Lyr/Chords Req: This Here Mandolin (Michael Smith)

Subject: Lyr Add: THIS HERE MANDOLIN (Michael Smith)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 07 Nov 22 - 02:34 PM

I have listened to the recording and I believe this transcription is accurate:


THIS HERE MANDOLIN
As recorded by Michael Smith on “Time” (1994)

This here mandolin is carved out of pine.
It was willed unto me by a hobo down the line.
He donated this mandolin with these last words:
“Before I pass over, boy, I'll show you some chords.”
This here mandolin is made out of earth and stone.
Mm-mm-mm-mm.
If the sound of the railroad makes you feel all alone,
This here mandolin takes a hobo back home.

This here mandolin is sure full of sand.
It only plays out of tune when there's a cop on the train.
It can play you the rhythm of the Super Chief
Out of St. Paul, and that ain't all.
This here mandolin make a young girl open up her window.
Mm-mm-mm-mm.
Like a warm bed on a rainy night, like a hex sign on a barn,
This here mandolin keeps a hobo from harm.

This here mandolin can play the hard times,
Play the booze and the bread lines, and the men killed for dimes.
It can play you the cry in the night
Of a jungle-fire band deep in the heart of this land.
This here mandolin is made out of old barns and water tanks.
Mm-mm-mm-mm.
If the jukebox is busted and you need you an old song,
This here mandolin takes a hobo back home,
Takes a hobo back home.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: This Here Mandolin (Michael Smith)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 07 Feb 19 - 07:51 PM

These recordings are all available on Spotify:

Tom Rush recorded HOBO’S MANDOLIN on “Ladies Love Outlaws” (1974)
Gordon Bok recorded THIS OLD MANDOLIN on “Return to the Land” (1990)
Michael Smith recorded THIS HERE MANDOLIN on “Time” (1994)
Alan Kelly recorded HOBO’S MANDOLIN on “Sacred Heartichokes” (1999)
Adam Miller recorded THIS OLD MANDOLIN on “The Orphan Train and Other Reminiscences” (2004)
Andy Owens recorded THIS HERE MANDOLIN on “A Melody for You” (2007)
Mike Aiken recorded THIS HERE MANDOLIN on “Hula Girl Highway” (2008)

I have listened enough to verify that they are all the same song.

Since Michael Smith called it THIS HERE MANDOLIN when he recorded it, I figure that’s the title we should use too. Accordingly, I have changed the thread title.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Hobo's Mandolin (Michael Smith)
From: GUEST,Jim Perkins
Date: 03 Feb 19 - 04:02 PM

No one here seems to know Michael's third verse, which for some reason, Tom Rush chose not to use,

This here mandolin can sing of hard times
of booze, and breadlines and men killed for dimes
it can play you the cry in the dark of a jungle fire band
deep in the heart of this land,
This old mandolin is made outa old barns and watertanks
If the jukebox is busted, and you need an old tune,
This here mandolin can take a hobo back home.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Hobo's Mandolin (Michael Smith)
From: GUEST,Mick
Date: 06 May 14 - 11:58 PM

Copy the above and change the font to Courier and the chords will line up properly.

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: THIS HERE MANDOLIN (Michael Smith)
From: GUEST,Mick
Date: 06 May 14 - 11:56 PM

This Here Mandolin
Michael Peter Smith

         F       F/E Dm            F/C
This here mandolin is carved out of pine
       Gm                         C
It was willed to me by an old hobo way down the line
   Gm                         C
He donated this mandolin with these last words
Gm          Dm            Bb            C
Before I cross over Boy I'll show you some chords
          Am                     Bb          Am
This here mandolin's made out of earth and of stone
       Gm                              C
If the sound of the railroad makes you feel all alone
          Gm                   C         F F/E Dm F/C    F F/E Dm F/C
This here mandolin will take a hobo back home


          F       F/E Dm          F/C
This here mandolin is sure full of sand
      Gm                            C
It'll play out-of-tune if there's a cop on the train
       Gm                      C
She'll sing you the song of the Super Chief out of
          F   F/E               Dm F/C
Out of St. Paul   and that ain't all
          Am                            C       Am
This here mandolin'll make a young girl open her window
       Gm            C                   Gm            C
Like a warm bed on a rainy night   Like a hex-sign on a barn
          Gm                   C         Eb Bb Am    Eb Bb F
This here mandolin will keep a hobo from harm


Am Bb Am
Gm C
Gm C
Gm C F F/E Dm F/C
F F/E Dm F/C


          F       F/E Dm            F/C
This here mandolin is carved out of pine
       Gm                         C
It was willed to me by an old hobo way down the line
   Gm                         C
He donated this mandolin with these last words
Gm          Dm            Bb            C
Before I cross over Boy I'll show you some chords
          Am                     C             Am
This here mandolin's made out of barns and old watertanks
       Gm                        C
If the jukebox is busted and you need an old song
          Gm                C         F F/E Dm F/C
This here mandolin'll take a hobo back home
Gm   C   Gm   C . . .

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Hobo's Mandolin (Michael Smith)
From: PHJim
Date: 31 Mar 11 - 01:10 AM

Francy,
Did you ever send the chords for Demon Lover? I know this is an old thread, since i was posting as GUEST,Jim at the time.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Hobo's Mandolin
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 18 Apr 08 - 05:17 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Hobo's Mandolin
From: Francy
Date: 17 Apr 08 - 05:28 PM

Yes, Michael knew him well and it's his tribute to Gamble....this is a fine cd and I know you'll like it....Michael is a masterful songwriter...I love doing his songs...They open up so many images and are filled with awesome melodies. Yes, giive me a few minutes and i'll send them......Frank of Toledo

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Hobo's Mandolin
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 17 Apr 08 - 04:59 PM

Thanks Frank,
I just ordered the CD "Time" after reading your post. I'll use the correct title, "This Here Mandolin" from now on.
I noticed that one of the titles listed was Gamble's guitar. I assume that's Gamble Rogers, another of my musical heros.

Do you know the chords for "Demon Lover"?

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Hobo's Mandolin
From: Francy
Date: 17 Apr 08 - 04:21 PM

It doesn't matter to some people, but the correct title is "This Here Mandolin"/// Michael would appreciate that........He was here in Toledo Oregon this past February and sang it with real simple chords.....He told me that some musicians tend to put more chords in it than necessary.....kind of an unneeded embellishment....Try it with thiese 3 chords.......Cmaj7.....Fmaj7 and G......Could be wrong but it works for me.....Frank of Toledo

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Hobo's Mandolin
From: Francy
Date: 17 Apr 08 - 04:10 PM

Michael recorded it on Flying Fish CD entitled Time........Frank of Toledo

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Hobo's Mandolin
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 17 Apr 08 - 04:03 PM

I usually capo II and play in D because the mandolin plays in D.

This is my interpretation of Tom Rush's playing. I don't think Michael Smith has recorded it, but he did play it for me when he performed in Cobourg, Ontario (Folk At The Forum) about twenty years ago. Norm Hacking was a regular at Folk At The Forum and a couple of times he brought Michael with him. He said that Tom had changed it from his version, but I can't recall any major changes.

I'm a big fan of both Tom Rush and Michael Smith.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Hobo's Mandolin
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 17 Apr 08 - 03:56 PM

I hope this helps:

C - x32010
CMa7 - x22010
Am - x02210
C/G - 3x2010

Hobo's Mandolin Michael Smith

This here C mandolin;CMa7 well it's Am carved out of C/G pine,
It was Dm willed to me by an old hobo,G way down the line,
He do Dm nated this mandolin with G these last words:
"Be Dm fore I cross over, Boy, I'll G show you some chords.
This here C mandolin's CMa7 made out of Am earth and of C/G stone:
If the Dm sound of the railroad makes you G feel all alone,
This here Dm mandolin will take a G hobo back C home. CMa7 Am C/G

This here C mandolin CMa7 is Am sure full of C/G sand,
It'll Dm play out-of-tune if there's a G cop on the train,
She'll Dm sing you the song of the G Silver Chief out of St. C Paul
And CMa7 that ain't Am all. C/G
This her C mandolin'll make a CMa7 young girl Am open her C window
Like a Dm warm breeze on a G rainy night,
Dm Like a hex-sign on a G barn,
This here Dm mandolin will keep a G hobo from C harm. CMa7 Am C/G

I'll let you figure out the last verse:

This here mandolin is made out of barns and old watertanks,
If the jukebox is busted and you need an old song,
This here mandolin'll take a hobo back home.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Hobo's Mandolin
From: GUEST,Sandy
Date: 17 Apr 08 - 02:37 PM

Thanks Jim, I don't know Hobo's Mandolin, but you've helped me with Mr. Bojangles.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Hobo's Mandolin
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 16 Apr 08 - 05:02 PM

I play this song, but I'm at the library right now and need a guitar (or a mandolin) to figure out the chords. I do remember that I start out with the "Mr. Bojangles progression" - C, CMA7, Am, C/G... If no one's helped you by tomorrow, I'll post them then.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Hobo's Mandolin
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 16 Apr 08 - 11:46 AM

You don't need to know a title to find stuff in DigiTrad--any word or phrase will do. You may get several hits, but it's not much work o sort out which one you're looking for. Try a search for mandolin.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Hobo's Mandolin
From: Willie-O
Date: 16 Apr 08 - 09:28 AM

You need the right song title to search for. It's "This Old Mandolin". Lyrics in DT as "Old Mandolin" but no chords.

W-O

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Hobo's Mandolin
From: Wesley S
Date: 15 Apr 08 - 01:33 PM

I'll refresh this one. I'd like to have them too. I've got most of them figured out but there are a few that elude me.

Subject: Hobo's Mandolin
From: GUEST,LittleRoy
Date: 09 May 00 - 11:56 PM

Could someone provide the chords to "Hobo's Mandolin", the Michael Smith song recorded by Tom Rush, Gordon Bok, and others?

Thanks, Danny