TubeAlloys XaX
Hide in plain sight
This blog represents an experiment in existential philosophy in the digital age
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
The train that carried my girl from town
Doc Watson version
V1
There goes the train that carried my girl from town
If I knowed her number, Lord, I'd flag her down
Wish to the Lord that the train would wreck
Kill that engineer and break the fireman's neck
C
Hey, the train that carried my girl from town
Hey, hey, hey, hey
V2
Where was you when the train left town?
I's standin' on the corner with my head hung down
If I had my gun I'd let the hammer down
Lord, I'd shoot that rounder that took my girl from town
C
Hey, that train that carried my girl from town
Hey, hey, hey, hey
V3
Rations on the table and the coffee's getting cold
And some dirty rounder took my jelly roll
Hello, Central, give me six-o-nine
I want to talk to that woman of mine
C
Hey, that train that carried my girl from town
Hey, hey, hey, hey
V4
Ashes to ashes and dust to dust
Can you show me that woman that a man can trust
There goes my girl, somebody bring her back
'Cause she got her hand in my money sack
C
Hey, that train that carried my girl from town
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Burnett Sisters version
V1
Where was you when the train left town?
I's standin' on the corner with my head hung down
If I had my gun I'd let the hammer down
Lord, I'd shoot that rounder that took my girl from town
C
Hey, that train that carried my girl from town
Hey, hey, hey, hey
V2
There goes the train that carried my girl from town
If I knowed her number, Lord, I'd flag her down
Wish to the Lord that the train would wreck
Kill that engineer and break the fireman's neck
C
Hey, the train that carried my girl from town
Hey, hey, hey, hey
V3
Rations on the table and the coffee's getting cold
And some dirty rounder took my jelly roll
Hello, Central, give me six-o-nine
I want to talk to that woman of mine
C
Hey, that train that carried my girl from town
Hey, hey, hey, hey
V4
Ashes to ashes and dust to dust
Can you show me that woman that a man can trust
There goes my girl, somebody bring her back
'Cause she got her hand in my money sack
C
Hey, that train that carried my girl from town
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Instrumental outro and chorus tag
C
Hey, that train that carried my girl from town
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Doc Watson: Tom Dooley
Each verse is followed by a short instrumental refrain, not all of which are identical.
[Verse 1 and chorus]
Hang your head, Tom Dooley, hang your head and cry
You killed poor Laurie Foster and you know you're bound to die
You left her by the roadside where you begged to be excused
You left her by the roadside, then you hid her clothes and shoes
[Chorus]
Hang your head, Tom Dooley, hang your head and cry
You killed poor Laurie Foster and you know you're bound to die
[Verse 2]
You took her on the hillside for to make her your wife
You took her on the hillside and there, you took her life
You dug the grave four feet long and you dug it three feet deep
You rolled the cold clay over her and tromped it with your feet
[Chorus]
Hang your head, Tom Dooley, hang your head and cry
You killed poor Laurie Foster and you know you're bound to die
[Verse 3]
Trouble, it's trouble a-rollin' through my breast
As long as I'm a-livin', boys, they ain't a-gonna let me rest
I know they're gonna hang me, tomorrow I'll be dead
Though I never even harmed a hair on poor little Laurie's head
[Chorus]
Hang your head, Tom Dooley, hang your head and cry
You killed poor Laurie Foster and you know you're bound to die
Extra beat on instrumental refrain
[Verse 4]
In this world and one more, then reckon where I'll be
If it wasn't for Sheriff Grayson, I'd be in Tennessee
You can take down my old violin and play it all you please
For at this time tomorrow, boys, it'll be no use to me
[Chorus]
Hang your head, Tom Dooley, hang your head and cry
You killed poor Laurie Foster and you know you're bound to die
[Verse 5 and chorus]
At this time tomorrow, where do you reckon I'll be?
Away down yonder in the holler, hangin' on a white oak tree
Hang your head, Tom Dooley, hang your head and cry
You killed poor Laurie Foster and you know you're bound to die
[Instrumental refrain/outro]
Sunday, May 25, 2025
(She thinks I still care)
Just because I asked a friend about her
Just because I spoke her name somewhere
Just because I rang her number by mistake today
She thinks I still care
Just because I haunt the same old places
Where the memory of her lingers everywhere
Just because I'm not the happy guy I used to be
She thinks I still care
But if she's happy thinking I still need her
Then let that silly notion bring her cheer
But how could she ever be so foolish
Oh where would she get such an idea
Just because I asked a friend about her
Just because I spoke her name somewhere
Just because I saw her then went all to pieces
She thinks I still care
She thinks I still care
Thursday, May 8, 2025
Get in line brother
Backwoods Bluegrass version of lyrics
INSTRUMENTAL INTRO
VERSE 1
Oh listen to me sinners, don't you want to know?
For someday he's coming back again, you know
If that wrong ain't rightened you'll be lost in sin
(Get in line, Brother) he will take you in
CHORUS 1
Get in line, Brother, if you wanna go home
Get on your knees and righten that wrong
Then you'll be singin this old-time song
(Get in line, Brother) if you wanna go home
BREAK 1
V2
Now let me tell you brother just how I feel
Then I'm sure you'd know the love of God is real
Then you'll be praying while I sing this song
(Get in line, Brother) if you wanna go home
C2
Get in line, Brother, if you wanna go home
Get on your knees and righten that wrong
Then you'll be singin' this old-time song
(Get in line, Brother) if you wanna go home
BREAK 2
V3
Now listen to me Satan I have rightened that wrong
Got a one-way ticket and I'm going home
I've got no worries as I sing this song
(Get in line, Brother) if you wanna go home
C3
Get in line, Brother, if you wanna go home
Get on your knees and righten that wrong
Then you'll be singin this old-time song
(Get in line, Brother) if you wanna go home
BREAK 3
C4 and OUTRO
Get in line, Brother, if you wanna go home
Get on your knees and righten that wrong
Then you'll be singin this old-time song
(Get in line, Brother) if you wanna go home
+++++
Flatt and Scruggs version of lyrics
INSTRUMENTAL INTRO
VERSE 1
Oh listen to me sinners, don't you want to know?
For someday he's coming back again, you know
If that wrong ain't rightened you'll be lost in sin
(Get in line, Brother) he will take you in
CHORUS 1
Get in line, Brother, if you wanna go home
Get on your knees and righten that wrong
Then you'll be singin this old-time song
(Get in line Brother) if you wanna go home
BREAK 1
V2
Oh listen to me Satan I have rightened that wrong
Got a one-way ticket and I'm going home
I've got no worries as I sing this song
(Get in line Brother) if you wanna go home
C2
Get in line, Brother, if you wanna go home
Get on your knees and righten that wrong
Then you'll be singin this old-time song
(Get in line, Brother) if you wanna go home
BREAK 2
V3
If I could tell you brother just how I feel
Then I'm sure you'd know the love of God is real
Then you'll be praying while I sing this song
(Get in line, Brother) if you wanna go home
C3
Get in line, Brother, if you wanna go home
Get on your knees and righten that wrong
Then you'll be singin this old-time song
(Get in line, Brother) if you wanna go home
INSTRUMENTAL TAG
Monday, May 5, 2025
Hank. I can't help it
3-line verse 1
Today I passed you on the street
And my heart fell at your feet
REFRAIN:
I can't help it if I'm still in love with you
3-line verse 2
Somebody else stood by your side
And he looked so satisfied
I can't help it if I'm still in love with you
4-line verse 1
A picture from the past came slowly stealin'
As I brushed your arm and walked so close to you
Then suddenly I got that old time feelin'
I can't help it if I'm still in love with you
BREAK
4-line verse 2
It's hard to know another's lips will kiss you
And hold you just the way I used to do
Oh, heaven only knows how much I miss you
I can't help it if I'm still in love with you
Sunday, May 4, 2025
Tonight the bottle let me down. Haggard
INSTRUMENTAL INTRO
VERSE1
Each night I leave the bar room when it's over
Not feeling any pain at closing time
But tonight your memory found me much too sober
Couldn't drink enough to keep you off my mind
CHORUS 1
Tonight the bottle let me down
And let your memory come around
The one true friend I thought I'd found
Tonight the bottle let me down
SHORT BREAK
V2
I've always had a bottle I could turn to
And lately I've been turnin' every day
But the wine don't take effect the way it used to
And I'm hurtin' in an old familiar way
C2
Tonight the bottle let me down
And let your memory come around
The one true friend I thought I'd found
Tonight the bottle let me down
TAG
Tonight the bottle let me down
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Hills of Roane County
In the beautiful hills, way back in Roane County
There's where I roamed for many long years
There's where my heart's been tending most ever
That's where the first step of misfortune I made
I was thirty years old when I courted and married
Amanda Gilbraith I then called my wife
Her brother stabbed me for some unknown reason
Just three months later I'd taken Tom's life
For twenty-five years this whole world I rambled
I went to old England to France and to Spain
But I thought of my home way back in Roane County
I boarded a steamer and come back again
I was captured and tried in the village of Kingston
Not a man in that county would speak one kind word
When the jury came in with the verdict next morning
A lifetime in prison was the words that I heard
BREAK
When the train pulled out poor mother stood weepin'
And sister she sat alone with a sigh
And the last words I heard was Willie God bless you
Was Willie God bless you, God bless you, good bye
No matter what happens to me in Roane County
No matter how long my sentence may be
I'll love my old home way back in Roane County
It's way back down in old East Tennessee
Sweet Martha was grave but Corey was better
There's better and worse, although you can see
Boys when you write home from the prison in Nashville
Place one of my songs in your letter for me
ORIGINAL LYRICS?
The following are as close to the original lyrics as researchers can get:
In the beautiful hills, in the midst of Roane County,
There's where I have roamed, for many long years;
There's where my poor heart's been tending most ever,
There's where my first steps of misfortune I made.
I was thirty years old when I courted and married,
Amanda Galbreath was then called my wife.
Her brother stabbed me for some unknown reason;
Just three months later, I'd taken Tom's life.
For twenty years this old world I rambled;
I went to old England, old France, and old Spain.
I thought of my home way back in Roane County;
I boarded a steamer and came back again.
I was captured and tried in the village of Kingston.
Not a man in that county would speak a kind word.
When the jury came in with the verdict next morning,
a lifetime of prison were the words that I heard.
The train it pulled out; poor Mother stood weeping.
And sister, she sat all alone with a sigh.
The last words I heard were: "Willie, God bless you;
Willie, God bless you, God bless you; goodbye."
The train left the shed at about eleven thirty;
The chains they did rattle, the handcuffs were tight
When Sonny Gibson took the throttle
The engine one-thirty was soon out of sight.
In the scorching hot sun I've been toiling;
Just working and worrying my poor life away.
You can measure my grave on the banks of old Cumberland
After I've finished the rest of my days.
No matter what happened to me in Roane County;
No matter how long my sentence may be,
I love my old home way back in Roane County,
Way back in the hills of East Tennessee."
OTHER LYRICS
In the beautiful hills, way back in Roane County
There's where I roamed for many long years
There's where my heart's been tending most ever
That's where the first step of misfortune I made
I was about thirty years when I courted and married
Amanda Gilbraith I then called my wife
But her brother stabbed me for some unknown reason
Just three months later I'd taken Tom's life
For twenty-five years this whole world I rambled
I went to old England, to France and to Spain
But I thought of my home way back in Roane County
I boarded a steamer and came back again
I was captured and tried in the village of Kingston
Not a man in the county would speak one kind word
When the jury came in with the verdict next morning
A lifetime in prison was the words that I heard
When the train pulled out poor mother stood weeping
And sister she sat alone with a sigh
And the last words I heard was "Willie God bless you"
Was "Willie God bless you, God bless you, goodbye"
The train left the shed at about eleven-thirty
The chains they did rattle, the handcuffs were tight
When Sonny Gibson took the throttle
The engine one-thirty was soon out of sight
In the scorching hot sun I've been toiling
Just working and worrying my poor life away
You can measure my grave on the banks of old Cumberland
After I've finished the rest of my days
No matter what happens to me in Roane County
No matter how long my sentence may be
I'll love my old home way back in Roane County
It's way back down in old East Tennessee
Sweet Martha was grave but Corey was better
There's better and worse, although you can see
Boys, when you write home from the prison in Nashville
Place one of my songs in your letter for me.
These lyrics, which have a number of variants, are widely attributed to Willis Maberry and have been performed by the Stanley Brothers and the Blue Sky Boys, among others.
Grandpa Jones has a fine voice, excellent delivery. But I dislike the sing-songy quality. Ralph Stanley's version, in particular, subsumes what I call the "sine wave" sound.
See this link for a historical account of the song by Willis Maberry, convicted of killing his brother in law.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
The train that carried my girl from town
Doc Watson version V1 There goes the train that carried my girl from town If I knowed her number, Lord, I'd fla...

-
It was a teenage wedding and the old folks wished them well You could see that Pierre did truly love the Mademoiselle And now the ...
-
Tempted and tried we're oft made to wonder Why it should be thus all the day long While there are others living about us N...
-
I've got sunshine, on a cloudy day When it's cold outside, I've got the month of May (ooh) I guess you'd say What can m...