The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #22794   Message #249843
Posted By: GUEST,Pete Peterson at work
30-Jun-00 - 12:10 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Coot from Tennessee
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coot from Tennessee
To me, the key line is line 7 (thanks, Mark, for all that work!) and the best recording is not the GB (despite that extra verse) but Charlie Poole's, which a number of people have listened to with interest and gotten these variations:
Tom Paley: I'm gonna live on the highways till I die
Mac Benford: I'm gonna live in the highwoods till I die
Pete Peterson: I'm gonna live in Hell until I die

Since Mac Benford was the one with working band (and he NAMED the band for the song-- see the album cover!) his version seems to be the most virulent meme. Dale-- do you agree that "on the highways" makes more sense than "in the highways"?

Whatever the GB sing, it's something slightly different.