Lyr Req: Show Me the Way (from Bill Monroe)

Subject: Show Me The way To The Right Road
From: GUEST,Paul
Date: 29 Jun 02 - 04:40 PM

My Bluegrass Band has performed a bluegrass gospel (Bill Monroe?) tune with the above title but we only know some of each verse. Can anyone show me the way so that we get it right? Thanks.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Show Me The way To The Right Road
From: Sorcha
Date: 29 Jun 02 - 04:58 PM

I found it listed on the Monroe lyrics site, but no link to lyrics. I found a hymn that is called Show Me the Way, but it does not have "to the right road". Can you quote a line or two?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Show Me The way To The Right Road
From: Haruo
Date: 29 Jun 02 - 05:10 PM

Yeah, if you could post the portions that you do know, maybe folks could fill in (some of) the blanks for you.

Liland

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Show Me The way To The Right Road
From: masato sakurai
Date: 29 Jun 02 - 09:22 PM

I have the CD box-set containing the song, but can't transcribe the lyrics. "Show Me the Way" (chorus: "Show me the way to the right road...") was recorded by Bill Monroe in 1975; the sound clip is HERE (disc 3, track 2; the jacket photo is wrong). It's a song "by Virginia Stauffer, whom Monroe referred to as 'a little old lady from Michigan,' but who was now living in Nashville and regularly producing songs for him (such as Road Of Life, the title song for his 1974 album)" (Charles Wolfe, "Notes to Bill Monroe Bluegrass 1970-1979 (Bear Family BCD 15 606 DI)," p. 17).

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Show Me the Way (from Bill Monroe)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 06:46 PM

Here's what I got from the sample:

SHOW ME THE WAY (excerpt)
Virginia Stauffer

...I thought that she could comfort me, Lord.
Why didn't I take Your hand instead?
Show me the way to the right road.
Hold my hand. Don't let me stray.
I have a troubled mind and heartache.
Dear Lord, please comfort me today....

[Recorded by Bill Monroe on "Weary Traveler" (1976); it's also on the Bear Family collection "Bluegrass 1970-1979" (1995).]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Show Me the Way (from Bill Monroe)
From: GUEST,Paul Trotter
Date: 01 Aug 20 - 01:43 PM

This is the lyrics as I understand them:

1. I went today to see a gypsy,
    She took my hand and fortune read
    I thought that she would comfort me, Lord
    Why didn't I take your hand instead
(chorus)
    Show me the way to the right road
    Hold my hand; don't let me stray
    I have a trouble minded heartache
    Dear Lord, please comfort me today

2. The gypsy said, "Your mind is troubled,
    But trouble won't stand in your way"
    The words she said didn't comfort me, Lord
    I came home and kneeled down to pray

3. Dear Lord, I know that you will guide me
    I know you'll help me see the way
    Don't let a troubled mind destroy me
    You've put in me the strength and will to pray

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Show Me the Way (from Bill Monroe)
From: cnd
Date: 04 Aug 20 - 04:37 PM

You can listen to Monroe's recording from the 1976 album The Weary Traveler (MCA Records MCA-2173) at the following link:

The only differences I heard from Paul's lyrics were both pretty minor.

In the chorus I heard the lines as: "I have a troubled mind and heartache"

And a minor difference in the last line of the third stanza (which may just be a difference in versions?): "You've given me the strength and will to pray."