Country Blues (Hustling Gamblers)
trad./Dock Boggs 1927, Stormking Music, Inc. Used by permission.
Come all you good time people
While I’ve got money to spend
For tomorrow might be Monday
And I needn’t have a dollar nor a friend
When I’ve got plenty of money, good people
All my friends are a-standing round
But when my pocketbook is empty
Not a friend on this earth can be found
Well, the last time I’ve seen my little woman, good people
She had a wine glass in her hand
She was a-drinking down her troubles
With a low down sorry man.
All around this old jailhouse you’ll see me, good people
Forty dollars won’t pay my fine
Corn whiskey has surrounded my body, poor boys,
Pretty women is all a-troublin’ my mind
Well, my daddy told me plenty, good people
And my momma, she told me more
She said, “son if you don’t quit your rowdy ways,
You’ll have trouble at your door.”
Well had I finally listened to my momma, good people
Then I would not have been here today
But a drinkin’, shootin’ and a-gamblin’
At home I cannot stay
Go and dig a hole in the meadow, good people
Dig it deep in that cold, cold ground
Come and gather ‘round all you fine friends
And see this poor rounder go down
And when I’m dead and buried
With my pale face turned to the sun
Will you stand around and moan
And think of what you have done
Give me corn bread when I’m hungry, good people
Corn whiskey when I’m dry
Pretty women standing around me
Sweet heaven when I die.
©2004 Kent Gustavson Music ASCAP.