Lyr Req: Lonesome Road (from Paul Clayton)

Subject: RE: LONESOME ROAD lyric search
From:
Date: 26 Feb 97 - 08:03 PM

This looks a lot like deja vu from Feb 17

Subject: Lyr Add: LONESOME ROAD (Doc & Merle Watson)
From:
Date: 26 Feb 97 - 02:06 AM

This variation I found on a 1977 United Artists recording of Doc & Merle Watson titled "Lonesome Road".

Look up, look down that lonesome road.
Hang down your little head and cry, my love.
Hang down your head and cry.
The best of friends must part some day,
And why not you and I, my love,
And why not you and I?

The longest train I ever did see
Was on that Georgia line, my love,
Was on that Georgia line.
The only girl I've ever loved
Is on that train and gone, my love,
Is on that train and gone.

The darkest night I ever saw
Was the night I left my home, love,
Was the night I left my home.
I never thought when we first met
This awful day would come, my love,
This awful day would come."

**repeat first two verses again**

Subject: Lyr Add: LONESOME ROAD (Paul Clayton?)
From:
Date: 25 Feb 97 - 11:38 PM

Look down, look down that lonesome road
Before you travel on.
Look up, look up and see your maker
'Fore Gabriel blows his horn.
Weary totin' such a load,
Travelin' down that lonesome road.
(Repeat first 2 lines)

I think that's it.

Subject: Lyr Add: LONG LONESOME ROAD (from Ian & Sylvia)
From: rich r
Date: 17 Feb 97 - 02:31 PM

LONG LONESOME ROAD
From: IAN & SYLVIA - Four Strong Winds (Vanguard)

Look up and down that long lonesome road.
Hang down your head and cry, my lord,
Hang down your head and cry.

I wish to the Lord I'd never been born,
Died when I was a baby, my lord,
Died when I was a baby.

I wouldn't be eatin' this cold cornbread,
Soppin' this salty gravy, my lord,
Soppin' this salty gravy.

I wish I had some fine young man
To tell all my troubles to, my lord,
To tell all my troubles to.

'Cause this young feller that I'm goin' with
Tells everything I do, my lord,
Tells everything I do.

Look up and down that long lonesome road.
Hang down your head and cry, my lord,
Hang down your head and cry.

Look up and down that long lonesome road,
Where all our friends have gone, my lord,
And you and I must go.


This version is notable (perhaps?) because, except for solos, Sylvia usually sang harmony and Ian the melody. On this Sylvia sing melody straight thru with Ian as harmony.

This "Trivia Note You Could Do Without" brought to you by

rich r

happy singing

Subject: RE: SEARCH FOR
From: Charles S chneider
Date: 16 Feb 97 - 04:09 PM

Thanks to all of you for the help. JOAN BAEZ did an up tempo version of this tune which lacks the passion and sorrow required to make it really "work.' The Paul Clayton cover of it choked me up.

RICH R - Thanks for the lyrics! I would truly appreciate a transcription of the ian and Sylvia version, if it's not too much trouble.

Subject: RE: SEARCH FOR
From: Les Blank
Date: 14 Feb 97 - 08:42 PM

Just discovered the lyrics are also on a 1964 V-J album by Hoyt Axton called Hoyt Axton Explodes.

Subject: Lyr Add: LONESOME ROAD (from Carl Sandburg)
From: rich r
Date: 14 Feb 97 - 06:38 PM

From: The American Songbag by Carl Sandburg. (This book was reprinted in paperback by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich in 1990)

LONESOME ROAD

Look down, look down that lonesome road
Hang down your head an' sigh;
The best of friends must part some day,
An' why not you an' I,
An' why not you an' I?

I wish to God that I had died,
Had died 'fore I was born,
Before I seen your smilin' face
An' hear your lyin' tongue,
An' hear your lyin' tongue

A version with lyrics closer to the one you remember was also recorded by Ian & Sylvia on their Four Strong Winds album (reissued on CD). They claim to have learned it from Peggy Seeger and the tune is a little bouncier than the one printed by Sandburg. If you want the lyrics to their version, I could transcribe them.

rich r

Subject: RE: SEARCH FOR
From:
Date: 14 Feb 97 - 06:12 PM

The entire song is on a very early Doc Watson album by Vanguard. I can dig thru my collection if you get no other bites. Let me know

Les Blank

Subject: RE: SEARCH FOR
From: Charles Schneider
Date: 14 Feb 97 - 05:22 PM

What I DO recall is Fragmentary :

Look up, look down that lonesome road hang down your head and cry

The best of friends they have to part so why not you and I?

tell me darlin', if you can what make me different than any other man

tell me darling, if you know what is it that makes me love you so

Subject: LONESOME ROAD lyric search
From: Charles Schneider
Date: 14 Feb 97 - 05:18 PM

I am looking for the lyrics to the song LONESOME ROAD, as sung by Paul Clayton on a Folkways LP. Thanks in advance for any help in the matter!

CHARLES SCHNEIDER

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Subject: RE: SEARCH FOR
From:
Date: 14 Feb 97 - 12:20 AM

Do you mean the Bill Monroe song "Travelin' Down This Lonesome Road"?--the one that starts out:

I'm travelin' down this lonesome road, oh how I hate to go. The wind and storm is ragin' high, and it's awful cold. My mind drifts back to you, sweetheart.......etc

Terry

Subject: RE: SEARCH FOR
From: arnowitt
Date: 13 Feb 97 - 06:22 PM

check out Carl Sandburg's "American Song Bag" published in 1927. Believe it's still available, probably a library classic. If you don't find it, check again and I'll dig it up.

Subject: Lyrics to "Lonesome Road"
From: Charles Schneider
Date: 13 Feb 97 - 12:46 PM

I am searching for the lyics to the folksong "Lonesome Road," as sung by Paul Clayton on a Folkways LP. Any help is appreciated in advance!

Charles Schneider

[e-mail]