Blues Gone By

Now I’m walkin’ through the graveyard I’ve got some flowers in my hand
Now I’m walkin’ through the graveyard I’ve got some flowers in my hand
I’m gonna kneel right down and say a prayer
For all the long gone bluesmen

I used to hear them playin’ when I was just too young to know
I used to hear them playin’ when I was just too young to know
yeah the blues they were singin’ could cure your heart and soul

There was T-Bone Walker and Jimmy Reed
Little Walter Jacobs, turn him up a little please
There was Mississippi John Hurt, Robert Johnson, Son House
Furry Lewis, Johhny Shines and old Fred McDowell
Now I’m walkin’ through the graveyard I’ve got some flowers in my hand
Now I’m walkin’ through the graveyard I’ve got some flowers in my hand
I’m gonna kneel right down and say a prayer
For all the long gone bluesmen

Ella Speed

Well the first time I shot Ella
I shot her through the side
The second time I could not tell where
But the third time I shot Ella
I shot her through the head
I guess that shot must’ve killed poor Ella dead

When they all got the news
That Ella Speed was dead
They goes home and dresses up in red
There was two white horses
Side and side
Gonna take Ella for her last farewell ride

The very last words I heard Ella say
Tell my sisters don’t do like me
That’s to fall in love with any man you meet
Any man that you see

Now one of these mornings
When you’re out having fun
Someone gonna do what Ella done
Now Ella she went out
just to have some fun
she got shot down with a cold ‘41

Well they shot Ella once
They didn’t shoot her no more
She staggered across the barroom floor
Ain’t it hard, man but it’s true
You can love someone don’t love you

The very last words I heard Ella say
Tell my sisters don’t do like me
That’s to fall in love with any man you meet
Any man that you see

Banty Rooster

I'm gonna buy me a banty, put him at my backdoor
I'm gonna buy me a banty, put him at my backdoor
So when he see a stranger a-comin', he'll flap his wings and crow

What you want with a rooster, he won't crow 'fore day?
What you want with a rooster, he won't crow 'fore day?
What you want with a man, when he won't do nothin' he say?

What you want with a hen won't, cackle when she lays?
What you want with a hen won't, cackle when she lays?
What you want with a woman, when she won't do nothin' I say?

Ah, take my picture, hang it up in Jackson wall
Ah, take my picture, hang it up in Jackson wall
Anybody asks you "What about it", tell 'em "That's all I saw"

My hook's in the water, and my cork's on top
My hook's in the water, and my cork's on top
How can I lose, Lord, with the help I got

I know my dog anywhere I hear him bark
I know my dog anywhere I hear him bark
I can tell my rider, if I feel her in the dark

I Am a Pilgrim

I am a pilgrim and a stranger
Traveling through this wearisome land
And I've got a home in that yonder city, good Lord
And it's not (good Lordy it's not) not made by hand

I got a mother, a sister and a brother
Who have gone to that sweet home
And I am determined to go and see them, good Lord
Over on (good Lordy over on) that distant shore

As I go down to that river Jordan
Just to bathe my weary soul
If I could touch but just the hem of His garment, good Lord
I believe (good Lordy I believe) that it would make me whole

Now when I'm dead, laying in my coffin
All of my friends all gather round
They can say that he's just laying there sleeping, good Lord
Sweet peace (Lordy sweet peace) his soul is found

Jack O' Diamonds

I played him in the Fall, he never won at all
Jack “o” Diamonds was a hard card to play
I played him in the Spring he never won a thing
Jack “o” Diamonds was a hard card to play

I played him on the ace, starvation in my face
Jack “o” Diamonds was a hard card to play
I played him on the deuce, the jack just weren’t no use
Jack “o” Diamonds was a hard card to play

I played him on on the trey, it was on a five I lay
Jack “o” Diamonds was a hard card to play
I played him on the four, the jack ran in the door
Jack “o” Diamonds was a hard card to play

I played him on the five, the lay like to make me cry
Jack “o” Diamonds was a hard card to play
I played him on the six, he left me in a terrible fix
Jack “o” Diamonds was a hard card to play 

I told you last week, just as plain as man can speak
I’m gonna send you to your momma pay day

I played him on the queen, he made the dealer sing
Jack “o” Diamonds was a hard card to play
I played him on the King and he turned my money green
Jack “o” Diamonds was a hard card to play

Sportin' Life Blues

Now I’ve grown tired of runnin’ around
Think I’ll get married and settle down
Cuz this old night life, this mean old sportin’ life
It’s killin’ me 

I got a letter from my home
Most of my good friends are dead and gone
And it makes you worry, makes you wonder
About times to come 

Now my old mother, she said to me
Boy you’re so young and foolish, to blind to see
Well I ain’t got no mother, my sister and brother
Turned their back on me

She’d get down on her knees and pray
These are the very words she would say
Oh my baby, my darlin’ baby
Won’t you please change your ways 

When I was young and feelin’ blue
All them pretty women come and see me through
But now this old night life, this mean old sportin’ life
It’s killin’ me 

Now I’ve grown tired of runnin’ around
Think I’ll get married and settle down
Cuz this old night life, it’s a mean life
And It’s killin’ me

I Hate My Life

I hate my job, I hate my wife
I hate myself, I hate my life
I struggle and strain, just gettin’ through the day
I hate my life

I can’t believe the shape I’m in
I can’t believe I made this bed I’m lyin’ in
I struggle and strain, just gettin’ through the day
I hate my life

Bridge:
My boss is a jerk, everyday I go to work
With a cloud black as coal around my head
Then I come home, to my sweet home
Wishin’ I was someone else instead

I think I might be drinkin’, a bit too much
I don’t drink at work, I don’t drink at lunch
But I get the shakes everyday
I hate my life

Bridge

I used to pray, I guess not enough
Not long enough, not hard enough
I struggle and strain, just gettin’ through the day
I hate my life

Lay My Burden Down

1) Glory, Glory, Hallelujah, since I laid my burden
Glory, Glory, Hallelujah, since I laid my burden

2) No more sickness, no more sorrow, since I laid my burden down
No more sickness, no more sorrow, since I laid my burden down 

3) I’m goin’ home to live with Jesus, since I laid my burden down
I’m goin’ home to live with Jesus, since I laid my burden down

4) I’m gonna shake that hand of angels, since I laid my burden down
I’m gonna shake that hand of angels, since I laid my burden down

Mama Tain't Long For Day

Wake up, Mama, don't you sleep so hard 
Wake up, Mama, don't you sleep so hard 
Got the blues walkin’ around your yard

I've got these blues; I'm not satisfied 
I've got these blues; I'm not satisfied 
That's the reason why I stole away and cry 

Blues grabbed me at midnight, didn't turn me loose til day 
Blues grabbed me at midnight, didn't turn me loose til day 
I didn't have nobody drive these blues away 

The big star fallin', Mama, t'ain't long fo' day 
The big star fallin', Mama, t'ain't long fo' day 
Believe that sunshine'll drive these blues away

Spike Driver Blues

This is the hammer that killed John Henry
But it won't kill me, but it won't kill me
But it won't kill me

Take this hammer and carry it to my captain
Tell him I'm gone, won't you tell him I'm gone?
Won't you tell him where I'm gone?

John Henry, he left his hammer
Layin' side the road, layin' side the road
Layin' side the road

John Henry, he left his hammer
Painted in red, all painted in red
All painted in red

It’s a long way to east Colorado
Honey to my home, honey to my home
And that’s where I’m goin’

Take this hammer and carry it to my captain
Tell him I'm gone, won't you tell him I'm gone?
Tell him, I'm gone