ADD: Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key (Guthrie)

Subject: Woody Guthrie Lyric?
From: Equality Jack
Date: 21 Jan 99 - 11:29 PM

Does anyone know where to find the lyrics/sheet music to a tune called "Way over Yonder in the Minor Key"? I believe it's an old Woody Guthrie tune.

thanks,

Equality Jack

Subject: RE: Woody Guthrie Lyric?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 Jan 99 - 06:16 AM

Click here for a good Woody Guthrie site, but it doesn't have the lyrics you're looking for.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Woody Guthrie Lyric?
From: catspaw49
Date: 22 Jan 99 - 09:56 AM

Considering how many songs Woody wrote, I'm not surprised that this one is a bit obscure. Where did you hear it? Sure of the title? You might want to try at Arlonet and see if you can find some help there, or at Rising Son Records

Let ME know if you run this one down!catspaw

Subject: RE: Woody Guthrie Lyric?
From: Wolfgang
Date: 22 Jan 99 - 10:14 AM

not the lyrics, I'm afraid, but a corroboration of the title and author (Guthrie) and a man who sings it (Bill Bragg) can be found here

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Woody Guthrie Lyric?
From: Wolfgang
Date: 22 Jan 99 - 10:23 AM

or you want to listen to it (new tune!)?

Subject: RE: Woody Guthrie Lyric?
From: Bert
Date: 22 Jan 99 - 10:25 AM

It's a great song. One of the best on Billy Bragg's Mermaid Avenue CD. Which is a collection of Woody Guthrie lyrics that have been set to music. Read the blurb on Wolfgang's link then buy the CD.

Bert.

Subject: RE: Woody Guthrie Lyric?
From: catspaw49
Date: 22 Jan 99 - 12:41 PM

Just did...interesting selection of material too. Was familiar with some, others unknown. I'm looking forward to getting this! Bert---do you have it? Had you heard anyone else do this song? catspaw

Subject: RE: Woody Guthrie Lyric?
From: Bert
Date: 22 Jan 99 - 01:30 PM

Catspaw,
No, I don't have it. I listened to Max's copy. I'm going to have to buy one of my own though. I haven't heard it anywhere else, don't know why, everyone should be singing it.

Bert.

Subject: RE: Woody Guthrie Lyric?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Jan 99 - 04:38 AM

I got the impression all the tunes on the CD were by Billy Bragg, and it was only the lyrics that were by Woody Guthrie. Was I wrong? Did Bragg record some Guthrie tunes? My kids got me interested in Billy Bragg - he's done some great stuff.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Woody Guthrie Lyric?
From: northfolk/al cholger
Date: 28 Jan 99 - 04:06 PM

Billy Bragg has been doing support work for the long troubled Detroit Newspaper workers. Because of that, and the fact that my sons, both in their mid twentys now retaliate for the years of musical indoctrination that they got...by making me aware of the "next generation, singers, songwriters", I can tell you that Bragg was commisioned by Nora Guthrie, Woodie's daughter, to record some of Woodie's work that had been archived, and never recorded. Mermaid Avenue is a great addition to anyones music collection...It is also my understanding that this is but a tip of the iceberg...Woody wrote thousands of pieces that have never gone beyond the scraps of paper he wrote them on...My guess, watch for more from Bragg!

Subject: Way Down Yonder In A Minor Key-Guthrie
From: Genie
Date: 19 Aug 01 - 01:30 AM

Woody Guthrie wrote a song called "'Way Down Yonder In A Minor Key." It has been recorded rather recently by someone. Can somebody post the lyrics, pleas

Subject: Lyr Add: WAY OVER YONDER IN THE MINOR KEY (Guthrie
From: katlaughing
Date: 19 Aug 01 - 02:33 AM

He, genie, it was Billy Bragg who just did it, recently. Here ya go:

OVER YONDER IN THE MINOR KEY

I lived in a place called Okfuskee
and I had a little girl in a holler tree
I said, little girl, it's plain to see,
there ain't nobody that can sing like me

She said it's hard for me to see
how one little boy got so ugly
Yes, my little girly, that might be,
But there ain't nobody that can sing like me

Ain't nobody that can sing like me
way over yonder in the minor key
Way over yonder in the minor key
there ain't nobody that can sing like me

We walked down by the Buckeye Creek
to see he frog eat the goggle eye bee
To hear that west wind whistle to the east,
there ain't nobody that can sing like me

Oh my little girly will you let me see,
where over yonder where the wind blows free
Nobody can see in our holler tree
and there ain't nobody that can sing like me

Her mama cut a switch from a cherry tree
and laid it on the she and me
It stung lots worse than a hive of bees
but there ain't nobody that can sing like me

Now I have walked a long long ways
and I still look back to my tanglewood days,
I've led lots of girlies since then to stray
saying, ain't nobody that can sing like me

WORDS: Woody Guthrie 1946 - MUSIC: Billy Bragg 1997

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Way Down Yonder In A Minor Key-Guthr
From: Genie
Date: 19 Aug 01 - 01:48 PM

Thanks, Kat and "guest." I was at the travelling Woody Guthrie exhibit at the Washington Historical Society museum in Tacoma yesterday and heard Billy B. do the song on tapes there, but it was too noisy in the room to record it.

Anyone who's near Tacoma should check out the exhibit --of Woody's drawings, paintings, original manuscripts & notebooks, songs, etc. -- while it's there. I spent 3 hours at the exhibit without realizing how long I had been there.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Way Down Yonder In A Minor Key-Guthr
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 03 Sep 01 - 10:56 PM

Have you all seen "Man in The Sand" Its a British TV special on the making of the Mermaid Avenue CD's. They televise part of the session where he an Natalie Merchant record that song. I bought it on DVD. Well worth the $20.00.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Way Down Yonder In A Minor Key-Guthr
From: andrew in melbourne
Date: 04 Sep 01 - 02:10 AM

There's a good song on that video, "Where Roses are in Bloom"

I think they left it off the album because of questions about who owned the copyright.

Here's some chords to "way over yonder"

{B} I lived in a place called Okfus{E}kee
and I had a little girl in a holler{B}tree
I said, little girl, it's plain to{E}see,
there ain't nobody that can sing like{B} me
{B}there ain't nobody that can sing like{G#m}me

Subject: Lyr Req:Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key
From: technission
Date: 04 Feb 02 - 11:24 AM

I know I've heard a recording, some of you have to - references to Billy Bragg and Woody Guthrie related to this song are in 2 threads:

http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=13635#113166

http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=8780#55155

Soon I"ll learn to make a clicky, no time now

TIA for any insights....

michael

Subject: Lyr Add: WAY OVER YONDER IN THE MINOR KEY (Guthrie
From: Sorcha
Date: 04 Feb 02 - 11:54 AM

(If it's already here, I didn't find it)

WAY OVER YONDER IN THE MINOR KEY
WORDS: Woody Guthrie 1946 - MUSIC: Billy Bragg 1997

I lived in a place called Okfuskee
and I had a little girl in a holler tree
I said, little girl, it's plain to see,
there ain't nobody that can sing like me

She said it's hard for me to see
how one little boy got so ugly
Yes, my little girly, that might be,
But there ain't nobody that can sing like me

Ain't nobody that can sing like me
way over yonder in the minor key
Way over yonder in the minor key
there ain't nobody that can sing like me

We walked down by the Buckeye Creek
to see he frog eat the goggle eye bee
To hear that west wind whistle to the east,
there ain't nobody that can sing like me

Oh my little girly will you let me see,
where over yonder where the wind blows free
Nobody can see in our holler tree
and there ain't nobody that can sing like me

Her mama cut a switch from a cherry tree
and laid it on the she and me
It stung lots worse than a hive of bees
but there ain't nobody that can sing like me

Now I have walked a long long ways
and I still look back to my tanglewood days,
I've led lots of girlies since then to stray
saying, ain't nobody that can sing like me

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Lyr Req:Way Over Yonder in th
From: technission
Date: 04 Feb 02 - 12:18 PM

Sorcha: Waalll little lady, they were right:you *are* the best! Any/all: I would love chord suggestions if anyone takes pity on an only-occasionally-and-never-in-public picker! It's probably a 2 or 3-chord song...

michael

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: WAY OVER YONDER IN THE MINOR KEY
From: GUEST,alinact
Date: 04 Feb 02 - 12:28 PM

Is it permissable to copy and paste from another web site - if so, chords below; if not could someone please delete this.

Allan

Intro

G     C    G    

Verse
  G                                                                            C
  I lived in a place called Okfuskee
  C                               Cmaj9 G
  and I had a little girl I a holler    tree
  G                                  C
  I said, little girl, it's plain to see,
  C                                Cmaj9 G
  there ain't nobody that can sing like  me
  D                               Em
  Ain't nobody that can sing like me,    

Verse
  G                            C
  She said it's hard for me to see
  C                         Cmaj9 G
  how one little boy got so ug    ly
  G                                C
  Yes, my little girly, that might be,
  C                                    Cmaj9 G
  but there ain't nobody that can sing like  me
  D                               Em
  Ain't nobody that can sing like me,    


  Chorus
  C                                                                      G
  way over yonder in the minor key
  D                            Em
  way over yonder in the minor key
  D                                     Em
  there ain't nobody that can sing like me    


  Verse
  G                             C
  We walked down by the Buckeye Creek
  C                              Cmaj9 G
  to see the frog eat the goggle eye   bee
  G                                    C
  to hear the west wind whistle to the east,
  C                                Cmaj9 G
  there ain't nobody that can sing like  me
  D                               Em
  Ain't nobody that can sing like me,    


  Verse
  G                                  C
  Oh my little girly will you let me see,
  C                              Cmaj9 G
  way over yonder where the wind blows free
  G                            C
  Nobody can see in our holler tree
  C                                    Cmaj9 G
  and there ain't nobody that can sing like  me
  D                               Em
  Ain't nobody that can sing like me,    


  Chorus
  C                                                                      G
  way over yonder in the minor key
  D                            Em
  way over yonder in the minor key
  D                                     Em
  there ain't nobody that can sing like me    

Instrumental
  C  G  D  Em  D Em    

Verse
  G                                   C
  Her mama cut a switch from a cherry tree
  C                      Cmaj9 G
  and laid it on the she and   me,
  G                                  C
  It stung lots worse than a hive of bees
  C                                    Cmaj9 G
  but there ain't nobody that can sing like  me
  D                               Em
  Ain't nobody that can sing like me,    

Verse
  G                             C
  Now I have walked a long long ways
  C                                 Cmaj9 G
  and I still look back at my tanglewood  days
  G                                    C
  I've led lots of girls since then to stray
  C                                  Cmaj9 G
  saying, ain't nobody that can sing like  me
  D                               Em
  Ain't nobody that can sing like me,    

Chorus
  C                                                                      G
  way over yonder in the minor key
  D                            Em
  way over yonder in the minor key
  D                                     Em
  there ain't nobody that can sing like me    

C                                                                      G
  way over yonder in the minor key
  D                            Em
  way over yonder in the minor key
  D                                     Em
  there ain't nobody that can sing like me
  D                                     Em
  there ain't nobody that can sing like me    

C G fade    


  D                            Em
  way over yonder in the minor key
  D                                     Em
  there ain't nobody that can sing like me
  D                                     Em
  there ain't nobody that can sing like me

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Lyr Req:Way Over Yonder in th
From: Sorcha
Date: 04 Feb 02 - 12:32 PM

It's quite permissable. We do it all the time. Thanks for the chords!

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Lyr Req:Way Over Yonder in th
From: PaulM
Date: 04 Feb 02 - 12:37 PM

There was another thread about it, which as well as the lyrics also included a link to an mp3 of the song

Buggered if I can find it though!

Paul

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Way over yonder in the minor key
From: technission
Date: 04 Feb 02 - 07:50 PM

Thanks to all !! Now I"m a happy *occasional* plunker michael 8>)#

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Way over yonder in the minor key
From: Noreen
Date: 04 Feb 02 - 08:32 PM

In the National Sound Archives in the new British Library in London, there is a clip of Billy Bragg singing this and talking about it: you can select it from the archive on a juke box in the foyer. I'd never heard it before, and played the clip over and over again- wonderful!

Subject: Lyr Add: WAY OVER YONDER IN THE MINOR KEY (Guthrie
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 Apr 03 - 01:07 AM

WAY OVER YONDER IN THE MINOR KEY
(Woody Guthrie)

I lived in a place called Okfuskee
And I had a little girl in a holler tree
I said, little girl, it's plain to see,
Ain't nobody that can sing like me
Ain't nobody that can sing like me

She said it's hard for me to see
How one little boy got so ugly
Yes, my little girly, that might be,
But there ain't nobody that can sing like me

Ain't nobody that can sing like me,
Way over yonder in the minor key,
Way over yonder in the minor key,
There ain't nobody that can sing like me

We walked down by the Buckeye Creek
To see the frog eat the goggle eye bee
To hear that west wind whistle to the east,
There ain't nobody that can sing like me

Oh my little girly will you let me see,
Way over yonder where the wind blows free
Nobody can see in our holler tree
And there ain't nobody that can sing like me

Her mama cut a switch from a cherry tree
And laid it on she and me,
It stung lots worse than a hive of bees
But there ain't nobody that can sing like me

Now I have walked a long long ways
And I still look back to my tanglewood days,
I've led lots of girls since then to stray
Sayin, ain't nobody that can sing like me

Words: Woody Guthrie, 1946
Music: Billy Bragg, 1997

from the CD Mermaid Avenue, by Billy Bragg and Wilco


Gee, this is a great little song.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Req: Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key (Guthrie)
From: JJ
Date: 25 Apr 03 - 08:39 AM

IMHO most of the songs on the two Mermaid Avenue CDs are, ahhh, misguided. But this one is a gem.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key (Guthrie
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 25 Apr 03 - 06:13 PM

I thought there were quite a few gems on both CDs such as "Birds and Ships", "Unwelcome Guest", "Hesitating Beauty", "Blood of the Lamb", "Joe Dimaggio's Done It Again", "Black Wind Blowing", and others. And one gem that did not make it, "No Church Tonight" which was sung by Sara Guthrie at the Woodie G. tribute in Nashville. A lot of good ideas don't necessarily make good recordings, but this one produced two far better than average CDs.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key (Gut
From: Parsa
Date: 25 Apr 03 - 06:58 PM

You ever get the idea that if the Foundation somehow freed Woody's songs by putting them online, that a lot of folks (on this forum for instance) could probably figure out what tune he'd have put with them? I mean a lot of his tunes were Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers, etc.

Parsa

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key (Guthrie
From: Hester
Date: 25 Apr 03 - 07:28 PM

I can't believe that none of you mentioned the contribution of the American roots band Wilco to the Mermaid project. The lyrics were all Guthrie, but the music was composed half by Bragg, half by Jeff Tweedy of Wilco (with some input by Jay Bennet (also of Wilco, at that time). Bennet still performs "No Church Tonight" in concert, I believe.

Bragg didn't feel comfortable, as an English folkie, taking on the task, all alone, of putting music to the lyrics of one of America's most famous folkies, so he invited Wilco to go through the Guthrie archives with him, and give an American perspective. Bragg chose mostly political lyrics, while Tweedy tended to go for the love songs and was more comfortable with Guthrie's overtly Christian lyrics than Bragg.

See the video/DVD "Man in the Sand" for a documentary of the Mermaid sessions, along with a biography of Woody, narrated by his daughter Nora.

I'd say the Mermaid sessions were responsible for drawing me to folk music, as I was more familiar with punk/alternative in my youth.

BTW, Tweedy's music for "Hesitating Beauty" is astounding. I've heard him perform it live twice -- wonderful!

Cheers, Hester

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key (Guthrie
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 25 Apr 03 - 07:39 PM

Billy Bragg would probably jib at the suggestion that he is an English "folkie". Probably is understating it, I'd say.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key (Guthrie
From: Hester
Date: 25 Apr 03 - 07:49 PM

>>>Billy Bragg would probably jib at the suggestion that he is an English "folkie". Probably is understating it, I'd say.<<<

Hi, McGrath:

I can't seem to find the words to please you today, can I?

Well, back in the day, we called him folk/punk. And what would you call "Power in a Union" and "World Turned Upside Down" if not folk songs? They certainly fit the protest genre.

BTW, I think Bragg chose Wilco to collaborate with him on Mermaid because Jeff Tweedy's first band, Uncle Tupelo, combined traditional American folk and "old time" country music with punk in the same way Bragg fused English folk with punk.

Cheers, Hester

Subject: Lyr Add: WAY OVER YONDER IN THE MINOR KEY (Guthrie
From: GUEST,Johnny Bravo
Date: 28 Apr 03 - 12:05 PM

Hope this helps. ANyone have Lyrics or Chords (more important) for Take you Riding in My Car Car?

I live in a place called Ofuskee
Had a little girl in a holler tree
I said little girl it's plain to see
There ain't nobody that can sing like me

She said it's hard for me to see
How one little boy got so ugly
I said my little girlie that might be
But there ain't nobody that can sing like me
There ain't nobody that can sing like me

Way over yonder in the minor key
Way over yonder in the minor key
There ain't nobody that can sing like me
There ain't nobody that can sing like me

We walked down by the Buckeye Creek
To watch the frogs eat the goggle eyed bees
And listen to the west wind whistle to the east
And there ain't nobody that can sing like me
There ain't nobody that can sing like me

I said little girlie won't you let me see
Way over yonder where the wind blows free
Ain't nobody can see in our holler tree
And there ain't nobody that can sing like me
There ain't nobody that can sing like me

Way over yonder in the minor key
Way over yonder in the minor key
There ain't nobody that can sing like me
There ain't nobody that can sing like me

Well mama took a switch from a cherry tree
And she laid it on to she and me
It stung much worse than a hive of bees
And there ain't nobody that can sing like me
There ain't nobody that can sing like me

Now I have walked a long, long ways
But still go back to my Tanglewood days
And I've led a lot of girls since then astray
Saying ain't nobody that can sing like me
There ain't nobody that can sing like me

Way over yonder in the minor key
Way over yonder in the minor key
There ain't nobody that can sing like me
There ain't nobody that can sing like me

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key (Guthrie
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 28 Apr 03 - 07:16 PM

This is a great thread. Does anyone remember the title of a thread that ran about a week ago that helped us find chords and lyrics to tunes? It was something about the Ballad of Frankie Silver. I'm thinking that one of the links provided might help with chords.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key (Guthrie
From:
Date: 12 Jun 03 - 03:05 PM

See below link for Way over yonder in a Minor Key lyrics.

http://www.joelrafael.com/disc/lyrics/minorkey.html

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key (Guthrie
From: Jeep man
Date: 12 Jun 03 - 05:36 PM

Man,you guys have me wanting to learn this song! Where can I hear it or find the tune or chords? Jim

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Way over yonder in the minor key
From: GUEST,Brian Frew
Date: 07 Sep 03 - 03:27 PM

Thanks guys. I heard Billy Bragg (mentioned above) singing this on the radio and thought I really must have that one...and here it is :-)

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Way over yonder in the minor key
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Sep 03 - 03:42 PM

Link to UK site Noreen mentioned?

~S~

Subject: So, does anyone know the music?
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 03:34 PM

So, I was looking for the lyrics to "Way oOver Yonder in a Minor Key" online and ran across this. So, does anyone know the chords for the song?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key (Guthrie
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 09:03 PM

There was a doco on TV about Billy Bragg doing Guthrie songs from the family archives, to which the music had only been in Guthries head, I think the CD was released recently. Try looking under Bragg in your searches.

Robin

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Way Down Yonder In A Minor Key-Guthr
From: GUEST,Quay
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 04:58 PM

I was wondering if Woody Guthrie ever released the Way Over Yonder in Minor Key song himself because when I look online, all I can find is the Braggs cover. If it does exist, where can I find it??
thanks

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Way Down Yonder In A Minor Key-Guthr
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 05:42 PM

Supposedly Bragg took texts from the Guthrie archive that had no music and he and others wrote the music for the two Mermaid albums. If that is true, Bragg's version would not be a cover, but rather the original recording. The reason I believe this to be true is that everyone of the songs has a different tune.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Way Down Yonder In A Minor Key-Guthr
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 31 Mar 04 - 04:43 AM

Re message from Andrew in Melbourne

I saw the programme and was surprised (sort of) when the song "I'll Be With You When The Roses Bloom Again" turned up as a Guthrie compostion and Bragg wrote the tune for it. He shouldn't have bothered as it already has a perfectly adequate and far superior tune which is quite well known.

Personally I think he should leave all of Woody's material alone and stop ruining it for me, his voice and accent just don't suit the material AND before anybody gets excited and starts going on about accents I will make it quite clear that it's one that I share with Bragg being from the same area.

Subject: RE: Req: Way Down Yonder In A Minor Key-Guthrie
From: GUEST,p
Date: 11 Apr 04 - 10:55 PM

whoa! billy and wilco were amazing with mermaid. even the woody guthrie foundation thinks so. they picked braggs to do the album and write music for the lyrics that would never have been heard otherwise. i think GUEST,Hootenanny needs to research the topic a little before bashing billy.

http://www.woodyguthrie.org/mermaid_avenue.htm

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Way over yonder in the minor k
From: T in Oklahoma (Okiemockbird)
Date: 19 Jul 08 - 01:00 AM

I think one of Billy Bragg's sources for the melody must have been this traditional tune from North Carolina, or a closely related one.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Way over yonder in the minor k
From: T in Oklahoma (Okiemockbird)
Date: 19 Jul 08 - 01:15 PM

In case the link fails, here is the traditional tune that I think is one of Billy Bragg's sources for the melody to "Way over yonder in the minor key:"

X: 1
T: The Two Sisters
C: Cecil Sharp and Olive Dame Campbell, English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, New York, 1917, p. 16. Collected from Jane Gentry, September 11 1916.
M: 64/4
K: GF
L: 1/4
F>D | C/ C/ D F/ F/ F | F f d2 | d>c A/ G/ F | D C F2 |
C/ C/ D/ D/ F>F | F f d>d | d/ d/ c A G/ F/ | D C F2 ||

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Way Down Yonder in a Minor Key-Guthrie
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 20 Jan 11 - 04:00 AM

Billy Bragg was asked by Woody's daughter Norah to look at some unrecorded songs with a view to setting them to music and recording them, Billy did this and recorded them with the band Wilco.

Dave H

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key (Guthrie
From: Joe Offer
Date: 19 May 16 - 03:40 PM

I came across a terrific recording of this song by Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgXWkktoh10

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key (Guthrie
From: GUEST,Sid Holt
Date: 24 Jan 18 - 12:56 PM

Guthrie also makes a sad reference to his mother singing,Way over yonder in the minor key.This was in the early stages of her Huntingtons. Is the phrase a traditional folk usage or did Guthrie coin it?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key (Guthrie
From: GUEST,Guest Geoff Zeigler
Date: 26 Jan 18 - 08:44 AM

Capo: IV

Alternate bass
Timing: 4/4, 2/4, 4/4, 4/4

       ---Intro---
G---,G-, C--- C---

       ---Verse---
G                               C
I lived in a place called Olfuskee
                                    G
And I had a little girl in a holler tree
                                  C
I said, little girl, it's plain to see
                               G
Ain't nobody that can sing like me
D                               Em
Ain't nobody that can sing like me


       ---Verse---
G                              C
She said, It’s hard for me to see
                               G
How’s one little boy got so ugly
                                 C
Yes, my little girlie that might be
                                          G
But there ain't nobody that can sing like me
       D                               Em
(echo) ain't nobody that can sing like me


       ---Chorus(w/Echo)---
C                            G
Way over yonder in the minor key
Em                     D    G
Way over yonder in the minor key
D                                     Em
There ain't nobody that can sing like me


       ---Verse---
G                                 C
We walked on down by the buckeye creek
                                    G
to see the frog eat the goggle eyed bee
                                     C
to hear that west wind whistle to the east
                                     G
there ain't nobody that can sing like me
       D                               Em
(echo) ain't nobody that can sing like me


       ---Verse---
G                                    C
Oh my little girlie will you let me see
                                       G
way over yonder where the wind blows free
                               C
Nobody can see in our holler tree
                                          G
and there ain't nobody that can sing like me
       D                               Em
(echo) ain't nobody that can sing like me


       ---Chorus(w/Echo)---
C                            G
Way over yonder in the minor key
Em                     D      G
Way over yonder in the minor key
       D                               Em
There ain't nobody that can sing like me

       ---Interlude---
G, C, G, C x2

       ---Verse---
G                                  C
Her mama cut a switch from a cherry tree
                         G
and laid it on the she and me
                                     C   
It stung lots worse than the hive of bees
                                          G
but there ain't nobody that can sing like me
       D                               Em
(echo) ain't nobody that can sing like me


       ---Verse---
G                              C
Now I have walked a long long ways
                                        G
but I still look back to my tanglewood days
                                       C   
I've led lots of girls since then to stray
                                        G
saying, ain't nobody that can sing like me
D                               Em
ain't nobody that can sing like me


       ---Chorus(w/Echo)---
C                            G
Way over yonder in the minor key
Em                     D    G
Way over yonder in the minor key
       D                               Em
There ain't nobody that can sing like me


       ---Chorus(w/Echo)---
C                            G
Way over yonder in the minor key
Em                     D    G
Way over yonder in the minor key
       D                               Em
There ain't nobody that can sing like me
       D                               Em
There ain't nobody that can sing like me