Lyr Req: Roll On Weary River

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roll On Weary River
From: GUEST,999
Date: 05 Mar 12 - 10:28 AM

Roll on Weary River, Roll On ......... v.28#2 ......... p.27
                   Lillie West / Hedy West

That is the attribution from

http://www.singout.org/so-song-index.html

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roll On Weary River
From: Owen Woodson
Date: 05 Mar 12 - 10:20 AM

Here's the text as recorded by Hedy West on the Bear Family LP, Love, Hell and Biscuits, and as learnt from her grandmother, Mrs Lily Mulkey. The song seems to be pretty rare, so I'd guess that Cathy Barton probably learned it from Hedy, and possibly from Love, Hell and Biscuits,which appeared in 1976.

Whatever, it should plug the gaps in your own transcription.

Roll on, weary river, roll on.
Don't take me away with your song.
Your waters are deep.
Many secrets they keep.
Roll on, weary river, roll on.

I'm down by the river alone.
No place on earth to call home.
No true friends, no kin, in this wide world of sin.
No one knew and no one cares where I roam.

I've traveled this long lonesome road.
I'm hungry and weary and cold.
In my pockets a pipe and an old Barlow knife,
But there's nothing of silver and gold.

Your waters are treacherous and deep.
Many dark hidden secrets they keep.
I'm troubled in mind, but you don't give a dime.
Stay away from the cot where I sleep.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roll On Weary River
From: GUEST,999
Date: 04 Mar 12 - 12:42 PM

Sing Out magazine   Roll on Weary River, Roll On ......... v.28#2 ......... p.27        

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roll On Weary River
From: Owen Woodson
Date: 04 Mar 12 - 12:06 PM

Hedy West sings this on her LP Love, Hell and Biscuits. If nobody else does so before tomorrow morning, I'll dig out the lyrics and post them

Subject: Lyr Req: Roll On Weary River
From: sfmowl
Date: 04 Mar 12 - 11:19 AM

I am looking for the complete lyrics to Roll On, Weary River sung by Cathy Barton on both her and Dave Para's "Movin' On Down the River" (1979) and "Ballad of the Boonslick" (1982) albums. I only have the former album and the lyrics aren't entirely clear on a couple of the verses. This is what I have:

I'm down by this river alone
No place on earth to call home
No true friends no kin, in this wide world of sin
And no one knows, no one cares where I've been.

Roll on weary river, roll on.
Don't take me away with your song.
Your waters are deep, many secrets they keep,
Roll on weary river, roll on.

I'm traveling down that long, lonesome road.
I'm tired and weary and cold.
In my pocket's a pipe and an [?] knife,
But there's nothing of silver or of gold.

Your waters are treacherous and deep,
Many dark hidden secrets they keep.
I've traveled [?] and you don't give a dime (?)
Stay away from the [?] where I sleep