Old Texas

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I first heard this song at the Latin School of
Chicago. It was an autumn afternoon and my music teacher, Ms. Ganter and
I were discussing folk music. She had her guitar with her and showed me
this simple but lovely chord pattern. It’s in the key of F, but is
played in the D position with a capo on the third fret. The D chord is a
D6 with the open B string and the A7 is played with the open G string.
Lyrics:
D6
I’m going to leave Old Texas now
A7 D6
They got no place for the long horned cow

They’ve roped and fenced all over the range
A7 D6
And the people there are all so strange

I’ll take my horse and I’ll take my rope
I’ll hit the trail upon a lope
I’ll bid adios to the Alamo
I’ll turn my face down to Mexico

I’m going to leave Old Texas now
They got no place for the long horned cow
They’ve roped and fenced all over the range
And the people there are all so strange

� 1999 McGuinn Music – Roger McGuinn

900 Miles

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This is a song that I used to hear around the folk circles of Chicago. It has been recorded by numerous artists, including Woody Guthrie.

I'm using my new Martin D12-42RM signature model 12-string.

Lyrics:
Em

Well I'm walkin' down the track, I got tears in my eyes

Tryin' to read a letter from my home

cho: If that train runs me right, I'll be home tomorrow night

G D Em

'Cause it's nine hundred miles where I'm goin'.

G D Em

And I hate to hear that lonesome whistle blow

G D Em

'Cause I'm nine hundred miles from my home.

Well the train I ride on is a hundred coaches long

You can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles.

I will pawn you my watch, I will pawn you my chain

Pawn you my gold diamond ring.

Well if you say so, I will railroad no more

Sidetrack my train and come home.

The Brazos River,

Frank Hamilton, and his wife Mary stopped by the house to say hello. I hadn’t seen Frank since the mid 60’s in Los Angeles, and we had a great time catching up, although we barely scratched the surface.

Frank had taught me to play guitar, and banjo at the Old Town School of Folk Music, in Chicago, from 1957 to 1960.

He showed me a song that he’d performed with the Weavers, and said that Pete Seeger had bemoaned the fact that this song hadn’t been published in Singout, and that it was in danger of getting lost. That makes it an ideal candidate for the Folk Den.

Here are Frank and Mary Hamilton singing The Brazos River, with me playing 12-string and banjo backup.

Lyrics:
A D A
The cool Angelina runs lofty and gliding
A F#m B7 E
The crooked Colorado runs weaving and winding
A F#m D A
The Red River runs rusty, the Wichita clear
A F#m E A
But Down by the Brazos, I courted my dear

A D A E
I la lie lee lee lee give me your hand
A D A E A
I la lie lee lee lee give me your hand
A D A E
I la lie lee lee lee give me your hand
A D E A
There’s many a river that waters the land

She hugged me and she kissed me
And she called me her dandy
The Brazos is muddy,
And sometimes quick sandy

She hugged me and she kissed me
And called me her own
But down by the Brazos
She left me alone

Now the girls of them rivers
They’re plump and they’re pretty
The Supine and the Sulfur
Have many a beauty

I may wander the rivers
And many a shore,
But down by the Brazos
I’ll wander no more

I la lie lee lee lee give me your hand
I la lie lee lee lee give me your hand
I la lie lee lee lee give me your hand
There’s many a river that waters the land X2

Bonny Ship the Diamond, The

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This is another fine example of a joyous departure
song. The whalers would bolster their spirits before departing on an
ocean voyage that might take years. The thought of young women waiting
for them, and of new conquests, gave them the courage to continue.
Lyrics:
[Dm] The Diamond is a [C] ship, my lads, for the [Dm] Davis Strait she’s [C] bound,
And the [Dm] quay it is all [C] garnished with [Am] bonny lasses [Dm] ’round;
[Dm] Captain Thompson gives the [C] order to [Dm] sail the ocean [C] wide,
Where the [Dm] sun it never [C] sets, my lads, no [Am] darkness dims the [Dm] sky,

cho: So it’s [Dm] cheer [C] up my [Dm] lads, let your hearts never fail,
While the bonny [C] ship, the [Dm] Diamond, [C] goes [Dm] a-fishing for the whale.

Along the quay at Peterhead, the lasses stand aroon,
Wi’ their shawls all pulled around them and the saut tears runnin’ doon;
Don’t you weep, my bonny lass, though you be left behind,
For the rose will grow on Greenland’s ice before we change our mind.

cho:

Here’s a health to the Resolution, likewise the Eliza Swan,
Here’s a health to the Battler of Montrose and the Diamond, ship of fame;
We wear the trouser o’ the white and the jackets o’ the blue,
When we return to Peterhead, we’ll hae sweethearts anoo,

cho:

It’ll be bricht both day and nicht when the Greenland lads come hame,
Wi’ a ship that’s fu’ of oil, my lads, and money to our name;
We’ll make the cradles for to rock and the blankets for to tear,
And every lass in Peterhead sing ‘Hushabye, my dear’

cho:

� 1998 McGuinn Music – Roger McGuinn

John The Revelator

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This song was recorded originally in 1930 by Blind
Willie Johnson. He was one of the foremost African American singers of
religious songs, with thirty records to his credit. On his recording of
this song, his wife, Angeline sang the answer back part.

I have tried to keep as close to the original sound as possible, but
the person who sang the answer back part on this recording would prefer
to remain anonymous.

Lyrics:
D

Well who’s that a writing? John The Revelator
Who’s that a writing? John The Revelator
Who’s that a writing? John The Revelator
A book of the seven seals.

Tell me what’s John a writing? Ask The Revelator
What’s John a writing? Ask The Revelator
What’s John a writing? Ask The Revelator
A book of the seven seals.

Now who art worthy, crucified and holy
Bound up for some, Son of our God
Daughter of Zion, Judea’s Lion
He redeemed us, Jesus bought us with his blood

Now tell me who’s that a writing? John The Revelator
Who’s that a writing? John The Revelator
Who’s that a writing? John The Revelator
A book of the seven seals.

Well what’s John a writing? Ask The Revelator
What’s John a writing? Ask The Revelator
What’s John a writing? Ask The Revelator
A book of the seven seals.

Well Moses to Moses, Watching the flock
Saw the bush where they had to stop
God told Moses pull off your shoes
Out of the flock, a well a you I choose

Now tell me who’s that a writing? John The Revelator
Who’s that a writing? John The Revelator
Who’s that a writing? John The Revelator
A book of the seven seals.

Well what’s John a writing? Ask The Revelator
What’s John a writing? Ask The Revelator
What’s John a writing? Ask The Revelator
A book of the seven seals.

� McGuinn Music 1998 Roger McGuinn

Mighty Day

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Commemorating the great Galveston Flood, which began on September 8, 1900. I recorded this song with minor differences in 1961, when I worked as accompanist for the Chad Mitchell Trio on their album, 'Mighty Day On Campus.'

We are now in the height of hurricane season and have already suffered loss from hurricane Georges. A strong hurricane can do as much damage as a nuclear bomb, and should be respected.

Lyrics:
Em B7
I remember one September,
Em B7
When storm winds swept the town;
Em Am
The high tide from the ocean, Lord,
B7 Em
Put water all around.
Em Em7
cho: Wasn't that a mighty day,
A Am
A mighty day
Em
A mighty day,
B7
Great God, that morning
Em
When the storm winds swept the town!

There was a sea-wall there in Galveston
To keep the waters down,
But the high tide from the ocean, Lord,
Put water in the town.

The trumpets warned the people,
'You'd better leave this place!'
But they never meant to leave their homes
Till death was in their face.

The trains they all were loaded
With people leaving town;
The tracks gave way to the ocean, Lord,
And the trains they went on down.

The seas began to rolling,
The ships they could not land;
I heard a Captain crying,
'God, please save a drowning man!'

The waters, like some river,
Came a-rushing to and fro;
I saw my father drowning, God,
And I watched my mother go!

Now death, your hands are icy;
You've got them on my knee.
You took away my mother,
Now you're coming after me!

Home On The Range

In the mid to late 40s, I was in love with the Wild West. I had cowboy boots, two cap guns, a cowboy hat, and Roy Rogers was my hero. It was a magical time when the lines between good and evil were so clearly defined, and the good guys always won. I have wonderful memories of riding the range of Chicago on my bicycle, and singing the cowboy songs that I heard on the radio. This was one of those songs. According to Alan Lomax, it was first printed in 1911, and for twenty years attracted practically no attention. It is said to have been sung on the doorstep of Franklin D. Roosevelt's home by a group of newspaper reporters the night he was first elected president. So here it is in honor of the late Roy Rogers.
Lyrics:
[G] Oh give me a home where the [C] buffalo roam
And the [G] deer and the antelope [D] play
Where [G] seldom is heard a [C] discouraging word
And the [G] skies are not [D] cloudy all [G] day

Chorus
Home home on the range
Where the deer and the antelope [D] play
Where [G] seldom is heard a [C] discouraging word
And the [G] skies are not [C] cloudy
The [G] skies are not [C] cloudy
The [G] skies are not [D] cloudy all [G] day

How often at night when the heavens are bright
With the lights from the glittering stars
Have I stood there amazed and asked as I gazed
If their glory exceeds that of ours

Oh give me a land where the bright diamond sand
Flows leisurely down the stream;
There the graceful, white swan goes gliding along
Like a maid in a heavenly dream

Chorus

Where the air is so pure, the zephyrs so free
The breezes so balmy and light
That I would not exchange my home on the range
For all of the cities so bright

Chorus

Note on Author:

Dr. Brewster Higley (b. 1822) of Indiana wrote this song when he lived in Kansas. The words were printed in a local paper (1873) and became a favorite song along the cattle trails. First published in 1910. The author never saw nor received a cent of royalty. His last home was in Shawnee, Ok., where he died May 17, 1911.

Thanks to David Fox for providing this information.

� Arr. 1998 McGuinn Music Roger McGuinn

John Henry

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The legend of John Henry dates back to the early 1870s during the building of the Big Bend Tunnel through the West Virginia mountains by C & O Railroad workers. To carve this tunnel, then the longest in the United States, men worked in pairs to drill holes for dynamite. One man used a large hammer to pound a huge drill, while another man screwed it into the rock.

John Henry was renowned for his strength and skill in driving the steel drills into the solid rock. One day the captain brought a newly invented steam drill to the tunnel to test. Which was stronger, man or machine? John Henry, the strongest steel driver of them all, beat the steam drill, but according to the song, the effort killed him.

Lyrics:
A
When John Henry was a little baby,
E7
Just a sittin' on his mammy's knee,
A7 D7
Said the Big Bend Tunnel on that C & O Road
A
Gonna be the death of me, Lord God
E7 A
Going to be the death of me.'

Well John Henry said to the captain,
I'm gonna take a little trip downtown
Get me a thirty pound hammer with that nine foot handle
I'll beat your steam drill down, Lord God
I'll beat your steam drill down

Well John Henry hammered on that mountain
Till his hammer was striking fire
And the very last words that I heard that boy say was
Cool drink of water 'for I die, Lord God
Cool drink of water 'for I die

Well they carried him down to the graveyard
And they buried him in the sand
And every locomotive came a roarin' on by
They cried out, 'There lies a steel drivin' man, Lord God
There lies a steel drivin' man.

Well there's some say he came from Texas
There's some say he came from Maine
Well I don't give a damn where that poor boy was from
You know that, he was a steel drivin' man, Lord God
John Henry was a steel drivin' man

Well when John Henry was a little baby,
Just a sitting on his mammy's knee,
Said the Big Bend Tunnel on that C & O Road
Gonna be the death of me, Lord God
Gonna to be the death of me.'

� 1998 McGuinn Music – Roger McGuinn

Pushboat

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This Mississippi River song speaks of the hard life
spent by the boatmen who piloted pushboats. These narrow craft traveled
downstream, being steered by a long pole, pushed against the bank. This
was a very labor intensive occupation. There were long hours of slow
going, and songs like this made the time seem to pass a little more
quickly.
Lyrics:
G
Working on a push boat
G
From Cattletsburg to Pike,
Am C
I’m working on a push boat,
Em C
For Old Man Jeffery’s Ike. X2

Working on a push boat
For fifty cents a day;
Buy a dress for Cynthie Jane,
And throw the rest away. X2

Working on a push boat,
Water’s mighty slack;
Taking sorghum ‘lasses down
And bringing sugar back. X2

Going down Big Sandy
With Pete and Lazy Sam;
When I get to Cattletsburg,
I’ll buy myself a dram. X2

I wish I had a nickel,
I wish I had a dime;
I’d spend it all on Cynthie Jane
And dress her mighty fine. X2

The weather’s mighty hot, boys,
Blisters on my feet;
Working on a push boat
To buy my bread and meat. X2

Working on a push boat,
Working in the rain;
When I get to Cattletsburg,
Hello, Cynthie Jane! X2

� McGuinn Music 1998 Roger McGuinn

James Alley Blues, The

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The James Alley Blues is song number 61 in the Harry
Smith Anthology. It was originally recorded by Richard (Rabbit) Brown
in New Orleans, LA, on March 5, 1927. Brown was one of the first
musicians to learn the twelve bar blues pattern, and was one of the most
important New Orleans folk singers to record. He was famous for his
dramatic guitar playing, which was similar in style to that of blues
man, Willie Johnson.

I have tuned to the key of the original recording which is somewhere
between C and C#, and have emulated the tempo, and blues licks Brown
played.

Lyrics:
D
The times ain�t now nothin� like they used to be
G D
The times ain�t now nothin� like they used to be
A7 D
I�ll tell you the truth; won�t you take my word from me?

I�ve seen better days, but I ain�t puttin� up with these
I�ve seen better days, but I ain�t puttin� up with these
I had lot better times with the women down in New Orleans

Cause I was born in the country she thinks I�m easy to lose
Cause I was born in the country she thinks I�m easy to lose
She wants to hitch me to a wagon and drive me like a mule

I bought her a gold ring and I paid the rent
I bought her a gold ring and I paid the rent
She wants me to wash her clothes, but I got good common sense

If you don�t want me then why don�t you just tell me so?
If you don�t want me then why don�t you just tell me so?
It ain�t like a man got nowhere to go

I give you sugar for sugar, but all you want is salt for salt
I give you sugar for sugar, but all you want is salt for salt
If you can�t get along with me, then it�s you own fault

You want me to love you, but then you just treat me mean
You want me to love you, but then you just treat me mean
You�re my daily thought; you�re my nightly dream

Sometimes I just think that you�re too sweet to die
Sometimes I just think that you�re too sweet to die
And other times I think you ought to be buried alive

� 1998 McGuinn Music – Roger McGuinn