Here are the songs I have chorded so far.
I hope the line breaks are there this time. If not, I'll keep trying till I get it right.
Old and Only in the Way
Baltimore Fire
Bill Mason
Budded Rose
Don't Let Your Deal Go Down
The Girl I Loved In Sunny Tennessee
Goodbye Mary Dear
Goodbye Sweet Liza Jane
Goodbye Booze
The Highwayman
Hungry Hash House
I Once Loved A Sailor
If I Lose, I Don't Care
If The River Was Whiskey
Jay Gould's Daughter
Leaving Dear Old Ireland
Moving Day
Look Before You Leap
Baltimore Fire
Traditional
G C
It was on a silver falls by a narrow
G D
That I heard the cry I ever will remember,
G C
The fire sent and cast its burning embers
G D G
On another fated city of our land.
Chorus:
G
Fire, Fire, I heard the cry
C G
From every breeze that passes by,
C G D
All the world was one sad cry of pity
G G
Strong men in anguish prayed,
C G
Calling loud to the Heavens for aid,
C G
While the fire in ruin was laying
D C G
Fair Baltimore, the beautiful city
G C
Amid-an-awful-struggle of commotion,
G D
The-wind blew-a-gale from the ocean,
G C
Brave firemen struggled with devotion,
G D G
But their efforts all proved in vain.
Chorus:
G
Fire, Fire, I heard the cry
C G
From every breeze that passes by,
C G D
All the world was one sad cry of pity
G G
Strong men in anguish prayed,
C G
Calling loud to the Heavens for aid,
C G
While the fire in ruin was laying
D C G
Fair Baltimore, the beautiful city
The awful news did spread across the wire
Of another sad catastrophe so dire,
That Baltimore City is afire,
And sinking 'neath the foe's relentless hand.
From New Lost City Ramblers; originally recorded by Charlie Poole.
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Bill Mason
Charlie Poole
1
Bill Mason was an engineer
4 1
He'd been on the road all of his life
1
I'll never forget the morning
2 5
He married himself a wife
1
Bill hadn't been married more than an hour
4 1
'Till up came a message from Kress
1 1
And ordered Bill to come down
5 1
And bring out the night express
While Maggie sat by the window
A waiting for the night express
And if she hadn't a done so
She'd have been a widow, I guess
There was some drunken rascals
That come down by the ridge
They come down by the railroad
And tore off the rail from the bridge
Well, Maggie heard them working
"I guess there's something wrong
In less than fifteen minutes
Bill's train would be along"
She couldn't come near to tell it
A mile it wouldn't've done
She just grabbed up the lantern
And made for the bridge alone
By Jove, Bill saw the signal
And stopped the night express
And found his Maggie crying
On the track in her wedding dress
Her crying and laughing for joy
Still holding on to the light
He came around the curve a-flying
Bill Mason's on time tonight
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Budded Rose
Charlie Poole
1 5
Little sweetheart, we have parted
5 1
From each other we must go
4 1
Many miles may separate us
5 1
From this world of care and woe
But I treasure of the promise
That you made me in the lane
When you said we'd be together
When the roses bloom again
Now this parting gives us sorrow
Oh, it almost breaks my heart
But say, darling, will you love me
When we meet no more to part?
Instrumental break
Down among the budded roses
I am nothing but a stem
I have parted from my darling
Never more to meet again
Will this parting be forever?
Will there be no coming day
When our hearts will be united
And all troubles pass away?
Darling, meet me up in heaven
That's my true and earnest prayer
If you loved me here on earth, dear
I am sure you'll love me there
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Budded Rose
Charlie Poole
1 5
Little sweetheart, we have parted
5 1
From each other we must go
4 1
Many miles may separate us
5 1
From this world of care and woe
But I treasure of the promise
That you made me in the lane
When you said we'd be together
When the roses bloom again
Now this parting gives us sorrow
Oh, it almost breaks my heart
But say, darling, will you love me
When we meet no more to part?
Instrumental break
Down among the budded roses
I am nothing but a stem
I have parted from my darling
Never more to meet again
Will this parting be forever?
Will there be no coming day
When our hearts will be united
And all troubles pass away?
Darling, meet me up in heaven
That's my true and earnest prayer
If you loved me here on earth, dear
I am sure you'll love me there
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Don't Let Your Deal Go Down
Charlie Poole
E A
I've been all around this whole wide world,
D G G
Way down in Memphis Tennessee.
E A
Any old place I hang my hat
D G
Seems like home to me.
cho:
E A 0/5 2/5 0/5 0/4
Don't let your deal go down.
D G
Don't let your deal go down.
E A
Don't let your deal go down, sweet mama
D G
Till your last old dollar's gone.
When I left my love behind,
She's standin' in the door;
She throwed her little arms around my neck and said,
"Sweet daddy please don't go!"
Now it's who's gonna shoe your pretty little feet?
Who's gonna glove your hand?
And who's gonna kiss your ruby lips
Honey, who's gonna be your man?
She says, "Papa will shoe my pretty little feet,
Manma will glove my hand.
You can kiss my rosy lips
When you get back again."
Where did you get them high-heel shoes.
And that dress you wear so fine?
Got nry shoes from a railroad man
Dress from a driver in the mine.
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The Girl I Loved In Sunny Tennessee
Charlie Poole
1
On one morning bright and clear
4
My old homestead I drew near
5 1
It's a village down in sunny Tennes-see
1
I was speeding on a train
4
That would carry me back again
5 1
To that girl I loved in sunny Tennessee
CHORUS:
1
You could hear those darkies singing
4 1
As she bid farewell to me
1
Far across the fields of cotton
5
My old homestead I could see
1
But as the moon rose in the glory
4 1
There I told the saddest story
5 1
To that girl I loved in sunny Tennessee
It has been but quite a few years
Since I kissed away her tears
As I left her at my dear old mother's side
And each day we've been apart
She's grown nearer to my heart
As the night I asked of her to be my bride
CHORUS:
1
You could hear those darkies singing
4 1
As she bid farewell to me
1
Far across the fields of cotton
5
My old homestead I could see
1
But as the moon rose in the glory
4 1
There I told the saddest story
5 1
To that girl I loved in sunny Tennessee
As the train run in at last
Those familiar scenes I passed
When I kissed my mother at the station door
When the crowd gathered round
Tears on every face I found
But I missed the one who I'd been waiting for
CHORUS:
1
You could hear those darkies singing
4 1
As she bid farewell to me
1
Far across the fields of cotton
5
My old homestead I could see
1
But as the moon rose in the glory
4 1
There I told the saddest story
5 1
To that girl I loved in sunny Tennessee
As I whispered "Mother dear
Where is Mary?" "She's not here."
All the world seems lonely, sadness came to me
As she pointed to a spot
In the little churchyard lot
Where my sweetheart sleeps in sunny Tennessee
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Goodbye Mary Dear
Charlie Poole
1
"Goodbye, Mary, I must go"
4 1
Said the lad, "Now don't weep so
1 5
For sad duties call me far across the sea
1
Take this autumn leaf of gold"
4 1
Said the lad, "'Twill never grow old
1 5 1
Always keep it near your heart and think of me"
Chorus:
1
I'll be there, Mary dear, I'll be there
1 5
When the fragrance of the roses fills the air
1 4 1
'Neath the oak tree grand and tall, when the leaves begins to fall
1 5 1
I'll be there, I'll be there, sweet Mary dear
1
See the lad with an empty sleeve
4 1
Of his comrades taking leave
1 5
They were home again, the transport had came back
1
"If she loved you once before
4 1
She won't love you less, I know
1 5 1
And one arm will do to fold her to you, Jack"
Chorus:
1
I'll be there, Mary dear, I'll be there
1 5
When the fragrance of the roses fills the air
1 4 1
'Neath the oak tree grand and tall, when the leaves begins to fall
1 5 1
I'll be there, I'll be there, sweet Mary dear
1
It was autumn time again
4 1
As he wandered down the lane
4 1
There beneath the old oak tree he found a grave
1
As he knelt in silent prayer
4 1
For the one he loved slept there
1 5 1
And the tears fell on the golden leaf she gave
Chorus:
1
I'll be there, Mary dear, I'll be there
1 5
When the fragrance of the roses fills the air
1 4 1
'Neath the oak tree grand and tall, when the leaves begins to fall
1 5 1
I'll be there, I'll be there, sweet Mary dear
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Goodbye Sweet Liza Jane
Charlie Poole
1
Look-a-here, Liza, listen to me
4
You're not the gal that you promised to be
1 1 5
Didn't you say you would always be true
1
You went out driving with Mr Brown
4
I am the laughing stock of the town
1 5 1
People said to never trust you
2
Throw up your hands, babe, I'm a-gonna go
5
I was a good man while I had the dough
1
So it's goodbye (Miss/sweet) Liza
4
I'm a-going to leave you
5 1
You know when I go, I'm the fellow with the dough-dough-dough
4
So sing a little song, travel along, yes travel along
1
Bid you good-day, babe, I'm on my way
2 5 1
Goodbye sweet Lisa Jane
Give me here my gold watch and chain
Give me that umbrella for fear it might rain
Give me the clothes that I paid for, too
Dive in the trunk and hand me them things
Give me here my diamond ring
And get Mr. Brown to dress you all up new
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Goodbye Booze
Charlie Poole
1 4 1
Oh goodbye booze for evermore
1 5 1
My boozing days will soon be o'er
1 4 1
Oh, I had a good time, but we couldn't agree
1 5 1
You see what booze has done for me
She's tore my clothes, she's swelled my head
So goodbye booze, I'm going to bed
Oh, I had a good time, but we couldn't agree
You see what booze has done for me
She swelled my head, she broke my heart
So goodbye booze, we now shall part
Oh, I had a good time, but we couldn't agree
You see what booze has done for me
She whispered low, how sweet it sounds!
Take another ride on the merry-go-round
Oh, I had a good time, but we couldn't agree
You see what booze has done to me
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The Highwayman
Charlie Poole
1
As I went down to the old depot
4 1
To see the trains roll by
4 5
I think I see my dear old girl
5 1
Hang her head and cry
The night was dark and stormy
It surely looked like rain
Not a friend in this whole wide world
No one knew my name
Nobody knew my name, poor boy,
No one knew my name
Not a friend in this whole wide world
And no one knew my name
Wait, Mr. Judge, oh, wait, Mr. Judge
Wait a little while
I think I saw my dear old girl
She's walked for miles and miles
Dear girl, have you brought me silver?
Dear girl, have you brought me gold?
Or have you walked these long, long miles
To see me hanged upon a hangman's pole?
Dear boy, I've brought you silver
Dear boy, I've brought you gold
I have not walked these long, long miles
To see you hanged upon a hangman's pole
She takes me from the scaffold
She untied my hands
Tears rolled down that poor girl's cheeks
"I love that highwayman"
Hungry Hash House
Charlie Poole
1
I'm a boarder and I dwell
4 1
In that second class hotel
1 5
If I stay here long I think I'll be insane
1
For I lay here on my bunk
1 4 1
And I cannot get my trunk
1 5 1
And the board I owe would break a millionaire
4
Oh they feed on chicken pie
1
If you eat it you may die
1 5
Beef you cannot cut it with a sword
1
Oh, the undertakers hang around
4 1
For there's work to be found
1 5 1
In that awful hungry hash house where I board
Oh they carried me upstairs one night
I had neither gun nor knife
Something they had never done before
Oh the fleas held me down
While the chinches crept around
In that awful hungry hash house where I board
Oh, the beefsteak it was rare
And the butter had red hair
Baby had its feet (both/all) in the soup
Oh, the eggs they would not catch
If you touched one it would hatch
In that awful hungry hash house where I stay
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I Once Loved A Sailor
Charlie Poole
1 4
I once loved a sailor, once a sailor loved me
5 1
He was not the sailor that sailed o'er the wide flowing sea
1 4
He owned an airship, sailed like the bird on the wing
5 1
Every evening when the sun drew near he'd fly to my window and sing:
1
Come take a trip in my airship,
4
come take a sail round the stars
5
Come take a trip in through Venus,
1
come have a sail 'round the Mars
1
No one to see while we're kissing,
4
no one to tell while we spoon
5
Come take a trip in my airship
1
and we'll visit the man in the moon
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If I Lose, I Don't Care
Charlie Poole
(AIR: Battleship Maine, White House Blues)
D
I can't walk, neither can I talk
G D
Just getting back from the state of old New York
A7 D
One morning, before day
Flossie, oh, Flossie, now what is the matter?
Walked all the way from old Cincinnat-a
One morning, before day
D
If I lose let me lose
A7 D
I don't care how much I lose
D G
If I lose a hundred dollars while I'm trying to win a dime
A7 D
For my baby she keeps money all the time.
The blood was a-running and I was running too
To give my feet some exercise. I had nothing else to do
One morning, before day
The peas was so greasy, the meat was so fat
The boys was fighting Spaniards while I was fighting gnats
One morning, just 'fore day
See them girls sitting at the tanks
Ready to catch the freight train
they called old Nancy Hanks
One morning, before day
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If The River Was Whiskey
Charlie Poole
(AIR: Hesitation Blues)
Am E7 Am E7
If the river was whiskey and I was a duck
Am E Am C C7
I'd dive to the bottom and I'd never come up
Chorus:
F C - F - C
Oh, Tell me how long do I have to wait
G G C
Oh, Can I get you now? Or must I hesitate?
If the river was whiskey and the branch was wine
You would see me in bathing just any old time
I was born in England, raised in France
I ordered a suit of clothes and they wouldn't
send the pants
I was born in Alabama, I was raised in Tennessee
If you don't like my peaches, don't shake on my tree
I looked down the road just as far as I could see
A man had my woman and the blues had me
I ain't no doctor but the doctor's son
I can do the doct'rin' till the doctor comes
Got the hesitation socks, the hesitation shoes
Believe to my Lord I've got the hesitation blues
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Jay Gould's Daughter
Traditional
1
One Monday morning it begin to rain.
5
'Round the curve come a passenger train.
1
On the blind was Hobo John.
1 5 - 1 1
He's a good old hobo, but he's dead and gone.
4 4 1
Dead and gone, Dead and gone.
1 5 - 1 1
He's a good old hobo, but he's dead and gone.
Charlie Snyder was a good engineer
Told his fireman not to fear
Pour on your water, boys, and shovel on your coal
Stick your head out the window, see the drivers roll
See the drivers roll, etc.
1
Jay Gould's daughter said before she died
5
Papa, fix the blinds so the bums can't ride.
1
If ride they must, they got to ride the rod.
1 5 - 1 1
Let 'em put their trust in the hands of God.
4
In the hands of God.
4 1
In the hands of God.
1 5 - 1 1
Let them put their trust in the hands of God.
Jay Gould's daughter said, before she died,
There's two more trains I'd like to ride.
Jay Gould said, "What can they be ?"
The Southern Pacific and the Santa Fe.
The Santa Fe, etc.
Jay Gould's daughter said, before she died,
There's two more drinks I'd like to try.
Jay Gould said, "What can they be?
They's a glass o' water and a cup o' tea.
A cup o' tea, etc.
From Folksinger's Wordbook, Compiled by Fred and Irwin Silber,
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Leaving Dear Old Ireland
Charlie Poole
1 4 1
When leaving dear old Ireland In the merry month of June
1 2 5
The birds were sweetly singing All nature seemed in tune
1 4 1
An Irish girl accosted me With a sad tear in her eye
1 5 1
And as she spoke these words to me So bitterly she cried
1 4 1
'Kind sir, I ask a favor Will you grant it to me, please
1 2 5
It is not much I ask of you But it'll set my heart at ease
1 4 1
Take these to my brother Ned Who's far across the sea
1 5 1
And don't forget to tell him, sir That they were sent by me'
Chorus:
1 4 1
Three leaves of shamrock The Irish shamrock
1 2 5
From his own darling sister A message too she gave
1 4 1
Take these to my brother For I have no one other
1 5 1
And tell him they were gathered From his angel mother's grave
1 4 1
'Dear Ned, since you have went away How bitter's been our lot
1 2 5
The landlord came one winter night And drove us from our cot
1 4 1
Our troubles they were many Our friends were very few
1 5 1
Oh, brother, how my mother Used to often sigh for you'
1 4 1
'"Son, oh, son, come back again" She did so often say
1 2 5
At last she was stricken And soon was laid away
1 4 1
Her grave I watered with my tears That's where these flowers grew
1 5 1
Oh, brother, these are all I have And these I've sent to you'
Chorus:
1 4 1
Three leaves of shamrock The Irish shamrock
1 2 5
From his own darling sister A message too she gave
1 4 1
Take these to my brother For I have no one other
1 5 1
And tell him they were gathered From his angel mother's grave
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Look Before You Leap
Charlie Poole
1 4
Love is a very funny thing
1 5
It catches the young and old
1 4
Like a plate of boarding-house hash
1 - 5 1
That many a man has sold
4 1
It makes you feel like a freshwater eel
4 1
It'll cause your head to swell
1 4
You'll lose your mind, for love is blind
5 1
It takes all your money as well
When you're struck on a pretty little gal
You talk as gentle as a dove
He spends all his money and call her "Honey"
To show her he's solid on his love
When his money's all gone and his clothes in soak
He'll find the old saying true
"A mole on the arm's worth two on the leg"
But what is he going to do?
When married folks have a plenty of cash
Their love is fond and strong
But when they have to live on hash
Their love doesn't last very long
With a wife and seventeen half-starved kids
I'll tell you it's no fun
When the butcher comes around to collect his bill
With a dog and a double-barrel gun
When rent is high and the kids all cry
Because there's no food or chaw
You'll holler for your son to load up your gone
While you vaccinate your mother-in-law
With a wife and seventeen half-starved kids
I'll tell you it's no fun
When the butcher comes around to collect his bill
With a dog and a double-barrel gun
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Moving Day
Traditional
C
The landlord said this mornin' to me
G7 C
Let's have that key, this rent ain't free
C
I can't live on nothin', you see
G7 C C7
Pack up your bags and skidoo, you
F
I'm just waitin' for my Bill to get home
C
He's my honey from the honeycomb
D7 G
He said that he'd never leave me alone this mornin', because it's
CHORUS:
C D
Movin' day, movin' day
G
Rip the carpet right off of the floor
C
Get on your overcoat and get out the door
C F
It's movin' day, pack up your bags and get away
C
If you can't pay your rent you got to live out in a tent
G C
It's moo-oo-oovin' day
Bill come back all covered with snow
I said, "Hello. Let's have some dough.
Here's the landlord waitin' for rent."
Bill says, "I ain't got a cent. No."
Try and catch me, mister landlord man,
I'll be leavin' just as soon as I can
I'm goin' back to Dixieland this mornin', because it's ...
From Delaware Water Gap; Charlie Poole
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Old and Only in the Way
Traditional
D G D
When you walk along the street, how often do you meet
D E A
Some poor old man who's gotten old and gray
D G D
With age is back is bent, in his pockets not a cent
D A7 D
And for shelter he has no place to stay
G D
His relations by the score, they'll turn him from the door
D E A
They'll see him on the street and pass him by
D G D
If you ask them why they do, they'll turn and say to you
D A D
"He is poor, he's gray, he's only in the way."
cho:
Now let us cheer them on, for they won't be with us long
Don't quarrel with them because they're old and gray
Just remember while you're young that to you old age will come
When you'll be old and gray, and only in the way.
There was a time, I hear, when youth was not so queer
But since that time there's been an awful change
Young men with strength and might to their parents they bring strife
If it happens every day that's nothing strange
In shackles they did toil, their children they did spoil
As sure for death ofttimes they do pray
He and his faithful wife were toiling all their life
To find they're old and only in the way
Now my message, I am sure, is for rich as well as poor
Take a rich man when he's growing old
His relations 'round him stand, and take him by the hand
They all want him to die, they want his gold
Through life he did enjoy all the things that gold can buy
But all his gold, his life it could not save
After all he's like the poor when his journey's nearly o'er
He finds he's old and only in the way
from Charlie Poole
Hi - some of the lines in this post were too wide. To make the chord spacing work, I had to reduce the type size. I suppose some of the chords are still in the wrong places, but it's the best I could do.
-Joe Offer-
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