Here's Uncle Dave Macon's version. If Stewie could proof it would be helpful.

WAY DOWN THE OLD PLANK ROAD
(Uncle Dave Macon)

[spoken] Hot dog, buddy let's go

Rather be in Richmond, midst all the hail and rain,
Than for to be in Georgia boys, wearing that ball and chain.

Chorus: Won't get drunk no more, won't get drunk no more,
Won't get drunk no more, way down on the old plank road.

I went down to Mobile for to get on the gravel train,
Very next thing heard of me, had on a ball and chain.

Chorus

Doney, oh dear Doney, what makes you treat me so?
Caused me to wear the bail and chain, now my ankle's sore.

Chorus

[spoken] Glory halelujah there!

Knoxville is a pretty place, Memphis is a beauty,
Want to see them pretty girls, hop to Chattanoogie.

Chorus

[spoken] Glory halelujah there! Fare thee well I'm gone!

I'm going to build me a scaffold on some mountain high,
So I can see my Dora girl, she goes riding by.

Chorus

My wife died Friday night, Saturday she was buried,
Sunday was my courting day, Monday I got married.

Chorus

[spoken] Gee horse there!

Eighteen pounds of meat a week, whiskey here to sell,
How can a young man stay at home, pretty girls look so well.

Chorus

[spoken] Fare thee well!

Notes: Uncle Dave Macon, "Way Down the Old Plank Road" (Vocalion 5097, 1926; on AAFM3, RoughWays1).

Does anyone know where the word "Dony" originates which is used as a slang for "girl" or "honey"? It's appears in lots of blues songs.

-Richie

---

Thread #31041   Message #852376
Posted By: Stewie
22-Dec-02 - 09:14 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Add: songs by Uncle Dave Macon
Subject: Lyr Add: WAY DOWN THE OLD PLANK ROAD

Richie posted his transcription for 'Way Down The Old Plank Road'. I believe it is more accurate than the transcription already in the DT and linked to earlier in this thread. See Richie's 'My Wife Died On A Sat. Night' thread for associated songs: CLICK HERE


WAY DOWN THE OLD PLANK ROAD

[Spoken] Hot dog, buddy let's go

Rather be in Richmond, midst all the hail and rain,
Than for to be in Georgia boys, wearing that ball and chain.

Chorus:
Won't get drunk no more, won't get drunk no more,
Won't get drunk no more, way down the old plank road.

I went down to Mobile for to get on the gravel train,
Very next thing heard of me, had on a ball and chain.

Chorus

Doney, oh dear Doney, what makes you treat me so?
Caused me to wear the bail and chain, now my ankle's sore.

Chorus

[spoken] Glory halelujah there!

Knoxville is a pretty place, Memphis is a beauty,
Want to see them pretty girls, hop to Chattanoogie.

Chorus

[Spoken] Glory halelujah there! Fare thee well I'm gone!

I'm gwine to build me a scaffold on some mountain high,
So I can see my Dora girl, she goes riding by.

Chorus

My wife died Friday night, Saturday she was buried,
Sunday was my courting day, Monday I got married.

Chorus

[Spoken] Gee horse there!

Eighteen pounds of meat a week, whiskey here to sell,
How can a young man stay at home, pretty girls look so well.

Chorus

[spoken] Fare thee well!

Source: Uncle Dave Macon (with Sam McGee) 'Way Down The Old Plank Road' recorded on 14 April 1926 in NYC and issued as Vocalion 15321 in June 1926 and as Vocalion 5097 in February 1927. Reissued on Uncle Dave Macon 'Go Long Mule' County CO-CD-3505.

--Stewie.