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I'm a-going down this old dusty road
I'm a-going down this old dusty road O Lord God And I ain't gonna be treated this way I'm a-going where the dust storms never blow I'm a-going where the dust storms never blow O Lord God And I ain't gonna be treated this way My children need three square meals a day My children need three square meals a day O Lord God And I ain't gonna be treated this way I'm a-looking for a job and honest pay I'm a-looking for a job and honest pay O Lord God And I ain't gonna be treated this way |
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I've gambled down in the town of Newport News
The more I gamble, boys, the more I lose Baltimore to Washington Oh Baltimore to Washington Oh Baltimore to Washington Oh Baltimore to Washington I guess they got troubles too Well the hobos know me up and down the line They don't know the trouble on my mind I guess they got troubles too I guess they got troubles too, boys I guess they got troubles too I guess they got troubles too, boys From Baltimore to Washington And the police know me up and down the line They don't know the trouble on my hands I guess they got troubles too I guess they got trouble too, boy I guess they got troubles too I guess the police they got their troubles too From Baltimore to Washington Oh Baltimore to Washington Oh Baltimore to Washington Oh Baltimore to Washington I guess they've got troubles too Going up north and goin north this fall If my luck don't change I won't be back at all From Baltimore to Washington Oh Baltimore to Washington, boys Baltimore to Washington Baltimore to Washington I guess they got troubles too |
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Make me a bed right down on your floor
Make me a bed right down on your floor I'll lay my head in a bed on your floor I'm a poor lonesome boy I'm a long way from home I'm a poor lonesome boy I'm a long way from home I'll lay my head in a bed on your floor The sheriff's on my trail with a big forty-four The sheriff's on my trail with a big forty-four I'll lay my head in a bed on your floor Clock strikin' midnight and daylight to go Clock strikin' midnight and daylight to go I'll lay my head in a bed on your floor Bed on the floor love bed on the floor Make me a bed right down on your floor I'll lay my head in a bed on your floor |
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There's a better world that's a-coming
There's a better world that's a-coming There's a better world that's a-coming I'll tell you why why why And don't you see see see And don't you know know know Hey hey hey There's a better world that's a-coming I'll tell you why why why There's a better world that's a-coming I'll tell you why There's a better world that's a-coming Tell you why why why Better world a-coming I'll tell you why Out of marching out of battling You can hear the chains a-rattling There's a better world that's a-coming I'll tell you why Now there's a better world that's a-coming And there's a better world that's a-coming And there's a better world that's a-coming I'll tell you why why why Why why why There's a better world that's a-coming And don't you see see see Better world that's a-coming And don't you see see see Better world that's a-coming And don't you see Well there's a better world that's a-coming I'll tell you why why why better world that's a-coming I'll tell you why We will beat'em on the land in the sea and in the sky There's a better world that's a-coming I'll tell you why Well there's a better world that's a-coming Don't you see see see Better world that's a-coming don't you see When we'll all be union and we'll all be free There's a better world that's coming don't you see There's a better world a-coming Don't you see see see Better world that's coming don't you see When we'll all be union and we'll all be free There's a better world that's a-coming Don't you see |
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(The Great Historical Bum)
I'm just a lonesome traveler, The Great Historical Bum. Highly educated from history I have come. I built the Rock of Ages, 'twas in the Year of One And that was about the biggest thing that man had ever done. I worked in the Garden of Eden, that was the year of two, Joined the apple pickers union, I always paid my due; I'm the man that signed the contract to raise the rising sun, And that was about the biggest thing that man had ever done. I was straw boss on the Pyramids, the Tower of Babel, too; I opened up the ocean let the migrant children through, I fought a million battles and I never lost a one, And that was about the biggest thing that man had ever done. I beat the daring Roman, I beat the daring Turk, Defeated Nero's army with thirty minutes work, I fought the greatest leaders and I licked them everyone And that was about the biggest thing that man had ever done. I stopped old Caesar's Romans, and I stopped the Kubla Khan; I took but half an hour's work to beat the Pharaoh's bands; I knocked old Kaiser Bill flat, then I dumped the bloody Huns, And that's about the biggest thing that man has ever done. I was in the Revolution when we set the country free; Me and a couple of Indians that dumped the Boston tea; We won the battle at Valley Forge, the battle of Bully Run; And that was about the biggest thing that man has ever done. Next, we won the slavery war, some other folks and me, And every slave from sea to sea was all turned loose by me. I divorced old Madam slavery, and I wed this freedom dame. And that's about the biggest thing that man has ever done. And then I took to farming on the great midwestern plain, The dust it blowed a hundred years, but never come a rain' Well, me and a million other fellas left there on the run And that was about the biggest thing that man has ever done. I clumb the rocky canyon where the Columbia River rolls, Seen the salmon leaping the rapids and the falls The big Grand Coulee Dam in the state of Washington Is just about the biggest thing that man has ever done. There's a building in New York that you call the Empire State I rode the rods to 'Frisco to walk the Golden Gate I've seen every foot of film that Hollywood has run But Coulee is the biggest thing that man has ever done. Three times the size of Boulder or the highest pyramid Makes the Tower of Babel a plaything for a kid From the rising of the river to the setting of the sun The Coulee is the biggest thing that man has ever done. There was a man across the ocean, I guess you knew him well, His name was Adolf Hitler, goddam his soul to hell; We kicked him in the panzers and put him on the run, And that was about the biggest thing that man has ever done. I'm living with my freedom wife in this big land we built; It takes all forty eight States for me to spread my quilt. Our kids are several millions now; they run from sun to sun. And that's about the biggest thing that man has ever done. I built mines and mills and factories to run for Uncle Sam; I turned th' ploughs and wheels to feed my soldiers in your lands; This Nazi job's a tough 'un, it'll take us everyone, 'Cause this is about the biggest thing that man has ever done. There's warehouse guys and teamsters and guys that skin the cats Guys that run my steel mill, my furnace and my blast We'll stop the Axis rattlesnakes and thieves of old Nippon And that will be the biggest thing that man has ever done. I'd better quit my talking, 'cause I told you all I know, But please remember, pardner, wherever you may go, The people are building a peaceful world, and when the job is done That'll be the biggest thing that man has ever done. I better quit my talking now; I told you all I know, But please remember, pardner, wherever you may go, I'm older than your old folks, and I'm younger than the young, And I'm about the biggest thing that man has ever done. |
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One evening when the sun was low my brown eyes whispered, "I must go."
Not one second would she wait. She kissed my cheek and left my gate. (Chorus:) Those brown eyes I loved so well. Those brown eyes I long to see. How I long for those brown eyes. Strangers they have grown to be. One night I met her on the street. I tipped my hat but I could not speak. Another man was by her side. Soon I thought she'd be his bride. (Chorus) 'Twas just a year ago today, they laid my own brown eyes away. Six long years for me she cried. It was her brother by her side. (Chorus) |
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Come all you old time cowboys,
And listen to my song, Please do not grow weary, I'll not detain you long. Concerning some wild cowboys, Who did agree to go, Spend the summer pleasant, On the trail of the Buffalo. I found myself in Griffin, In the spring of '83, When a well known famous drover, Came walking up to me. Said, "How do you do, young fellow, Well how would you like to go, And spend the summer pleasant, On the trail of the Buffalo?" Well I being out of work right then, To the drover I did say, "Going out on the Buffalo Road, Depends on the pay. If you will pay good wages, And transportation to and fro, I think I might go with you, On the hunt of the Buffalo." "Of course I'll pay good wages, And transportation too, If you will agree to work for me, Until the season's through." But if you do get homesick, And try to run away, You will starve to death, Out on the trail and also lose your pay." Well with all his flattering talking, He signed up quite a train, Some 10 or 12 in number, Some able bodied men. The trip it was a pleasant one, As we hit the westward road, Until we crossed old Boggy Creek, In old New Mexico. There our pleasures ended, And our troubles began. A lightening storm hit us, And made the cattle run. Got all full of stickers, From the cactus that did not grow, And the outlaws watching, To pick us off in the hills of Mexico. Well our working season ended, And the drover would not pay, If you had not drunk too much, You are all in debt to me. But the cowboys never had heard, Such a thing as a bankrupt law, So we left that drover's bones to bleach, On the Plains of the Buffalo. |
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Brrrm brm brm brm brm brm brm, brrrm b' brrrm,
Brrrm brm brm brm brm brm brrrm b' brrrm, Brrrm brm brm brm brm brm brrrm b' brrrm. Brrrm brm brm brm brm brm brrrm. Take me riding in the car, car; Take me riding in the car, car; Take you riding in the car, car; I'll take you riding in my car. Click clack, open up the door, girls; Click clack, open up the door, boys; Front door, back door, clickety clack, Take you riding in my car. Climb, climb, rattle on the front seat; Spree I spraddle on the backseat; Turn my key, step on my starter, Take you riding in my car. Engine it goes boom, boom; Engine it goes boom, boom; Front seat, backseat, boys and girls, Take you riding in my car. Trees and the houses walk along; Trees and the houses walk along; Truck and a car and a garbage can, Take you riding in my car. Ships and the little boats chug along; Ships and the little boats chug along; Boom buhbuh boom boom boom buh boom, Take you riding in my car. I'm a gonna send you home again; I'm a gonna send you home again; Boom, boom, buhbuh boom, rolling home, Take you riding in my car. I'm a gonna let You blow the horn; I'm a gonna let you blow the horn; A oorah, a oorah, a oogah, oogah, I'll take you riding in my car. |
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Way down in Columbus Georgia
Lord I wish I was back in Tennessee Way down in that old Columbus Stockade My friends all have turned their back on me. Go and leave me if you wish to Never let me cross your mind In your heart you love another Leave me, little darling, I don't mind Many a night with you I've rambled Honey, countless hours with you I've spent Thought I had your sweet love and your little heart forever But I find it was only lent. Go and leave me if you wish to Never let me cross your mind If in your heart you love another Leave me, little darling, I don't mind Last night as I lay sleeping Oh, I dreamd that I was you in my arms When I woke I was mistaken Lord, I was still behind these bars Go and leave me if you wish to Never let me cross your mind If in your heart you love another Leave me, little darling, I don't mind Lord, I've got the walking blues |
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I went down to the railroad yard, Watch the train come by
Knew that train would roll that day But I did not know what time. I did not know what time, boys, did not know what time, Knew the train would roll that day but I did not know what time. Good morning, Mister railroad man, what time does your train roll by? Nine sixteen and two forty four, twenty five minutes ‘til five. At nine sixteen, two forty four, twenty five minutes ‘til five. Thank you, Mister railroad man, I wanna watch your train roll by. Standing on the platform, smoking a big cigar, Waitin' for some old freight train that carries an empty car. I rode her down to Danville town, got stuck on a Danville girl, Bet your life she was a pearl, she wore that Danville curl. She wore her hat on the back of her head like high tone people all do, Very next train come down that track, I bid that gal adieu. I bid that gal adieu, poor boys, I bid that gal adieu, The very next train come down that track, I bid that gal adieu. |
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Well, the new sher'ff wrote me a letter,
Yes, the new sher'ff wrote me a letter: Come up and see me dead or alive, Come up and see me dead or alive. Dead or alive it's a hard road; it's a hard road dead or alive. Well, he even sent me my picture: Yes, he even sent me my picture; How do I look, boys, dead or alive? How do I look, boys, dead or alive? Dead or alive it's a hard road; it's a hard road dead or alive. Well, he said he would pay expenses: Yes, he said he would pay expenses; Dead or alive, no thank! New sheriff, I'm a poor boy Dead or alive it's a hard road; it's a hard road dead or alive. Well, he said he would feed and clothe me; Yes, mhe said he would feed and clothe me; Dead or alive, no thanks! New sheriff, I'm a poor boy Dead or alive it's a hard road; it's a hard road dead or alive. Well, I'm sorry I can't come, sheriff; Yes, I'm sorry but I can't come, sheriff; Dead or alive, no thanks! New sheriff, I'm a poor boy Dead or alive it's a hard road; it's a hard road dead or alive. I don't like your hard-rock hotel; I don't like your hard-rock hotel; Dead or alive, new sheriff No thanks, I'm a poor boy Dead or alive it's a hard road; it's a hard road dead or alive. I gotta go down and see my little sweet thing; Gonna go down and see my little sweet thing; Dead or alive, yes, Lord! No thanks, new sheriff. Dead or alive it's a hard road; it's a hard road dead or alive. |
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Lots of folks back East, they say, is leavin' home every day,
Beatin' the hot old dusty way to the California line. 'Cross the desert sands they roll, gettin' out of that old dust bowl, They think they're goin' to a sugar bowl, but here's what they find Now, the police at the port of entry say, "You're number fourteen thousand for today." Oh, if you ain't got the do re mi, folks, you ain't got the do re mi, Why, you better go back to beautiful Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Georgia, Tennessee. California is a garden of Eden, a paradise to live in or see; But believe it or not, you won't find it so hot If you ain't got the do re mi. You want to buy you a home or a farm, that can't deal nobody harm, Or take your vacation by the mountains or sea. Don't swap your old cow for a car, you better stay right where you are, Better take this little tip from me. 'Cause I look through the want ads every day But the headlines on the papers always say: If you ain't got the do re mi, boys, you ain't got the do re mi, Why, you better go back to beautiful Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Georgia, Tennessee. California is a garden of Eden, a paradise to live in or see; But believe it or not, you won't find it so hot If you ain't got the do re mi. |
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I just blowed in, and I got them dust bowl blues,
I just blowed in, and I got them dust bowl blues, I just blowed in, and I'll blow back out again. I guess you've heard about ev'ry kind of blues, I guess you've heard about ev'ry kind of blues, But when the dust gets high, you can't even see the sky. I've seen the dust so black that I couldn't see a thing, I've seen the dust so black that I couldn't see a thing, And the wind so cold, boy, it nearly cut your water off. I seen the wind so high that it blowed my fences down, I've seen the wind so high that it blowed my fences down, Buried my tractor six feet underground. Well, it turned my farm into a pile of sand, Yes, it turned my farm into a pile of sand, I had to hit that road with a bottle in my hand. I spent ten years down in that old dust bowl, I spent ten years down in that old dust bowl, When you get that dust pneumony, boy, it's time to go. I had a gal, and she was young and sweet, I had a gal, and she was young and sweet, But a dust storm buried her sixteen hundred feet. She was a good gal, long, tall and stout, Yes, she was a good gal, long, tall and stout, I had to get a steam shovel just to dig my darlin' out. These dusty blues are the dustiest ones I know, These dusty blues are the dustiest ones I know, Buried head over heels in the black old dust, I had to pack up and go. An' I just blowed in, an' I'll soon blow out again. |
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'Long about nineteen thirty-one,
My field boiled up in the boiling sun. 'Long about nineteen thirty-two, Dust did rise and the dust it blew. 'Long about nineteen thirty-three, Livin' in the dust was a killin' me. 'Long about nineteen thirty-four, Dangburn dust it blew some more. 'Long about nineteen thirty-five, Blowed my crops about nine miles high. 'Long about nineteen thirty-six, Me and my wife in a devil of a fix. 'Long about nineteen thirty-nine We fanned our tails for that Orgegon line. We got a hold of a piece of land, Thirteen miles from the Coulee dam. Coulee dam is a sight to see, Makes this e-lec-a-tric-i-tee 'Lectric lights is mighty fine, If you're hooked on to the power line There just ain't no country extra fine. If you're just a mile from the end o' the line. Milk my cows and turn my stone, Till them Grand Coullee boys come along. My eyes are crossed, my back's in a cramp, Tryin' to read my bible by my coal-oil lamp. No, there ain't no country worth a dime, If I'm just a mile from the end o' the line. |
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(Chorus)
Ezekiel saw that wheel Way up in the middle of the air Ezekiel saw that wheel whirling Way up in the middle of the air Now the little wheel runs by faith And the big wheel runs by the grace of God And a wheel in a wheel whirling Way up in the middle of the air Tell you what a hypocrite he will do (Way up in the middle of the air) He'll talk about me and he'll talk about you (Way up in the middle of the air) [Chorus] Brothers and sisters tell you what you gotta do Way up in the middle of the air Join about union two by two Way up in the middle of the air [Chorus] Tell you what a bootlegger he will do Way up in the middle of the air Sell you liquor and liquor with fruit Way up in the middle of the air [Chorus] |
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If I was on some foggy mountain top
Tell you what I'd do Sing this song to the whole wide world And the little gal I love so true |
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Well, the world has seven wonders that the trav'lers always tell,
Some gardens and some towers, I guess you know them well, But now the greatest wonder is in Uncle Sam's fair lang, It's the big Columbia River and the big Grand Coulee Dam. She heads up the Canadian Rockies where the rippling waters glide, Comes a-roaring down the canyon to meet the salty tide, Of the wide Pacific Ocean where the sun sets in the West And the big Grand Coulee country in the land I love the best. In the misty crystal glitter of that wild and wind ward spray, Men have fought the pounding waters and met a watery grave, Well, she tore their boats to splinters but she gave men dreams to dream Of the day the Coulee Dam would cross that wild and wasted stream. Uncle Sam took up the challenge in the year of 'thrity-three, For the farmer and the factory and all of you and me, He said, "Roll along, Columbia, you can ramble to the sea, But river, while you're rambling, you can do some work for me." Now in Washington and Oregon you can hear the factories hum, Making chrome and making manganese and light aluminum, And there roars the flying fortress now to fight for Uncle Sam, Spawned upon the King Columbia by the big Grand Coulee Dam. |
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It was late last night when the boss came home askin' for his lady
The only answer that he got, " She's gone with the Gypsy Davey, She's gone with the Gypsy Dave." Go saddle for me a buckskin horse And a hundred dollar saddle. Point out to me their wagon tracks And after them I'll travel, After them I'll ride. Well I had not rode to the midnight moon, When I saw the campfire gleaming. I heard the notes of the big guitar And the voice of the gypsies singing That song of the Gypsy Dave. There in the light of the camping fire, I saw her fair face beaming. Her heart in tune with the big guitar And the voice of the gypsies singing That song of the Gypsy Dave. Have you forsaken your house and home? Have you forsaken your baby? Have you forsaken your husband dear To go with the Gypsy Davy? And sing with the Gypsy Davy? The song of the Gypsy Dave? Yes I've forsaken my husband dear To go with the Gypsy Davy, And I've forsaken my mansion high But not my blue-eyed baby, Not my blue-eyed baby. She smiled to leave her husband dear And go with the Gypsy Davy; But the tears come a-trickling down her cheeks To think of the blue-eyed baby, Pretty little blue-eyed baby. Take off, take off your buckskin gloves Made of Spanish leather; Give to me your lily-white hair And we'll ride home together We'll ride home again. No, I won't take off my buckskin gloves, They're made of Spanish leather. I'll go my way from day to day And sing with the Gypsy Davy That song of the Gypsy Davy, That song of the Gypsy Davy, That song of the Gypsy Dave. |
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I've been havin' some hard travelin', I thought you knowed
I've been havin' some hard travelin', way down the road I've been havin' some hard travelin', hard ramblin', hard gamblin' I've been havin' some hard travelin', lord I've been ridin' them fast rattlers, I thought you knowed I've been ridin' them flat wheelers, way down the road I've been ridin' them blind passengers, dead-enders, kickin' up cinders I've been havin' some hard travelin', lord I've been hittin' some hard-rock minin', I thought you knowed I've been leanin' on a pressure drill, way down the road Hammer flyin', air-hole suckin', six foot of mud and I shore been a muckin' And I've been hittin' some hard travelin', lord I've been hittin' some hard harvestin', I thought you knowed North Dakota to Kansas City, way down the road Cuttin' that wheat, stackin' that hay, and I'm tryin' make about a dollar a day And I've been havin' some hard travelin', lord I've been working that Pittsburgh steel, I thought you knowed I've been a dumpin' that red-hot slag, way down the road I've been a blasting, I've been a firin', I've been a pourin' red-hot iron I've been hittin' some hard travelin', lord I've been layin' in a hard-rock jail, I thought you knowed I've been a laying out 90 days, way down the road Damned old judge, he said to me, "It's 90 days for vagrancy." And I've been hittin' some hard travelin', lord I've been walking that Lincoln highway, I thought you knowed, I've been hittin' that 66, way down the road Heavy load and a worried mind, lookin' for a woman that's hard to find, I've been hittin' some hard travelin', lord |
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Hey lolly lolly lolly
hey lolly lolly lolly low A married man will keep your secret a single boy will talk about you A playin' man will keep your secret a quiet man will talk about you Well, a married man's an easy rider a single boy gets all excited Single boy walks up and down the street Married man's in his stockin' feet |
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Go to sleep you weary hobo
Let the towns drift slowly by Can't you hear the steel rails hummin' That's the hobo's lullaby I know your clothes are torn and ragged And your hair is turning gray Lift your head and smile at trouble You'll find peace and rest someday Now don't you worry 'bout tomorrow Let tomorrow come and go Tonight you're in a nice warm boxcar Safe from all that wind and snow I know the police cause you trouble They cause trouble everywhere But when you die and go to Heaven You'll find no policemen there So go to sleep you weary hobo Let the towns drift slowly by Listen to the steel rails hummin' That's a hobo's lullaby |
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I ain't got no home, I'm just a-roamin' 'round,
Just a wandrin' worker, I go from town to town. And the police make it hard wherever I may go And I ain't got no home in this world anymore. My brothers and my sisters are stranded on this road, A hot and dusty road that a million feet have trod; Rich man took my home and drove me from my door And I ain't got no home in this world anymore. Was a-farmin' on the shares, and always I was poor; My crops I lay into the banker's store. My wife took down and died upon the cabin floor, And I ain't got no home in this world anymore. I mined in your mines and I gathered in your corn I been working, mister, since the day I was born Now I worry all the time like I never did before 'Cause I ain't got no home in this world anymore Now as I look around, it's mighty plain to see This world is such a great and a funny place to be; Oh, the gamblin' man is rich an' the workin' man is poor, And I ain't got no home in this world anymore. |
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Jesus Christ was a man who traveled through the land
Hard working man and brave He said to the rich, "Give your goods to the poor." So they laid Jesus Christ in his grave. Jesus was a man, a carpenter by hand His followers true and brave One dirty little coward called Judas Iscariot Has laid Jesus Christ in his grave He went to the sick, he went to the poor, And he went to the hungry and the lame; Said that the poor would one day win this world, And so they laid Jesus Christ in his grave. He went to the preacher, he went to the sheriff, Told them all the same; Sell all of your jewelry and give it to the Poor, But they laid Jesus Christ in his grave. When Jesus came to town, the working folks around, Believed what he did say; The bankers and the preachers they nailed him on a cross, And they laid Jesus Christ in his grave. Poor working people, they follered him around, Sung and shouted gay; Cops and the soldiers, they nailed him in the air, And they nailed Jesus Christ in his grave. Well the people held their breath when they heard about his death, And everybody wondered why; It was the landlord and the soldiers that he hired. That nailed Jesus Christ in the sky. When the love of the poor shall one day turn to hate. When the patience of the workers gives away "Would be better for you rich if you never had been born" So they laid Jesus Christ in his grave. This song was written in New York City Of rich men, preachers and slaves Yes, if Jesus was to preach like he preached in Galillee, They would lay Jesus Christ in his grave. sung to Jesse James |
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John Henry when he was a baby
settin' on his mammy's knee picked up an hammer in his little right hand Said "Hammer be the death of me me me, hammer be the death of me!" Some say he's born in Texas Some say he's born up in Maine I just say he was a Louisiana man Leader of a steel-driving chain gang leader on a steel-driving gang "Well", the captain said to John Henry "I'm gonna bring my steam drill around gonna whup that steel on down down down whup that steel on down!" John Henry said to the captain (what he say?) "You can bring your steam drill around gonna bring my steam drill out on the job I'll beat your steam drill down down down beat your steam drill down!" John Henry said to his Shaker "Shaker you had better pray If you miss your six feet of steel It'll be your buryin' day day day It'll be your buryin' day!" Now the Shaker said to John Henry "Man ain't nothing but a man but before I'd let that steam drill beat me down I'd die with an hammer in my hand hand hand I'd die with an hammer in my hand!" John Henry had a little woman Her name was Polly Anne John Henry took sick and was laid up in bed While Polly handled steel like a man man man Polly handled steel like a man. They took John Henry to the graveyard laid him down in the sand Every locomotive comin' a-rolling by by by hollered "there lies a steel-drivin' man man man there lies a steel-drivin' man!" |
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There's a little black train a-coming,
Coming down the track. You've got to ride that little black train but it ain't a-gonna bring you back. You may be a bar-room gambler And cheat your way through life, But you can't cheat that little black train Or beat this final ride. You silken bar-room ladies, dressed in your wordly pride. You've got to ride that little black train, That's coming in tonight. Your million dollar fortune, Your mansion glittering white, You can't take it with you When the train moves in tonight Get ready for your saviour Pick your business right. You've got to ride that little black train, To make this final ride. You silken bar-roomladies, dressed in your worldly pride, You've got to ride that little black train That's coming in tonight You may be a bar-room gambler, Cheat your way through life, But you can't cheat that little black train, Or beat this final ride. There's a little black train a-coming, Coming down the track. You've got to ride that little black train but it ain't a-gonna bring you back. |
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It was early springtime that the strike was on
They moved us miners out of doors Out from the houses that the company owned We moved into tents at old Ludlow I was worried bad about my children Soldiers guarding the railroad bridge Every once in a while a bullet would fly Kick up gravel under my feet We were so afraid they would kill our children We dug us a cave that was seven foot deep Carried our young ones and a pregnant woman Down inside the cave to sleep That very night you soldier waited Until us miners were asleep You snuck around our little tent town Soaked our tents with your kerosene You struck a match and the blaze it started You pulled the triggers of your gatling guns I made a run for the children but the fire wall stopped me Thirteen children died from your guns I carried my blanket to a wire fence corner Watched the fire till the blaze died down I helped some people grab their belongings While your bullets killed us all around I will never forget the looks on the faces Of the men and women that awful day When we stood around to preach their funerals And lay the corpses of the dead away We told the Colorado governor to call the President Tell him to call off his National Guard But the National Guard belong to the governor So he didn't try so very hard Our women from Trinidad they hauled some potatoes Up to Walsenburg in a little cart They sold their potatoes and brought some guns back And put a gun in every hand The state soldiers jumped us in a wire fence corner They did not know that we had these guns And the red neck miners mowed down them troopers You should have seen those poor boys run We took some cement and walled that cave up Where you killed those thirteen children inside I said, "God bless the Mine Workers' Union" And then I hung my head and cried |
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44. |
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45. |
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There's more pretty girls than one
more pretty girls than one every town I ramble 'round more pretty girls than one Look down that railroad line see the train roll by train rolls by with the woman I Love and I Hung my head and cried Look out across that sea see the breakers well how many a love is washed away no human tongue can tell |
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46. |
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47. |
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48. |
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Way out in Reno, Nevada,
Where romance blooms and fades, A great Philadelphia lawyer Was in love with a Hollywood maid. "Come, love, and we'll go ramblin' Down where the lights are so bright. I'll win you a divorce from your husband, And we can get married tonight." Wild Bill was a gun-totin' cowboy, Ten notches were carved in his gun. And all the boys around Reno Left Wild Bill's maiden alone. One night when Bill was returning From ridin' the range in the cold, He dreamed of his Hollywood sweetheart, Her love was as lasting as gold. As he drew near her window, Two shadows he saw on the shade; 'Twas the great Philadelphia lawyer Makin' love to Bill's Hollywood maid. The night was as still as the desert, The moon hangin' high overhead. Bill listened awhile through the window, He could hear ev'ry word that he said: "Your hands are so pretty and lovely, Your form's so rare and divine. Come go with me to the city And leave this wild cowboy behind." Now tonight back in old Pennsylvania, Among those beautiful pines, There's one less Philadelphia lawyer In old Philadelphia tonight. |
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49. |
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My mother called me to her bedside
These words she said to me If you don't quit your rambling ways They're gonna get you in the penetentiary Gonna get you in the penetentiary poor boy Gonna get you in the penetentiary If you don't quit your reckless ways They're gonna get you in the penetentiary So I sat myself down in a gambling game But I could not play my hand Just thinking about that woman I love Run away with another man Run away with another man poor boy Run away with another man Just thinking about that woman I love Run away with another man The cards came around the table lord And I had such a worried mind My stack of gold dollars I wasted away And I lost about ninety-nine I lost about ninety-nine poor boy I lost about ninety-nine My stack of gold dollars I wasted away And I lost about ninety-nine It wasn't very long till I seen him again He ran away left her behind And I laid him down with my old forty-four And the judge gave me ninety-nine The judge gave me ninety-nine poor boy The judge gave me ninety-nine I laid a man down with my big forty-four And the judge gave me ninety-nine Well the jury said I had to pay And the clerk he wrote it down And the judge called out my number Two sixes upside down Two sixes upside down poor boy Two sixes upside down The judge called out my number Two sixes upside down |
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50. |
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If you'll gather 'round me, children,
A story I will tell 'Bout Pretty Boy Floyd, an outlaw, Oklahoma knew him well. It was in the town of Shawnee, A Saturday afternoon, His wife beside him in his wagon As into town they rode. There a deputy sheriff approached him In a manner rather rude, Vulgar words of anger, An' his wife she overheard. Pretty Boy grabbed a log chain, And the deputy grabbed his gun; In the fight that followed He laid that deputy down. Then he took to the trees and timber To live a life of shame; Every crime in Oklahoma Was added to his name. But a many a starving farmer The same old story told How the outlaw paid their mortgage And saved their little homes. Others tell you 'bout a stranger That come to beg a meal, Underneath his napkin Left a thousand dollar bill. It was in Oklahoma City, It was on a Christmas Day, There was a whole car load of groceries Come with a note to say: Well, you say that I'm an outlaw, You say that I'm a thief. Here's a Christmas dinner For the families on relief. Yes, as through this world I've wandered I've seen lots of funny men; Some will rob you with a six-gun, And some with a fountain pen. And as through your life you travel, Yes, as through your life you roam, You won't never see an outlaw Drive a family from their home. |
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51. |
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Now, come and bathe my forehead, Mother
For I'm growing very weak Let one drop of water, Mother, Fall upon my burning cheek Go and tell my little playmates That I never more will play Give them all my toys, but Mother, Put my little shoes away You will do this won't you Mother? Please remember what I say Give them all my toys, but Mother, Put my little shoes away Santa Claus he brought them to me With a lot of other things And I thought he brought an angel With a pair of golden wings Soon the baby will be larger And they'll fit his little feet Won't he look so nice and funny As he walks upon the street You will do this won't you Mother? Please remember what I say Give them all my toys, but Mother, Put my little shoes away |
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52. |
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Ramblin' around your city
Ramblin' around your town I never see a friend I know As I go ramblin' around, boys As I go ramblin' around My sweetheart and my parents I left in my old home town I'm out to do the best I can As I go ramblin' around, boys As I go ramblin' around The peach trees they are loaded, The limbs are bending down, I pick 'em all day for a dollar, boys As I go ramblin' around As I go ramblin' around Sometimes the fruit gets rotten Falls down on the ground There's a hungry mouth for every peach As I go ramblin' around, boys As I go ramblin' around I wish that I could marry I wished I could settle down But I cain't save a penny, boys As I go ramblin' around As I go ramblin' around My mother prayed that I would be A man of some renown But I am just a refugee As I go ramblin' around, boys As I go ramblin' around |
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53. |
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Come all of you cowboys all over this land,
I'll teach you the law of the Ranger's Command: To hold a six shooter, and never to run As long as there's bullets in both of your guns. I met a fair maiden whose name I don't know; I asked her to the roundup with me would she go; She said she'd go with me to the cold roundup, And drink that hard liquor from the cold, bitter cup. We started for the canyon in the fall of the year Expecting to get there with a herd of fat steer; And the rustlers broke on us in the dead hours of night; She 'rose from her warm bed, a battle to fight. She 'rose from her warm bed with a gun in each hand, Said: Come all of you cowboys and fight for your land, Come all of you cowboys and don't ever run As long as there's bullets in both of your guns. |
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54. |
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55. |
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56. |
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57. |
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(My Daddy)
Well, a curly-headed girl with a bright shining smile Heard the roar of a plane as it sailed through the sky To her playmates she said, with a bright twinkling eye My Daddy flies that ship in the sky My Daddy flies that ship in the sky My Daddy flies that ship in the sky My Mama's not afraid and neither am I 'Cause my Daddy flies that ship in the sky Then a button-nosed kid, as he kicked up his heels He said, My Daddy works in the iron and the steel My Dad builds the planes and they fly through the sky And that's what keeps your daddy up there so high That's what keeps your daddy up there so high That's what keeps your daddy up there so high My Dad builds the planes and they fly through the sky And that's what keeps your daddy up there so high Then a freckle-faced kid pinched his toe in the sand He says, My Daddy works at that place where they land You tell your mama, don't be afraid My Dad'll bring your daddy back home again My Dad'll bring your daddy back home again My Dad'll bring your daddy back home again Don't be afraid when it gets dark and rains My Dad'll bring your daddy back home again |
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58. |
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Have you heard of a ship called the good Reuben James
Manned by hard fighting men both of honor and fame? She flew the Stars and Stripes of the land of the free But tonight she's in her grave at the bottom of the sea. Tell me what were their names, tell me what were their names, Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James? What were their names, tell me, what were their names? Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James Well, a hundred men went down in that dark watery grave When that good ship went down only forty-four were saved. 'Twas the last day of October we saved the forty-four From the cold ocean waters and the cold icy shore. It was there in the dark of that uncertain night That we watched for the U-boats and waited for a fight. Then a whine and a rock and a great explosion roared And they laid the Reuben James on that cold ocean floor. Now tonight there are lights in our country so bright In the farms and in the cities they're telling of the fight. And now our mighty battleships will steam the bounding main And remember the name of that good Reuben James. |
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60. |
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61. |
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On Springfield Mountain there did dwell
A lovely youth I knowed him well. Too roo de nay, too roo de noo This lovely youth one day did go Down to the meadom for to mow. Too roo de nay, too roo de noo. He scarce had mowed quite round the field When a crul serpent bit his heel. Too roo de nay, too roo de noo. They took him home to molly dear Which made him feel so very gueer. Too roo de nay, too roo de noo. Now Molly had two ruby lips With which the poison she did sip. Too roo de nay, too roo de noo. Now Molly had a rotting tooth, And so the poison killed them both. |
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63. |
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64. |
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65. |
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Take a whiff, take a whiff, take a whiff on me
Everybody take a whiff on me Hey, hey, baby take a whiff on me (X2) I got a woman 6ft4 sleepin in the kitchen with her feet in the door Hey, hey, baby take a whiff on me Sure maid, fishin in the creek, ain't caught a man since a way last week Hey, hey, baby take a whiff on me Take a whiff, take a whiff, take a whiff on me Everybody take a whiff on me Hey, hey, baby take a whiff on me (X2) Wanna get a woman let me tell you a word, grease your hair down slick n smart Hey, hey, baby take a whiff on me I'm walkin' down the road with my hat in my hand lookin' for a woman who wants to meet a man, Hey, hey, baby take a whiff on me Take a whiff, take a whiff, take a whiff on me Everybody take a whiff on me Hey, hey, baby take a whiff on me (X2) Walkin down the road and the road's mighty muddy, sliipin n sliding n I can't stay steady Hey, hey, baby take a whiff on me I know my woman ain't treatin me right she don't get home till the day gets light, Hey, hey, baby take a whiff on me Take a whiff, take a whiff, take a whiff on me Everybody take a whiff on me Hey, hey, baby take a whiff on me (X2) Meet a lot of woman rambling around but the Boston women are the best I've found Hey, hey, baby take a whiff on me Singing songs all night long, sing to my woman from midnight on, Hey, hey, baby take a whiff on me Take a whiff, take a whiff, take a whiff on me Everybody take a whiff on me Hey, hey, baby take a whiff on me (X2) |
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66. |
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Well, down along the river just a-sittin' on a rock
I'm a-lookin' at the boats in the Bonneville lock. Gate swings open, the boat sails in, Toot that whistle, she's gone again. Gasoline goin' up. Wheat comin' down. Well, I filled up my hat brim, drunk a little taste, Thought about a river just a-goin' to waste; Thought about the dust, an' thought about the sand, Thought about the people, an' thought about the land. Folks runnin' round all over creation, Lookin' for some kind of little place. Well, I pulled out my pencil, scribbled this song, Figured all them salmon just couldn't be wrong; Them salmon fish is mighty shrewd, They got senators and politicians, too. Just about like the president. They run every four years. You just watch this river, though, pretty soon Everybody's gonna be changin' their tune; The big Grand Coulee and the Bonneville dams Run a thousand factories for Uncle Sam. And everybody else in the world. Turnin' out Everything from fertilizers to sewing machines, And atomic bedrooms and plastic -- Everything's gonna be plastic. Uncle Sam need houses and stuff to eat, Uncle Sam needs wool, and Uncle Sam needs wheat, Uncle Sam needs water and power dams, Uncle Sam needs people, and the people need land. 'Course I don't like dictators none myself, but then I think the whole country had ought to be run by e-lec-trici-ty. |
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67. |
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Back in Nineteen Twenty-Seven,
I had a little farm and I called that heaven. Well, the prices up and the rain come down, And I hauled my crops all into town -- I got the money, bought clothes and groceries, Fed the kids, and raised a family. Rain quit and the wind got high, And the black ol' dust storm filled the sky. And I swapped my farm for a Ford machine, And I poured it full of this gas-i-line -- And I started, rockin' an' a-rollin', Over the mountains, out towards the old Peach Bowl. Way up yonder on a mountain road, I had a hot motor and a heavy load, I's a-goin' pretty fast, there wasn't even stoppin', A-bouncin' up and down, like popcorn poppin' -- Had a breakdown, sort of a nervous bustdown of some kind, There was a feller there, a mechanic feller, Said it was en-gine trouble. Way up yonder on a mountain curve, It's way up yonder in the piney wood, An' I give that rollin' Ford a shove, An' I's a-gonna coast as far as I could -- Commence coastin', pickin' up speed, Was a hairpin turn, I didn't make it. Man alive, I'm a-tellin' you, The fiddles and the guitars really flew. That Ford took off like a flying squirrel An' it flew halfway around the world -- Scattered wives and childrens All over the side of that mountain. We got out to the West Coast broke, So dad-gum hungry I thought I'd croak, An' I bummed up a spud or two, An' my wife fixed up a tater stew -- We poured the kids full of it, Mighty thin stew, though, You could read a magazine right through it. Always have figured That if it'd been just a little bit thinner, Some of these here politicians Coulda seen through it. |
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68. |
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69. |
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70. |
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It happened an hour ago,
Way down in this tunnel of coal, Gas caught fire from somebody's lamp. And the miners are choking in smoke. Goodbye to Dickie and Honey, Goodbye to the wife that I love. Lot of these men not coming home, Tonight when the work whistle blows. Dear sisters and brothers goodbye, Dear mother and father goodbye. My fingers are weak and I cannot write, Goodbye Centralia, goodbye. It looks like the end for me, And all of my buddies I see. We're all writing letters to children we love, Please carry our word to our wives. We, found a little place in the air, Crawled and drug ourselves here. But the smoke is bad and the fumes coming in, And the gas is burning my eyes. Dear sisters and brothers goodbye, Dear mother and father goodbye. My fingers are weak and I cannot write, Goodbye Centralia, goodbye. Forgive me for the things I done wrong, I love you lots more than you know. When the night whistle blows and I don't come home, Do all that you can to help mom. I can hear the moans and groans, More than a hundred good men. Just work and fight and try to see, That this never happens again. Dear sisters and brothers goodbye, Dear mother and father goodbye. My fingers are weak and I cannot write, Goodbye Centralia, goodbye. My eyes are blinded with fumes, But it sounds like the men are all gone, 'Cept Joe Valentini, Fred Gussler and George, Trapped down in this hell hole of fire. Please name our new baby Joe, So he'll grow up like big Joe. He'll work and he'll fight and he'll fix up the mines, So fire can't kill daddy no more. Dear sisters and brothers goodbye, Dear mother and father goodbye. My fingers are weak and I cannot write, Goodbye Centralia, goodbye. |
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71. |
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This land is your land and this land is my land
From California to the New York island From the redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters This land was made for you and me As I went walking that ribbon of highway I saw above me that endless skyway Saw below me that golden valley This land was made for you and me I roamed and rambled and I've followed my footsteps To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts All around me a voice was sounding This land was made for you and me When the sun come shining, then I was strolling And the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling The voice was chanting as the fog was lifting This land was made for you and me This land is your land and this land is my land From California to the New York island From the redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters This land was made for you and me When the sun come shining, then I was strolling And the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling The voice come a-chanting and the fog was lifting This land was made for you and me |
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72. |
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73. |
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74. |
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I see they're lowering right new coffin,
I see they're letting down right new coffin, Way over in that Union Burying Ground. And the new dirt's falling on a right new coffin, The new dirt's falling on a right new coffin Way over in that Union Burying Ground. O, tell me who's that they're letting down, down, Tell me who's that they're letting down, down, Way over in that Union Burying Ground. Another union organizer, Another union organizer, Way over in that Union Burying Ground. A union brother and a union sister, A union brother and a union sister, Way over in that Union Burying Ground. A union father and a union mother, A union father and a union mother, Way over in that Union Burying Ground. Well, I'm going to sleep in a union coffin, I'm going to sleep in a union coffin, Way over in that Union Burying round. Every new grave brings a thousand new ones, Every new grave brings a thousand members, Way over in that Union Burying round. Every new grave brings a thousand brothers, Every new grave brings a thousand sisters, Way over in that Union Burying round. |
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75. |
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Have you seen that vigilante man?
Have you seen that vigilante man? Have you seen that vigilante man? I been hearin' his name all over the land. Well, what is a vigilante man? Tell me, what is a vigilante man? Has he got a gun and a club in his hand? Is that is a vigilante man? Rainy night down in the engine house, Sleepin' just as still as a mouse, Man come along an' he chased us out in the rain. Was that a vigilante man? Stormy days we passed the time away, Sleepin' in some good warm place. Man come along an' we give him a little race. Was that a vigilante man? Preacher Casey was just a workin' man, And he said, "Unite all you working men." Killed him in the river some strange man. Was that a vigilante man? Oh, why does a vigilante man, Why does a vigilante man Carry that sawed-off shot-gun in his hand? Would he shoot his brother and sister down? I rambled 'round from town to town, I rambled 'round from town to town, And they herded us around like a wild herd of cattle. Was that the vigilante men? Have you seen that vigilante man? Have you seen that vigilante man? I've heard his name all over this land. |
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76. |
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Tell the miners' kids and wives,
There's a blast in the number five. And the families I see standing at the gate. The inspector years ago said number five's a deadly hole, And the men most likely won't come out alive. Waiting at the gate, we are waiting at the gate. Smoke and fire just roll and boil from that dark and deadly hole, While the miners' kids and wives wait at the gate. The inspector told the boss, it was more than a year ago, You're risking these men's lives in number five. That hole's full of fumes and dust, full of high explosive gas, But the boss said we'll just have to take the chance. Waiting at the gate, we are waiting at the gate. Smoke and fire just roll and boil from that dark and deadly hole, While the miners' kids and wives wait at the gate. Well the men in the number five kissed their wives and kids goodbye, Then they walk with their lunch kits up the hill. Everybody told the owner that this deadly day would come, But he said we had to work to pay our bills. Waiting at the gate, we are waiting at the gate. Smoke and fire just roll and boil from that dark and deadly hole, While the miners' kids and wives wait at the gate. Well I tried to get a look of the face I often know, As the men are carried out wrapped up in sheets. I can hear the church bells ringing for the one hundred eleven dead, I can hear the families weeping in the streets. Waiting at the gate, we are waiting at the gate. Smoke and fire just roll and boil from that dark and deadly hole, While the miners' kids and wives wait at the gate. This explosion struck on Wednesday, and I stood by the gate till Saturday, Till they laid my daddy out with the other men. In the pocket of his shirt I found a little note he wrote, Never go down in a dangerous mine again. Waiting at the gate, we are waiting at the gate. Smoke and fire just roll and boil from that dark and deadly hole, While the miners' kids and wives wait at the gate. |
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77. |
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78. |
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79. |
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80. |
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81. |
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82. |
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83. |
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I went across the river
I lay down to sleep I went across the river I lay down to sleep When I woke up Had shackles on my feet It takes a worried man To sing a worried song It takes a worried man To sing a worried song I'm worried now But I won't be worried long Twenty-one links Of chain around my leg Twenty-one links Of chain around my leg And on each link 'S an initial of my name I asked that judge What's gonna be my fine I asked that judge What's gonna be my fine Twenty-one years On the Rocky Mountain line That train pulled out Twenty-one coaches long That train pulled out Twenty-one coaches long And the woman I love Is on that train and gone Twenty-one years Pay my awful crime Twenty-one years Pay my awful crime Tweny-one years And I still got ninety-nine |
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84. |
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85. |
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Take a trip with me in 1913,
To Calumet, Michigan, in the copper country. I will take you to a place called Italian Hall, Where the miners are having their big Christmas ball. I will take you in a door and up a high stairs, Singing and dancing is heard everywhere, I will let you shake hands with the people you see, And watch the kids dance around the big Christmas tree. You ask about work and you ask about pay, They'll tell you they make less than a dollar a day, Working the copper claims, risking their lives, So it's fun to spend Christmas with children and wives. There's talking and laughing and songs in the air, And the spirit of Christmas is there everywhere, Before you know it you're friends with us all, And you're dancing around and around in the hall. Well a little girl sits down by the Christmas tree lights, To play the piano so you gotta keep quiet, To hear all this fun you would not realize, That the copper boss' thug men are milling outside. The copper boss' thugs stuck their heads in the door, One of them yelled and he screamed, "there's a fire," A lady she hollered, "there's no such a thing. Keep on with your party, there's no such thing." A few people rushed and it was only a few, "It's just the thugs and the scabs fooling you," A man grabbed his daughter and carried her down, But the thugs held the door and he could not get out. And then others followed, a hundred or more, But most everybody remained on the floor, The gun thugs they laughed at their murderous joke, While the children were smothered on the stairs by the door. Such a terrible sight I never did see, We carried our children back up to their tree, The scabs outside still laughed at their spree, And the children that died there were seventy-three. The piano played a slow funeral tune, And the town was lit up by a cold Christmas moon, The parents they cried and the miners they moaned, "See what your greed for money has done." |