It was easy to post lyrics from Bob's 1975 album, Before They Close the Minstrel Show because my CD had lyrics and notes on a PDF file. The CD of his 1973 album, Lonesome Robin has no notes or lyrics, other than this blurb on the CD cover:
There are many talented and creative musicians playing folk music today. Few combine the love of tradition, the musical versatility and
sophistication, the good taste and the ease of performance as well as Bob Coltman. Listening to Bob gives you the feeling of a seemingly endless store of songs and tunes: songs and tunes which flow so naturally that you're sure Bob was born with them. If blues fiddle was ever recorded --which it was--you can be sure that Bob can tell you when, where and by whom; and then he'll play it for you. If you want to learn bottleneck guitar or the way Charlie Poole or Uncle Dave Macon play a song, Bob can teach you, or play you a tape he's had
for years. He's at home with all this music, and plays it with the comfortable, easy feeling usually reserved for the traditional singers and musicians themselves.
Bob has also written literally hundreds of songs. He has reworked themes of Child Ballads, created portraits of people, lovable and otherwise, written songs of love and lust and invented banjo tunes you're sure were recorded in the 1920s. He can wonder what crossed Robin Hood's mind as he lay dying or paint a touching picture of a bum.
The best way to get to know Bob and his music is to dedicate yourself to staying up late, playing or singing till your fingers are sore and your throat raw, and just letting time go by. Bob may get tired of the guitar or banjo for awhile, and will switch to harmonica, mandolin or whatever's handy. It makes little difference to him. Spreading the music, and the enjoyment of playing it, is what's important.
Here's the track listing for Lonesome Robin (1973):
- Wish to the Lord I'd Never Been Born (Trad., Clarke)
- Lonesome Robin (Coltman)
- The Honest Farmer (Trad., Carson)
- Kissing Song (Trad., Day)
- Red Ransom (Coltman)
- What Kind of Shoes (Trad., Rexroat)
- Weaver Bird (Coltman)
- George Collins (Trad., Brockwell)
- Slipping and Sliding Up the Golden Street (Trad., Daniels)
- Captain Hanley and Sweet Mazie (Coltman)
- Forty Years Ago (Coltman)
- Vandy, Vandy (Trad., Wellman)