The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #7482   Message #797964
Posted By: Stewie
06-Oct-02 - 07:54 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Riley the Furniture Man
Subject: Lyr Add: RILEY THE FURNITURE MAN
Here is Mark Wilson's transcription of the Georgia Crackers' version from the booklet of his 'Rich Man Poor Man: American Country Songs of Protest' Rounder LP 1026:

RILEY THE FURNITURE MAN

Goin' down to that loan man, ought to be bad
Riley's wagon been here, got everything I had

Refrain:
Riley's been here, got my furniture and gone

Riley comes to my house, these are the words he said
Told that nigger driver, take down that rosewood bed

Makes no difference to the white man, white as a crystal snow
If you don't pay Mr Riley, he'll take your furniture sho'

Riley, he was a white man, he lived on sixteenth street
Every Saturday evening, Mr Riley you would meet

[Repeat stanzas 2 through 4]

The Cofer Brothers' 1929 recording 'Keno, The Rent Man' is reissued on Various Artists 'Georgia Stringbands Vol 1' Document DOCD-8021.

--Stewie.