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songs from
American Anonymous
(fossil 2111)
To learn more about the cd American Anonymous, click HERE
To order this or any album, click here
American Anonymous is a collection of traditional American folk music, all authors anonymous. The songs are all derived from the public domain. But these lyrics have been adapted and arranged by Joel Mabus, those adaptations ©2011 Joel Mabus. If you are looking for a pristine version of one of these songs as sung in the 19th century, you should continue your search.
These versions of these songs are published in 2011 by Fingerboard Music, BMI
Please don't copy the lyrics to another site without permission.
Betsy From Pike
Love Somebody
Sweet Evelina
The Farmer Is The Man
Sally Gal
In The Pines
Rising Sun Blues
Drunken Hiccups
Grieve My Lord No More
Get Along Little Dogie
The Fox
A Closer Walk With Thee
Betsy From Pike
traditional, adapted & arranged by Joel Mabus
Say don’t you remember sweet Betsy from Pike,
She crossed the big prairie with her lover, Ike,
With one yoke of Oxen, and an old yellow dog,
A tall Shanghai rooster and one spotted hog
Well, we left Bowling Green on a bright sunny day
Traced the Missouri up Omaha way
Struck out on the Platte ‘bout as far as we could
Burned buffalo chips when we run out of wood
It was on the Platte River one cold rainy night
We broke out the whiskey and Betsy got tight
She cackled & hollered & danced in the rain
Put on quite a show for the whole wagon train.
It was on the high plains old Ike near give up
He whimpered & whined like an old mewlin’ pup
Said “Old Pike County, I'll head back to you."
Quote Betsy, "You'll go by yourself if you do."
The Shanghai run off and the cattle all died
The last piece of bacon that morning was fried
Old Ike got discouraged, but Betsy got mad
The dog wagged her tail & looked wonderful sad
In the forty mile desert, old Betsy give out,
Fell down on the ground & her tongue hangin’ out
Quote Ike, “This ain’t no place for good-byes”
“Get up there old girl you’ll get grit in your eye."
We swam the broad rivers & passed the tall peaks
Slept out on the prairie for weeks upon weeks
Fought the Comanche with rifle and ball
But we made Sacramento in spite of ‘em all
Long Ike and sweet Betsy attended a dance
Ike wore a pair of his Pike County pants.
But Betsy dolled up in her ribbons and things,
Quote Ike "You're an angel, ‘cept ya left off the wings"
Long Ike and sweet Betsy got married of course
But seven years later obtained a divorce
We all wondered why, till old Betsy she said
“ Ike’s a real pistol -- but he’s plumb out of lead”
Sing Tur-a-lie tur-a-lie tur-a-lie-ay
Whoopie ti-yo and a yippie-i-ay
When its all cut and dried, there’s just one thing to say
Pike County to Truckee is a mighty long way
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Love Somebody
traditional, adapted & arranged by Joel Mabus
Love somebody yes I do (3x)
Love somebody but I won’t say who
Grasshopper sittin’ on a watermelon vine (3x)
‘Long comes a chicken and he says “he’s mine!”
Gonna get a hair cut, don’cha wanna go (3x)
Need a little trim if I do say so
Now, rock the cradle Lucy, rock the cradle high
Rock the cradle Lucy, don’t make that baby cry
Love somebody yes I do (3x)
Love somebody but I won’t say who
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Sweet Evelina
traditional, adapted & arranged by Joel Mabus
Way down in the valley where the lily first grows
And the wind from the mountain never ruffles the rose
Lives dear Evelina, my sweet turtle dove
The pride of the valley, the girl that I love
Sweet Evelina, dear Evelina
My love for you will never, never die [2x]
Like the rose she is fair, like the lamb she is meek
And she never was known to put paint on her cheek
The ringlets that fall from her raven black hair
She never requires perfumery there
But the years have gone by and I ain’t got a dollar
Evelina still lives in the green grassy holler
And though I am fated to marry her never
I’ll love her for sure, for ever and ever.
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The Farmer Is The Man
traditional, adapted & arranged by Joel Mabus
When the farmer comes to town with his wagon broken down,
Oh, the farmer is the one that feeds them all.
If you’ll only look and see I think you will agree
That the farmer is the one that feeds them all.
The farmer is the man, the farmer is the man,
Lives on credit till the fall;
At an interest rate so high it's a wonder he don't die,
And the banker is the one that takes it all.
Well the shopper hangs around, while the butcher cuts a pound,
But the farmer is the one that feeds them all;
And the preacher and the cook go a-strolling by the brook,
While the farmer is the one that feeds them all.
The farmer is the man, a woman or a man,
Lives on credit till the fall;
Then they take ‘em by the hand & they auction off the land -
The middleman's the man that takes it all.
When the governor says he's broke, And the market’s up in smoke,
They forget that it's the farmer feeds them all.
It would put them to the test If the farmer took a rest,
Then they'd know that he’s the one that feeds them all.
Oh, the farmer is the man, the farmer is the man,
Lives on credit till the fall;
Why, his pants are wearing thin, his condition is a sin,
He's forgot that he's the man that feeds ‘em all.
Yeah, the farmer is the one that feeds us all
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Sally Gal
traditional, adapted & arranged by Joel Mabus
Now, the prettiest gal I ever saw—Way down yonder in Arkansas
Hairy-legged mother and a hog-eyed pa—Prettiest daughter I ever saw
I’m gonna marry you, Sal, I’m gonna marry you Sally Gal (repeat)
Sally in the garden siftin’ sand—Pullin’ out taters in ‘er pretty
little hand
Pretty little daughter of a hog-eyed man—I’m gonna marry you Sally Ann
Sal got a meat skin hid away—Sal got a meat skin hid so they say
Grease my skillet some old day—Sail away ladies sail away
D’ya ever see a muskrat, Sally Ann—Draggin’ his slick tail through the
sand
Gotta make a livin’ any way he can—Making little babies in sandy land
Corn don’t grow in sandy land—Beans don’t grow in sandy land
Wheat don’t grow in sandy land—Get yer big fat taters in Sandy Land
Now, grab your partner by the hand—Allemande left and do the grand
Right and left and come to stand—Don’t forget to thank the band
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In The Pines
traditional, adapted & arranged by Joel Mabus
The longest train I ever saw ran down that Georgia line
The engine passed at six o’clock & the cab at half past nine
In the pines, in the pines where the sun never shines
And I shiver when the cold winds blow
My father was a railroad man he died a mile and a half from town
He caught his head in a driver’s wheel but his body ain’t never been found
Little girl, little girl, what have I done that makes you treat me so
You caused me to weep, you caused me to moan, caused me to lose my home
Little girl, little girl now tell me true—Tell me where did you sleep last night
I asked my captain for the time of day—Said he throwed his watch away
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Rising Sun Blues
traditional, adapted & arranged by Joel Mabus
There is a house down in New Orleans
They call the Rising Sun
Its been the ruin of many poor boys
And me oh god, I’m one
Now, my mother was a working girl
Son, you know what I mean
She left her home in Baton Rouge
To work in New Orleans
And my father was a rounder boys
He rove from town to town
And any place that the dice was hot
He laid his money down
Now the only thing that a rounder knows
Is his suitcase and his trunk
And the only time he’s satisfied
Is when he’s on the drunk
So fill your glasses to the brim
Pass that bottle too
And we’ll drink to the health of a roundin’ poor boy
Sing them Rising Sun Blues
Now it’s one foot on the platform boys
One foot on the train
I’m heading back down to New Orleans
To wear my ball and chain [repeat verse 1]
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Drunken Hiccups
traditional, adapted & arranged by Joel Mabus
I'm a rambler, I'm a gambler, I'm a long ways from home
And if you can’t square that, just leave me alone
I eat when I'm hungry and I drink when I'm dry
Bad liquor don't get me, I'll live till I die
Rye whisky, whisky, it’s whisky I cry
If I don't get my whisky I’ll stove up and die
Jack o’diamonds, Jack o’diamonds, I know you old knave
You’ve robbed me of silver and all that I crave
My horses ain’t hungry they won’t eat your hay
So I’ll pocket my bottle and be on my way
Rye whisky, whisky, it’s whisky I cry
If I don't get my whisky gonna curl up and die
If the river was whisky and I was a duck
I'd swoop to the bottom and never come up
That river ain't whisky, and I ain't no duck
So I’ll pick on my banjo and trust to my luck
Rye whisky, rye whisky that is my design
If it warn’t for these hiccups I’d be doin’ just fine
Them preachers don’t like me, they say I’m no good
They’d send me to Hades for a tug on a jug
But that devil won’t catch me, and I’ll tell you what
I’ll wrassle that rascal, put his tail in a knot
Rye whisky, whisky, it’s whisky I cry
If I felt any better, I’d sprout wings and fly
Rye whisky it’s whisky it’s whisky I cry
If I don’t get my whisky it’s farewell goodbye
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Grieve My Lord No More
traditional, adapted & arranged by Joel Mabus
I’m so glad, and the devil’s mad (3x)
Lost that soul that he thought he had
I ain’t a-gonna grieve my lord no more
And I ain’t a-gonna grieve, ain’t a-gonna grieve
Ain’t a-gonna grieve my lord no more
The devil wears a hypocrite shoe (3x)
If you don’t watch he’ll slip it on you [as before]
You can talk about me as much as you please (3x)
I’ll talk about you down on my knees
Hand me down my walkin’ cane (3x)
Gonna leave on the mornin’ train
If I get to heaven before you do (3x)
I’ll cut a little hole and pull you through
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Get Along Little Dogie
traditional, adapted & arranged by Joel Mabus
As I rode out one mornin’ so early
I spied a cow puncher a-riding along
His hat was throwed back and his spurs was a jinglin’
And he was singin’ his dogies a song
Whoopee Ty Yi Yo, get along little dogie
It’s your misfortune and none of my own
Whoopee Ty Yi Yo, get along little dogie
You know that Wyoming will be your new home
Some boys hit this old cow trail for pleasure
That’s where they get it most awfully wrong
I wish I could tell you the trouble they give us
As we go rollin’ them dogies along
It’s ropin’ and ridin’ and roundin’ them dogies
It’s ropin’ and ridin’ and roundin’ all day
Whoopee Ty Yi Yo, get along little dogie
Get along little dough gut and be on your way
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The Fox
traditional, adapted & arranged by Joel Mabus
The fox went out on a chilly night
Prayed to the moon to give him light
Had many a mile to go that night
Before he reached the town-o, town-o, town-o
Had many a mile to go that night before he reached the town
He run till he come to the poultry bin
Took no time in a gettin’ in
A couple o’ ducks gonna grease my chin
Before I leave this town-o, town-o, town-o
A couple o’ ducks gonna grease my chin before I leave this town
He took the big goose by the neck
Swung a little duck crosst his back
He didn’t mind the quack, quack, quack
And the legs all danglin’ down-o, down-o, down-o
He didn’t mind that quack, quack, quack and the legs all danglin’ down
Then old mother Hubbard jumped out of the bed
Went to the winder and cocked her head
Said, Get up John, the goose is gone
And a fox is on the town-o, town-o, town-o
Get up John, the goose is gone and a fox is on the town
Then John rode up to the top of the hill
Blowed his horn loud and shrill
Fox said, I better hit the trail
Before they get my tail-o, tail-o, tail-o
Fox said, I better hit the trail before they get my tail
Well he run till he come to his cozy den
Out come the little ones, eight, nine, ten
Here comes papa home again --
Looks like he’s been to town-o, town-o, town-o
Here comes papa home again -- looks like he’s been to town
Then the fox and his wife without any strife
Cut up the goose with a fork and a knife
Never had such a meal in their life –
And the little ones chewed the bones-o, bones-o, bones-o
Never had such a meal in their life – And the little ones chewed the bones
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A Closer Walk With Thee
traditional, adapted & arranged by Joel Mabus
I am weak but thou art strong
Savior, guide me from all wrong
But I’ll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to thee
Just a closer walk with thee
Grant it, Jesus, that’s my plea
Daily walking close to thee
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be
In this world of toil and snares
If I stumble Lord who cares?
Who with me my burden shares
None but thee, dear Lord, none but thee
When this feeble life is o’er
Time for me will be no more
Guide me to your golden shore
But as I walk, let me walk close to thee
Just a closer walk with thee
Grant it, Jesus, that’s my plea
Daily walking close to thee
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be
Ah, Let it be -- let it be
Yeah, Let it be, let it be, let it be
Just a little closer that’s my plea
Oh sweet Jesus, if you please
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be
[back to the top of this page]
American Anonymous is a collection of traditional American folk music, all authors anonymous. The songs are all derived from the public domain. But these lyrics have been adapted and arranged by Joel Mabus, those adaptations ©2011 Joel Mabus. If you are looking for a pristine version of one of these songs as sung in the 19th century, you should continue your search.
These versions of these songs are published in 2011 by Fingerboard Music, BMI
Please don't copy the lyrics to another site without permission.
©2011 Joel Mabus