Lyr Req: Old Reuben

Subject: Lyr Req: Old Reuben??
From: smokeyjoe
Date: 11 Apr 03 - 07:42 PM

I've been looking for the lyrics to this one for some time now. Here's a version of a fellow who has recorded it on mp3.com
http://golocal.mp3.com/gir?genre_id=0010&geo_id=10041948
You can listen to it there.
Unfortunately, I can't make out all the lyrics. -btw, it's not the 'Reuben' that I know with the train story. It's the one with the bawdy lyrics -whores, booze, etc.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Reuben??
From: Sorcha
Date: 11 Apr 03 - 10:27 PM

Could it be this one? forum post....If not, speak up and give us a few lines and we'll look for it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Reuben??
From: smokeyjoe
Date: 12 Apr 03 - 12:00 AM

Nah... that ain't it, but thanx anyway. I'm pretty sure the last verse is
Well everybody thought they's going to have a good time
Then that whole state went dry
Well I called up a bootlegger
and said gimme a quart o' corn before I die.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Reuben??
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 13 Apr 03 - 11:51 AM

That's a tough one. Here's my attempt at transcribing Old Reuben at mp3.com. It's probably not completely right, but maybe someone else can improve on it:

Well, Rube was an old friend o' mine
Whenever he come to town
Well, the old lady thought a Reuben would
Pull the lady's socks rolled down.

That horse ain't nothin' don't ride around town
Well, listen right then I'll tell yous all about
If you can't do like my other one would
You can't be a roustabout.

Well, everybody thought they'd going to have a good time.
Then that state went dry.
Well, I called up a bootlegger,
Say, gimme a quart o' corn 'fore I die.

[By the way, smokeyjoe, do you know of anyone else who has recorded a version of "Old Reuben" with bawdy lyrics?]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Reuben??
From: smokeyjoe
Date: 14 Apr 03 - 11:15 AM

Thanks for the attempt. I appreciate the effort that you put into it. I came up with a similar translation; albeit, with variants:
2nd verse:
Well whore said "lover don't you ride around town"
Well listen right there and I'll tell you s'all about
If you can't do like my other woman
Ain't gonna be your roustabout.

To answer your question Jim; no, I don't know any other bawdy versions. I just picked this up while surfing, and liked the melody a lot, so I figured out how to play it on my banjo. That's the kind of music I like to play. Old timey stuff -Dock Boggs, Dwight Diller, Roscoe Holcomb, et al.