Lyr Req: Renfro Valley Home (Riley Puckett)

Subject: Lyr Req: Renfro Valley Home by Riley Puckett
From: GUEST,Spoutnik
Date: 11 Jan 14 - 01:24 PM

Does anyone have the lyrics of Renfro Valley Home Riley Puckett. I'm listening carefully but I hit a wall about 1/2 of the words. English is not my first language, it makes things harder ... Thank you in advance!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Renfro Valley Home by Riley Puckett
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Jan 14 - 01:51 PM

The song is on Youtube. I am half pissed now, but if I see the thread tomorrow I will transcribe the words. You make sure you keep it from disappearing off the page.

There are a few places where even English as a First Language people might have difficulties.

What's the urgency with this? (When do you need it for/by?)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Renfro Valley Home by Riley Puckett
From: GUEST,Spoutnik
Date: 11 Jan 14 - 02:13 PM

Hi

Thanks for your response. No urgency. I'm a huge fan of Riley Puckett. So far I have tab 28 songs from him. So it's for me and my personal songbook. I can share if anyone is interested.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Renfro Valley Home by Riley Puckett
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Jan 14 - 03:12 PM

OK. I'll get at it tomorrow. I appreciate polite people ;-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Renfro Valley Home by Riley Puckett
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Jan 14 - 05:51 PM

http://www.bluegrassmessengers.com/riley-puckett--1924.aspx

Some neat history about Riley Puckett at the page that opens on that link.

Subject: LYR ADD Renfro Valley Home by Riley Puckett
From: GUEST,LYRIC ADD
Date: 11 Jan 14 - 07:19 PM

Renfro Valley Home

In Renfro Valley far away
Where people take their ease
They dance all night and sleep all day
And work just when they please
A man of means eats turnip greens
While the common folks are fed
On sassafras tea and hominy
Sow bosom and cornbread

But the mockingbird keeps singing in the laurel and the spruce
And the old cowbells keep ringing as the cows come home to roost
The sun goes down and the moon comes up
Just like it's always done
And all is hoop-de-looly in my Renfro Valley home

Now I've got a gal don't use face paint
She has no use for such
And in a crowd she don't curse loud
And drink corn liquor much
She's never yet smoked cigarettes
She's far too nice and good
She always smokes a corncob pipe
Like proper ladies should

REF

Now I've got a mule on Renfro Creek
Who has no ma or pa
I whoop him fifteen times a day
To teach him hee and haw
When the feed gets scarce I put a pair
Of green specs on his face
To make him think the old corn stalks
I'm feeding him is hay

REF

While walking with my city gal
We met a big polecat
I told her they made furs and muffs
And fuzzy things like that
She said I think I'll capture him
I wonder what I'll make
And I said sister my guess is
You'll make a big mistake

REF

###############################################

I'll look for the author's name but want to get the lyrics on here first. I may have made a few small errors, but nothing drastic. From what I've seen on the www, other than the banjo hangout which has the first stanza almost accurately, Mudcat in now the only place to have the complete lyrics. Thank you for turning me onto this song.

Subject: Lyr Add: MY RENFRO VALLEY HOME (Riley Puckett)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 11 Jan 14 - 07:41 PM

MY RENFRO VALLEY HOME
As recorded by Riley Puckett in 1934.

1. In Renfro Valley far away, where people take their ease,
They dance all night and sleep all day and work just when they please.
A man of means eats turnip greens while the common folks are fed
On sass'frass tea and hominy, sow-bosom and cornbread.

CHORUS: But the mockin'bird keeps singin' in the laurel and the spruce,
And the old cowbells keep ringin' as the cows come home to roost.
The sun goes down and the moon comes up just like it's always done,
Then all is hip-to-Louie(?) in my Renfro Valley home.

2. Now I've got a gal don't use face paint; she has no use for such,
And in a crowd she don't curse loud and drink corn liquor much.
She's never yet smoked cigarettes; she's far too nice and good.
She always smokes a corncob pipe like proper ladies should.

3. Now I've got a mule on Renfro Creek who has no ma nor pa.
I whup him fifteen times a day to teach him "gee" and "haw."
When the feed gets scarce, I'll put a pair of green specs on each day
To make him think the old cornstalks I'm feeding him is hay.

4. While walkin' with my city gal, we met a big polecat.
I told her they made furs and muffs and fuzzy things like that.
She said, "I think I'll capture him; I wonder what I'll make?"
And I said, "Sister, my guess is: you'll make a big mistake."

- - -
Also recorded by the Renfro Valley Boys in 1931, and by the Stewart Harmony Singers in 1932.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Renfro Valley Home (Riley Puckett)
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Jan 14 - 07:53 PM

Jim, the piece in the refrain/chorus (hoop-de-looly) was what was posted at banjo hangout so I stayed with that. I agree with your gee and haw as opposed to my hearing of hee and haw. (Too much TV as a younger person.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Renfro Valley Home (Riley Puckett)
From: GUEST,Spoutnik
Date: 11 Jan 14 - 08:37 PM

Thank you all for your answers! This website and the people who attend are extraordinary. I always find answers to my questions. Thank you for your generosity and your kindness. A new Riley Puckett song in my songbook!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Renfro Valley Home (Riley Puckett)
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Jan 14 - 10:35 PM

:-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Renfro Valley Home (Riley Puckett)
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Dec 23 - 09:24 PM

I learned this song Renfro Valley Home from my cousin when I was 12years old (1960). I sang it at the Renfro Valley Museum in 2022 for the young man working there. He had never heard of it, but he liked it and recorded it with his cell phone.