLE MAGGIE

(Fiddle Intro)

Oh yonder stands little Maggie,
With her dram glass in her hand.
She's passing by her troubles,
An' a courtin' some other man.

How can I ever stand it?
For to see those two blue eyes,
They're shinin' like a diamond
Like a diamond in the skies.

(Fiddle break; Spoken: Little Maggie)

Now march me down to the station,
With my suitcase in my hand.
I'm goin' away for to leave you, little girl,
I'm goin' to some far distant land.


(Fiddle break; Spoken: yee-hoo)

I would rather be in some dark holler,
Where the sun could never shine
Than to know you're another man's darling,
And no longer a darling of mine.

(Fiddle break;)

Sometimes I have a nickel,
And sometimes I have one dime.
Sometimes I've got ten dollars
Just to pay little Maggie's fine.

Pretty flowers were made for bloomin'
Pretty stars was made for to shine
Pretty girls were made for boys to love
Surely Maggie was made for mine.

(Fiddle Break; Spoken: I hope so anyway)

(Extended Fiddle solos)

Notes: The fourth verse is a floating verse from "East Virginia Blues/Dark Holler Blues."

-Richie

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Darlin' Corey / Little Maggie
From: Richie
Date: 03 Dec 02 - 12:41 AM

Here's the other Sharp version:

Lyr. Add: The Gambling Man (Darlin' Corey)
Cecil Sharp EFSSA No. 152-A
Sung by Mrs. Florence Samples at Goose Creek,
Manchester, Clay Co., Ky. Aug. 13, 1917

The poor man gambled all the night alone,
Until the break of day…
He rose up from the table,
And he threw his cards away.

Notes: This single verse has the Darlin' Corey melody and was the first collected by Sharp of this tune in 1917. It is an example of the "white" Appalachian blues tunes which include "Little Maggie;" "Hustling Gamblers/Country Blues," "East Virginia Blues," "Ain't Going to Work Tomorrow;" "Cora Allen;" "Drowsy Sleeper/Sleepers;" "Come All You Roving Gamblers;" and "Poor Rambler."

Other names for "Darlin' Corey" are "Dig a Hole in the Meadow," "Darlin' Cora," "Little Lulie," "Darling Cora," "Corey, Corey" and "Dig a Hole."

-Richie

Subject: ADD: Cora Is Gone (Flatt & Scruggs)
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Dec 02 - 02:35 AM

these are the words for Flatt and Scrugg's "Cora is Gone" (probably copyright Certain and Stacey [their managerial wives]).

Cora is Gone

The wind through the night is blowing so lonesome
Singing to me a song
A whippoorwill call is just a reminder
Pretty girls have hearts made of stone

I'll wake with the blues at dawn
My darling Cora is gone
I don't know why she told me goodbye
But my darling Cora is gone

The ring that she wears I bought for her finger
Purchased her raiments so fine
Gave her my last green back dollar
And now she's left me behind

Drifting along like a brush on a river
Caring not where I roam
Going to live in a deep forest
Dark hollow will be my new home

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Darlin' Corey / Little Maggie
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 03 Dec 02 - 03:38 AM

I included two versions of "Little Maggie" on the second volume of my The Traditional Music of Beech Mountain, NC, field recordings collected back in the early 60s. One is done with fretless banjo by Tab Ward, a tobacco farmer who was in his 50s when I recorded him. By way of contrast, the other is a more ballad-styled, unaccompanied rendition (with a more complete text) sung by the truly great ballad singer of the region, Lee Monroe Presnell. Mr. Presnell was well into his 80s when I met and recorded him. These field recordings (both volumes) are now available as CDs (CD-22 and CD-23)and they come with the booklets of notes and texts that accompanied the original LPs. Our "in-house produced CDs" are still too new to be listed on our web site, but we offer them at the same price as our commercially produced CDs. If you'd like to know more about our "in-house" CDs, give us a call at 1-800-836-0901. We are making new masters in our spare time every day, trying to get our entire back catalog available on CD. Eighteen ready now, and over a hundred to go.

Sandy (still playing catch-up)

Subject: Info: Cora Is Gone
From: Richie
Date: 03 Dec 02 - 08:07 AM

This is some info on Mac Odell, who is (by one source) the author of "Cora is gone" which is a different song than "Darlin' Cory" and probably shouldn't be included on this thread.

(b Odell McLeod, 31 May 1916, Roanoke Alabama) Country gospel singer, known as the Old Country Boy. Began on local radio in New Orleans mid-'30s, moved to Nashville and had gospel show on WLAC for many years. Recorded for Mercury '51-6 and Audio Lab '56-62 without much commercial success, though songs like "Banking With My Lord" and "Thirty Pieces Of Silver" gave him a considerable following. LPs incl. Hymns For The Country Folks '63 on Audio Lab, Be On Time and Wild Rose Of The Mountain '77-8 on Folk Variety, Early Radio '81 on Old Homestead. With wife Addie they appeared on WLAC radio in Nashville for many years. Wrote songs recorded by Roy Acuff, Flatt & Scruggs, Cowboy Copas and others.

-Richie

Subject: Lyr Add: LITTLE MAGGIE (from Stanley Brothers)
From: Richie
Date: 03 Dec 02 - 08:25 AM

Here's some info from Ceolas: A Fiddler's Companion on "Little Maggie" and a touching recollection by Tommy Jarrell.

"Little Maggie" was recorded by the Stanley Brothers in 1946, when their music was more old-time than bluegrass in style. Mt. Airy, North Carolina, fiddler Tommy Jarrell remembered the tune "going around" the Round Peak area (where he grew up) around 1915 or 1916, and became quite popular with the younger folk. A tragedy occurred about the same time when his 14 year old cousin, Jullie Jarrell, was tending a fire in the kitchen stove and, thinking it was out, poured kerosene over the wood to renew it which suddenly caused flames to flare and severely burn her. Tommy related:

I was coming from the mill on horseback carrying a sack of cornmeal and all at once I saw the smoke and heard the younguns come running towards me crying, 'Jullie's burnt up and the house is a-fire.' I jumped off the horse and ran as fast as I could to the house--later I though about how much faster I could have gotten there by throwing the meal off and riding the horse, but you don't think clear at times like that. When I reached the door I saw Aunt Susan kneeling on the floor above Julie, weeping, her hands all blistered from beating out the fire with a quilt. Jullie was laying there crying, but there wasn't much we could do for her so we ran to the spring for water to put out the fire in the house. They put Jullie to bed right away--her whole body was burned up to her chin, and at first she cried in pain but after a while she didn't feel anything at all. That evening as she was laying there she asked me to get my banjo and sing "Little Maggie" for her. That was the only thing she wanted to hear--it had just recently come around and everyone seemed to take to it. I expect I played it the best I ever had in my life, with the most feeling, anyway. It seemed to comfort her and pick up her spirits a little, but by the following morning she was dead. (Richard Nevins)

The song appears to have been played in neighboring Grayson County, Virginia, a generation earlier, according to Richard Nevins, which points out how isolated the mountainous regions were around the turn of the century.

Lyr. Add: LITTLE MAGGIE from Stanley Brothers:

Oh yonder stands little Maggie
With a dram glass in her hands
She's drinking away her troubles
She's a courtin' some other man

Oh how can I ever stand it
Just to see them two blue eyes
A shinin in the moonlight
Like two diamonds in the sky

Last time a saw little Maggie
She was sittin' on the banks of the sea
With a forty-four around her
And a banjo on her knee

Lay down your last gold dollar
Lay down your gold watch and chain
Little Maggie's gonna dance for daddy
Listen to that old banjo ring

Pretty flowers were made for blooming
Pretty stars were made to shine
Pretty women were made for lovin'
Little Maggie was made for mine

Subject: DTADD: Country Blues
From: Richie
Date: 03 Dec 02 - 09:50 AM

Joe- Here's what I have for "Country Blues."

COUNTRY BLUES

Come all you good time people,
While I've got money to spend;
Tomorrow might be Monday,
And I'll neither have a dollar nor a friend.

When I had plenty of money, good people,
My friends were all standing around;
Just as soon as my pocketbook was empty,
Not a friend on earth to be found.

Last time I seen my little woman, good people,
She had a wine glass in her hand;
She was drinking down her troubles
With a low-down, sorry man.

Oh my daddy taught me a-plenty, good people;
My mama she taught me more.
If I didn't quit my rowdy ways,
Have trouble at my door.

I wrote my woman a letter, good people
I told her I's in jail;
She wrote me back an answer
Saying, "Honey I'm a-coming to go your bail."

All around this old jailhouse is ha'nted, good people,
Forty dollars won't pay my fine;
Corn whiskey has surrounded my body, poor boy,
Pretty women is a-troubling my mind.

Give me corn bread when I'm hungry, good people,
Corn whiskey when I'm dry;
Pretty women a-standing around me,
Sweet heaven when I die.

If I'd a-listened to my mama, good people,
I wouldn't have been here today;
But a-drinking and a-shooting and a-gambling,
At home I cannot stay

Go dig a hole in the meadow, good people,
Go dig a hole in the ground;,                     
Come around all you good people,      
And see this poor rounder go down.

When I am dead and buried,
My pale face turned to the sun,
You can come around and mourn, little woman,
And think the way you have done.

Liner Notes: Dock Boggs Issued as Brunswick 131 in 1927 with "Sammie, Where Have You Been So Long?" on the other side. Homer Crawford, the itinerant photographer and musician from Tennessee, taught the song to Dock as Hustling Gamblers, probably around 1914. Dock added verses of his own both for this recording and later, in 1963, when he recorded it again on Folkways FA 2351. Hustling Gamblers and Darling Gory (or Corey) belong to the same lyric and tune family, one that has been around in the Southern mountains for over a century. The family of tunes probably originates late in the 19th century and belongs to the then developing tradition of white blues ballads. Dock's tune differs from the common versions.

-Richie

---

Hey, Richie, where's you get it? Did you transcribe it yourself?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Lyr Add: LITTLE LULIE(Dick Justice)
From: Stewie
Date: 03 Dec 02 - 06:39 PM

LITTLE LULIE

Wake up, wake up, Little Lulie
What makes you sleep so sound
The highway robbers (are) coming
To burn your playhouse down

If I had minded daddy
Lord, I wouldn't been here today
Drinking wine and good whisky
Has caused me to run away

I'll go up some dark hollow
Where the sun don't ever shine
There I'll sit with another man's woman
And I know she will never be mine

I'll build me a steeple
Upon the mountain so high
So I can see Little Lulie
Once more before I die

I dreamt I saw Little Lulie
Sitting by the sea
An empty glass beside her
And a forty-four at her knee

Young girls, young girls, take warning
Now take this warning from me
Don't never leave your father
For a gambling man like me

The last time I saw Little Lulie
She had a wine glass in her hand
Drinking up her troubles
And courting some other man

Now if you see Little Lulie
Just tell her I am dead
I am lying in a lonely graveyard
With a tombstone at my head

Source: transcription of Dick Justice 'Little Lulie' recorded 20 May 1929 in Chicago, Ill, and issued in September 1929 as Br 336. Reissued on Various Artists 'Old-Time Music From West Virginia' Document DOCD-8004.

--Stewie.

Subject: Lyr ADD: 'Darling Cora' - B.F. Shelton
From: Stewie
Date: 03 Dec 02 - 07:37 PM

Below is my transcription of B.F. Shelton's 'Darling Cora'. Despite repeated listenings, I have been unable to decipher the last 2 lines of stanza 5. Perhaps Dale or someone else who has the recording will come along and help out.

DARLING CORA

Oh go dig a hole in the meadow
Oh go dig a hole in the ground
Go dig a hole in the meadow
Let me lay pretty Corey down

Oh the last time I saw darling Corey
She was sitting on the bank of the sea
With a forty-four around her
And a banjo on her knee

Wake up, wake up, darling Corey
How can you sleep so sound
Highway robbers are coming
Gonna tear your still-house down

Go away, go away, darling Corey
And bring to me my gun
I ain't no man for trouble
But trouble just now begun

The last time I saw darling Corey
(She) had a forty-five in her hand
? ? ? ?    revenue officers
If they'd lead her with my man (??)

Go away, go away, darling Corey
Quit your hanging around my bed
Whisky has ruined my body
Pretty women will kill me stone dead

Across the deep blue ocean
Across the deep blue sea
Go bring to me darling Corey
Wherever she may be

Wake up, wake up, darling Corey
Go do the best you can
I have got me another woman
You can notch you another man

Oh yes, oh yes, my darling
I'll do the best I can
But I'll never give my pleasure
For another gamblin' man

Source: transcription of B.F. Shelton 'Darling Cora' recorded on 29 July 1927 in Bristol, Tenn, and issued as Vi 35838.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Darlin' Corey / Little Maggie
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 Dec 02 - 07:37 PM

Gee, I'm enjoying this...
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Darlin' Corey / Little Maggie
From: michaelr
Date: 03 Dec 02 - 07:50 PM

Ah, different song altogether. Sorry for muddying the waters!

Michael

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Darlin' Corey / Little Maggie
From: Stewie
Date: 03 Dec 02 - 08:00 PM

I have not heard Buell Kazee's 1927 recording 'Darling Cora' - as far as I am aware, it has not been reissued. When Gene Bluestein recorded him for Folkways in the 1960s, he recorded a fragment under the title of 'Darling Corey'. Kazee commented on the recording that he did not know what the song meant, that the verses were incoherent, but that it was very popular among the people in his region.

DARLING COREY

Wake up, wake up, darling Corey
What makes you sleep so sound
Them highway robbers are raging
They'll burn your building down

You see those pretty girls coming
With curls all 'round their head
When I see them pretty girls coming
I wish darling Corey was dead

Source: from booklet insert to Buell Kazee 'Buell Kazee Sings & Plays' Folkways LP FS 3810.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Darlin' Corey / Little Maggie
From: Stewie
Date: 03 Dec 02 - 08:48 PM

A recording of 'Little Maggie' by Frank Proffitt may be found on Various Artists 'Her Bright Smile Haunts Me Still: The Warner Collection Vol I' Appleseed APR CD 1035. The text is pretty much the same as the Grayson and Whitter text posted above by Richie, but with the stanzas in a totally different order.

Roscoe Holcomb's version of 'Darlin' Corey' may be found on Roscoe Holcomb 'High Lonesome Sound' Smithsonian/Folkways SF CD 40079. It's a fine performance, which seems to be sourced from Boggs' 'Country Blues' with some alterations and additions, but it would be a real stinker to transcribe.

--Stewie.

Subject: Lyr Add: DARLING CORY
From: Richie
Date: 03 Dec 02 - 10:55 PM

Lyr. Add: DARLING CORY

Wake up, wake up, darlin' Cory
What makes you sleep so sound
When the revenuers are coming
Goin' to tear your stillhouse down

Go away, go away, darling Cory,
Stop hangin' around my bed.
Bad liquor destroyed my body
Pretty women's gone to my head.

Don't you hear those bluebirds a-singin',
Don't you hear their mournful sound?
They are preachin' Cory's funeral
In some lonesome graveyard ground.

The last time I saw darlin' Cory,
She was sittin' on the bank of the sea,
With a jug of liquor in her arm,
And a fourty-five across her knee.

Notes: Recorded by Artus Moser from the singing of Pleaz Mobley of Manchester, Ky., at Renfro Valley, 1946, Library of Congress record LP14. The first verse is the "Wake up, wake up" common in the "Drowsey Sleeper/Silver Dagger/Katie Dear" songs. The third verse is different than others posted.

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Darlin' Corey / Little Maggie
From: Bill D
Date: 03 Dec 02 - 11:06 PM

now, the version of Darlin' Corey I liked best was the Burl Ives one which was sung sad, slow & mournful...(and in some minor mode/key?)...I always felt that the tune and 'pace' of the song were more important than the (mostly) minor lyrics variations. I have not done enough research to know where Burl got it, or why he slowed it down from the bano-driven versions....but I prefer to sing it that way.

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Darlin' Corey / Little Maggie
From: Richie
Date: 04 Dec 02 - 06:59 AM

From the above post by Joe Offer:

DIG A HOLE IN THE MEADOW

"Brogan shoes all in her hand
An' her stockin' feet on the floor."

Is this a mishearing of "Holdin'" or are there "Brogan" shoes?

"Holdin' shoes all in her hand
An' her stockin' feet on the floor."

-Richie

Subject: Lyr Add: DARLING CORA (B. F. Shelton)
From: Richie
Date: 28 Dec 02 - 10:51 PM

After listening to Darlin' Cora by Shelton, I've added some of the missing lyrics to Stewie's transcription posted above:

DARLING CORA: B.F. Shelton

Oh go dig a hole in the meadow
Oh go dig a hole in the ground
Go dig a hole in the meadow
Let me lay pretty Corey down

Oh the last time I saw darlin' Corey
She was sittin' on the bank of the sea
With a forty-four around her
And a banjo on her knee.

Wake up, wake up, darling Corey
How can you sleep so sound
Highway robbers are comin'
Gonna tear your still-house down.

Go away, go away, darlin' Corey
And bring to me my gun
I ain't no man for trouble
But trouble just now begun.

The last time I saw darling Corey
(She) had a forty-five in her hand
Kill them revenue officers
If they leave here with my man.

Go away, go away, darling Corey
Quit your hangin' around my bed
Whisky has ruined my body
Pretty women will kill me stone dead.

Across the deep blue ocean
Across the deep blue sea
Go bring to me darlin' Corey
Wherever she may be.

Wake up, wake up, darlin' Corey
Go do the best you can
I have got me another woman
You can notch you another man

Oh yes, oh yes, my darlin'
I'll do the best I can
But I'll never give my pleasure
For another gamblin' man.

Notes: Transcription of B.F. Shelton 'Darling Cora' recorded on July 29, 1927 in Bristol, Tenn. and issued as Vi 35838. Transcribed by Stewie, corrections by Richie

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Darlin' Corey / Little Maggie CHORDS
From: chico
Date: 12 Apr 05 - 12:49 PM

D       D6    D          (F)
Wake up, wake up, darling Corey,
                Ddim      D
What makes you sleep so sound?
             D6          C
Them revenue officers a'coming
       D       D6          D
For to tear your still-house down.

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Darlin' Corey / Little Maggie
From: chico
Date: 12 Apr 05 - 12:52 PM

UPdated D6 just by letting the 2nd string be open. Quick F by Barre on the 1st fret with "E" fingering. () means optional.

      D       6    D          (F)
Wake up, wake up, darling Corey,
                D-       D (F)
What makes you sleep so sound?
             6            C   (7)
Them revenue officers a'coming
       D         6          D
For to tear your still-house down.

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Darlin' Corey / Little Maggie
From: chico
Date: 12 Apr 05 - 01:11 PM

Low Voice:

      A       6    A          (C)
Wake up, wake up, darling Corey,
                A-       A (C)
What makes you sleep so sound?
             6            G   (7)
Them revenue officers a'coming
       A         6          A    (G A)
For to tear your still-house down.

A6 Just lean your hand to cover the 1st string at the 2nd fret as well.
A- To simplify just use D7 for the first 3 strings, then pluck the open 5th string (Imperfect chord warning)

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Darlin' Corey / Little Maggie
From: Mr Happy
Date: 26 Oct 07 - 10:41 AM

Kingston Trio:http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=bNufs0iyQ-E

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Darlin' Corey / Little Maggie
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 26 Oct 07 - 12:05 PM

This is a fascinating study of the "folk process" at work. I had not seen that many variants in one place. Of course, though the group "doesn't count" in the broader discussion here, many people would never have heard of these two songs had the Kingston Trio not recorded their short, edited versions on one of their earliest LPs.

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Darlin' Corey / Little Maggie
From: GUEST,Bob Coltman
Date: 14 Feb 11 - 05:01 PM

To supplement the B.F. Shelton transcription above, here is the other earliest recorded version. It's a lot more miscellaneous than Shelton's, with mostly disconnected verses.

The one thing I can't make out is the fourth line of the first verse. If any of you get a chance to hear it, see if you can tell what he's singing. Bob

DARLING CORA
As recorded by Buell Kazee, Brunswick, April 19, 1927

Wake up, wake up, Darling Corey,
What makes you sleep so sound?
Those highway robbers are raging,
[They knock? Acting up? Cutting up?] around your town.

Wake up, wake up, darling Corey,
How can you sleep so late?
When those burglars now are coming,
They're waiting at your gate.

Just see that old train a-coming,
See her coming around the curve,
She's a-pulling for the station,
And straining every nerve.

Just see those pretty girls coming
With curls all round their head,
When I see those pretty girls coming
I wish darling Corey was dead.

Last night I lay on a pillow,
Tonight I lay on a bed,
Last night I lay on a pillow,
And I dreamed darling Corey was dead.

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Darlin' Corey / Little Maggie
From: GUEST,Bob Coltman
Date: 27 Mar 11 - 09:29 AM

I am looking for two additional versions of "Darling Cory" — can anyone post them here?

The first is Roscoe Holcomb's.

The second is in Fuson, Ballads of the Kentucky Highlands.

Either text would be greatly appreciated, if anyone here has access to them!

Thanks,

Bob

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Darlin' Corey / Little Maggie
From: pdq
Date: 27 Mar 11 - 10:58 AM

B. F. Shelton recorded Darling Cora, O Molly Dear, Cold Penitentiary Blues and Pretty Polly on the 29 JUL 1927 date mentioned. Part of the famous Bristol Sessions that Ralph Peer did.

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Darlin' Corey / Little Maggie
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 30 Mar 11 - 08:37 AM

Hi,

Here's my painting of Darlin Corey:

http://www.mattesonart.com/darlin-corey.aspx

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Darlin' Corey / Little Maggie
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 08 Mar 14 - 03:50 PM

Lyr. Add: LITTLE MAGGIE
Ruby Vass, VA

Oh, yonder stands little Maggie,
With a dram glass in her hand.
She's passin' by her troubles;
Been courtin' another man.

How can I ever stand it,
To see those two blue eyes,
A shinin' like a diamond,
Like a diamond in the sky?

Oh, I start me down to the station
With a suitcase in my hand.
I'm goin' away for to leave you,
I'm goin' to some far distant land.

Sometimes I have a nickel,
Sometimes I have a dime.
Sometimes I have ten dollars,
Just to pay little Maggie's fine.

Pretty stars were made for shinin',
Pretty flowers were made to bloom.
Pretty girls were made for boy's love,
Surely Maggie was made for mine.

I'd rather be in some lonesome holler,
Where the sun could never shine,
Than to know you're another man's darlin',
And no longer a darlin' of mine.

Mostly similar to other versions. The last verse is often a part of "East Virginia."

P. 11, with musical score.

Herbert Shellans, 1968, "Folk Songs of the Blue Ridge Mountains," Oak Publications.

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Darlin' Corey / Little Maggie
From: GUEST,tuvya
Date: 07 May 21 - 01:07 PM

I just visited B F Shelton's version . I think I hear "haunt" instead of "notch."

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Darlin' Corey / Little Maggie
From: cnd
Date: 07 May 21 - 02:30 PM

I agree that "haunt" is probably correct; I don't think notch was used in that sense back then.

I have a second correction to Richie and Stewie's transcriptions:

Last time a saw little Maggie
She was sittin' on the banks of the sea
With a forty-four, a rounder,
And a banjo on her knee

To me that makes much more sense than a 44 "around her" -- what would that mean? On the other hand, having a rounder (ie, a vagrant/drunk) would make much more sense in that context.

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Darlin' Corey / Little Maggie
From: GUEST,John Doyle
Date: 01 Nov 21 - 10:01 PM

I wanted to add to the thread if I may. I'm just learning this song. So I collected several lyrics and tried to make them connect a bit better. Then I added a few original lyrics to the end.

Dig a hole dig a hole in the meadow
Dig a hole in the cold cold ground
Dig a hole dig a hole in the meadow
Gonna lay darlin’ Corey down

The first time I seen darlin Corey
She was sittin by a willow tree
She had a fourty-four buckled around her
And a brown jug on her knee

In a tar paper shack in the Mount-teens
That’s where my darlin’ dwells
She makes the finest corn liquor
And what she don’t drink she sells

Wake up Wake up darlin Corey
What makes your sleep so sound?
The law man is a comin
He’s gonna tear your still house down

The next time I seen darlin’ Corey,
She had a dram glass in her hand,
She was drinkin' down her troubles,
With some low down ramblin' man.

Last night as I lay on my pillow,
Tried to rest upon on my bed,
Went and had a nightmare,
I dreamed my darlin’ was dead.

Wake up, wake up, darling Corey
Go and do the best you can
Gonna get me another woman
You can haunt some other man

The last time I saw darlin’ Corey,
She had a sweet smile on her face;
She had put her Trust in Jesus
And is headed to a better place.

Don't you hear them blue-birds singing'?
Don't you hear that joyful sound?
They're preachin' Corey's funeral,
Darlin’ Corey is Heaven Bound.