1 THEM STARS traditional, tune by M.M.
Them Stars! How often I've laid on the prairie
And watched 'em go sweeping around
My bronco a dozin' beside me and nary
A breeze nor a whisper of sound
I've learnt the main bunch of the heavenly ranches
There's Jupiter, Venus and Mars
Religion? He don't know it's primary branches
What ain't been alone with the starsSome clusters is branded, the Dipper, the Lion,
The Eagle, the Sarpent, the Bear
The Horns O' the Bull and the Belt O' Orion,
And Cassia O' Whats Her Name Chair
But lots of 'ems mav'ricks, roamin' the ranges,
Stampeded all over the sky
No part of the big panorama that changes
From winter to summer, and why?
chorus:
Well maybe it's gospel and maybe he sold me
But here's the whole story at least
That Big Chief Citola he told to me t
The night of the corn-planting feastWhen all of the mountains was set in their stations
An' threaded with canyons and rills
The star worlds, the last of the mighty creations
Was layin' in heaps on the hills
In masses of silver, gold and of copper
Shining and polished and new
Poured out on the granite like corn from the hopper
A-waitin' their place in the blueFirst come the Bear o' the Mountain
Who faces the North from his cave afar
He lifted his paws to the heavenly spaces
An' laid out his picture in stars
Then over the peaks of the Western Dominion
The Eagle who battles the storm
Flew up to the heavens with star dusted pinions
And printed the line of his form
Next that the tribes and nations should wonder,
The Buffalo leaped to the sky
That shag headed bison whose beller is thunder e
Emblazoned his image on high
chorus:
And then came coyote so crafty and clever, A scalawag all the way through
That yap throated critical varmint who never
Is pleased with what other folks do
Sez he "Them stars was intended to brighten t
The outermost reaches of night
And you go and use 'em in pictures to heighten
Your glory and that isn't right"
Sez he "I'll show you how stars should be planted" a
And he jumped in the glittering piles
He kicked and he gamboled, he danced and he rambled a
And he scattered 'em millions of miles
So that's why they glimmer at sixes and sevens
Stampeded all over the vault
A lastin' disgrace to the orderly heavens
And it's all that coyote chaps fault
chorus:
2 PENNY POTION traditional
A sailor courted a farmer's daughter
Who lived convenient to the Isle of Man
Now mark good people what followed after
A long time courting to gain her hand
A long time courting and still discoursing
Concerning things of the ocean wide
Til at length he said my dearest dear
If you'll consent I'll make you my brideWell as for sailors we don't admire them
Because they sail to so many a port
The more we love them the more they slight us
They leave us maids with a broken heart
Well don't be feared my dearest dear
I don't intend for to serve you so
I mean to take you my bride to make you
So you my love to the sea might goThis word was carried to his old mother
Before they could step one foot on board
Her son was courting a farmer's daughter
Whose friends and parents could not afford
One penny potion, going to the ocean
Like one distracted his mother run
Saying if you take her your bride to make her
I will disown you to be my sonOh Mother dear you are in a passion
I'm very sorry but it's too late
Don't you remember at the first beginning
My father married you , a serving maid
Now don't despise her , I mean to raise her
Like my old father by you has done
I mean to take her my bride to make her
You may disown me to be your sonNow when his love heard these pleasant stories
That she to sea with her love might go
As for my potion well never mind it
I might have money that no one knows
"Money or not you are my lot
You have gained my affection still
I mean to take you my bride to make you
And let this whole world say what it will"
3 BLACK EYED SUSAN- traditional
All in the downs the ship lay moored
Streamers waving in the wind
When dark eyed Susan came on board
Inquiring for her absent friend
Tell me you jovial sailors, tell me true
Does my love Willie, does my love Willie
Sail among your crewWillie who high up in the yards
Rocked by the billows to and fro
Soon as he heard this well known voice
Sighed and cast his eyes below
The cord glides swiftly through his glowing hands
And quick as lightning, quick as lightning
On the deck he standsOh Susan Susan lovely Sue
My vows will ever true remain
Let me kiss off those falling tears
We only part to meet again
The noblest captain in all that British fleet
Might envie Willie, might envie Willie
Lips those kisses sweetListen to what the landsmen say
They'll try to tempt thy constant mind
They'll tell thee sailors when away
In every port a mistress find
Oh yes believe them when they tell thee so
For thou art present, thou art present
Where so ere I goIf to fair India's shores I sail
Thine eyes are like the diamonds bright
Thy breath is Africa's spicy gale
Thy skin is ivory so white
The fairest breezes where so ere I go
They bring me memories, bring me memories
Of my lovely SueThe bosun gave the dreadful word
The sails their swelling bosom spread
She could no longer stay on board
She turned away and hung her head
Her little boat unwilling rowed to land
Adieu she cried, adieu she cried and
Waved her lily hand
4 SAILOR AND HIS BRIDE traditional
In the spring when I was young
The flowers they bloomed the birds they sung
But not one bird as happy as I
When my love the sailor lad was nighThe eastern stars were shining bright
the moon beams in the glistening night
The sailor and his lovely bride
Sat weeping by the ocean sideScarce three months since we were wed
But oh how fast the time has fled
Three months passed and the dawning of the day
When a proud wind bore my own true love awayTime goes by and he comes no more
To greet his love by the ocean shore
The ship went down in the middle of the storm
And he no more came homeI wish that I was sleeping too
Beneath the waves of the ocean blue
My soul to my god and my body to the sea
And the dark blue waters rolling over me
6 HALF HITCH traditional
A noble rich man in Plymouth did dwell
He had a fine daughter, a beautiful girl
A young man of fortune and riches beside
Courted this fair maid to make her his bride
To make her his bride
Courted this fair maid to make her his brideHe courted her long and gained her love
Then she intended this young man to prove
Since first she gained him she barely denied
She told him straight off she'd not be his bride
Not be his bride
She told him straight off she'd not be his brideHe vowed that straight to his home he would steer
And many an oath unto her he did swear
He swore he'd wed the first woman he'd see
If she was as mean as a beggar could be
A beggar could be
If she was as mean as a beggar could beShe ordered her servants this man to delay
Her rings and her jewels she laid them away
She put on the worst of old rags she could find
She looked like the devil before and behind
Before and behind
She looked like the devil before and behindShe clapped her hands to the chimney back
She painted her face all over full black
Away to the corner she flew like a witch
With her petticoats heisted all on the half hitch
All on the half hitch
With her petticoats heisted all on the half hitchAt length this young man came a riding along
She stumbled before him, she scarcely could stand
The shoes on her feet were all thread up askew
At length he said to her "Pray who be you
Pray who be you"
At length he said to her "Pray who be you"
"I'm a woman"This answer pierced him straight to the heart
He wished from his very life to depart
Then he wished that he had been buried
For he did ask her and if she was married
And if she was married
For he did ask her and if she was married
"No I ain't"This answer pleased him much like the rest
It lay very heavy and hard on his breast
He found by his oath he must make her his bride
And then he did ask her behind him to ride
Behind him to ride
And then he did ask her behind him to ride
"Your horse will throw me"Oh no, oh no my horse he will not
So up astraddle behind him she got
His heart it did fail him ,he dare not go home
My parents will say I'm surely undone
Surely undone
My parents will say I'm surely undoneAt length to a neighbor with whom he was great
The truth of the story he dared to relate
He said "Here with my neighbor you may tarry
And in a few days with you I will marry
With you I will marry
In a few days with you I will marry"
"You won't, I know you won't"He swore that he would and home he did go
he soon told his mother and father also
Of what had befallen and how he had sworn
His parents said to him "For that do not mourn
For that do not mourn"
His parents said to him "for that do not mourn""Oh ne'er break your vow but bring home your girl
We'll soon snug her up and she'll do very well"
The wedding was ordered, they invited the guests
And then they intended the bride for to dress
The bride for to dress
And then they intended the bride for to dress
"I'll be married in my old clothes"Married they were and sat down to eat
With her fingers she hauled out the cabbage and meat
The pudding it burned her fingers so bad
She licked 'em and wiped 'em along on her rags
Along on her rags
She licked 'em and wiped 'em along on her ragsThen harder then ever and at it again
Some they did laugh til their side were in pain
Some they did say "My jewel my bride
Come sit yourself down by your true lover's side
Your true lovers side
Come sit yourself down by your true lover's side"
"Sit in the chimney corner like I'm used to"Some were merry and very much pleased
Others were sorry and very much grieved
Then in order the truth to decide
To bed they invited both bridegroom and bride
Bridegroom and bride
To bed they invited both bridegroom and bride
"Give me a candle and I'll go alone"They gave her a candle what could she want more
And showed her the way to the chamber door
"Husband when you hear my old shoe go "clung"
You may come along"Upstairs she went and went clumping about
His mother said to him "What do you think she's about?"
"Mother oh mother pray don't say a word
No comfort to me can this world afford
Can this world afford
No comfort to me can this world afford"At length they heard her old shoe it go clung
They gave him a candle and bade him go 'long
"I choose to go in the dark he said
For I very well know the way to my bed
The way to my bed
I very well know the way to my bed"He jumped into bed, his back to his bride
She turned and she tumbled from side unto side
She turned and she tumbled, the bed it did squeak
At length he said to her "Why can't you lie still
Why can't you lie still"
At length he said to her "Why can't you lie still?"
"I need a light to unpin my clothes"He ordered a light her clothes to unpin
Behold she was dressed in the finest of things
And when he turned her face to behold
'Twas fairer to him than silver and gold
Silver and gold
'Twas fairer to him than silver and goldUp they got and a frolic they had
It made every heart to feel merry and glad
They looked like two flowers just coming to bloom
With many full glasses we wished them much joy
Wished them much joy
With many full glasses we wished them much joy
ENDLESS CHAIN byPete Sutherland
Outside the window I saw the clothesline
Full of old quilts no two the same
Flapping and flying in the wind they were talking
Like women working on a quilting frame
A midsummer circus of crazy colors
Their strange old names I can hear them call
Jacob's Ladder, Drunkard's Path
Robbing Peter to Pay Paul
Dusty Miller, Ducks and Ducklings
Woods in Autumn, Wild Geese FlyingCrazy Jane and Old Log Cabin
Puzzling patterns from from a simpler time
Bits and pieces from bolts and boxes
Laid out straighter than a schoolbook rhyme
Strips cut out from a newmade templet
Scissors gleaming in the oil lamp light
Patient fingers, tiny stitches
In the stillness of a snowy night
Honeycomb, Harvest Home
Maple Leaf, Memory WreathA stitch in time, an apple a day
A penny saved is a penny earned
Make it do or do without it
These are the lessons that our old folk learned
Store 'em away for a long cold winter
'Till the season for growing comes round once more
Hands learn work from these old tools
Our feet hear music in the old wood floor
Eight Hands Round, Swing on the Corner
Texas Star, BucksawOne more dance with your favorite partner
One more chorus from the fiddler's bow
Follow the plow or ply the needle
For one more year and down one more row
Tree of Life, Hand of Friendship
Stepping Stones to an Endless Chain
Cut the strings that make you dance
You'll still be dancing just the same
Bachelor's Puzzle, Old Maid's Dream
Hour Glass, Moss RoseRose in Bud, Carolina Rose
Rose o' Sharon, Dixie Rose, Love Rose
Stars Within Stars, Morning Star, Shooting Star
Evening Star, Compass Star
Wonder of the World, Wandering Foot
Wonder of the Sky, Wanderer's Path
Tree of Life, Hand of Friendship
Stepping Stones, Endless Chain
8 OLD GREEN SWEATER by Dan Berrgren
Somebody made this old sweater
Of six or seven big green balls of yarn
Look how it surrounds me, how it wraps around me
Just like being hugged by loving armsSomebody made this old sweater
You can see it wasn't by machine
Every stitch of every row was knitted nice and slow
Of some wool that was dyed so nice and greenChorus:
You know I love my old green sweater
I've worn it for years and it's still good as new
There's just one thing that warms me better
That's your love, that's youI don't know the name of the farmer
I don't suppose I ever will
Though I never met him, still I can't forget him
He's the one who raised the sheep and sheared the woolWho took time to clean the wool and to card it
I don't suppose I'll ever know
Who did all the spinning, 'twas only the beginning
Before love was knitted into every roChorus:
Some folks have drawers just jammed with sweaters
While others have none to keep them warm
But I've got one that has your touch, that's why it means so much
And I'll wear it when it's mended or it's torn
Repeat first verse
Chorus:
9 SONG OF ALL SONGS traditional
If you walk to town with me in 1863
The subject of my song on the way you will see.
On fences and railings wherever you may go
You'll see the penny ballad sticking up in a row.
Some of them to read ,you'll stand for awhile,
Some of them are so odd they'll cause you to smile
Some of merit, some of pretense
They'll all be forgotten a hundred years hence.
I noted them down as I read them along,
I put them all together for to make up my song.There was "Abraham's Daughter" "Going Out Upon a Spree"
With "Old Uncle Snow" in"A Cottage by the Sea"
"Mother is the Battle Over" "What are the Men About?"
"How Are You Horace Greeley?" "Does Your Mother Know You're Out?"
"Do They Think of Me At Home?" "I'll be Free and Easy Still"
"Give Us Back Our Old Commander" with the "Sword of Bunker Hill"
"When This Cruel War is Over" "No Irish Need Apply"
"Every Day is Sunday" and "The Goose Hangs High"
"Yankee Boys" and "Yankee Doodle" "Where Loud the Cannons Roar"
"We're Coming Father Abraham" full "Forty Thousand More""Jimmy, Don't Go" in "My Gum Tree Canoe"
"There's No Friend So True " as " A Dollar Or Two"
"The Days When I Was Hard-up" with "My Charming Mary Ann"
"My Johnny Was a Shoemaker" or "Any Other Man"
"If Your Foot is Pretty , Show It" "At Lanigan's Ball"
"Why Did She Leave Him at the Raging Canawl?"
"I'm Weeping Sad and Lonely" "When Shall I Meet Again ?"
"The Charming Young Widow I Met On the Train"
"On the Other Side of Jordan" "Don't Fly Your Kite so High"
"Jimmy's Coming Cross the Green, " boys "Root , Hog or Die"
"Hungry and Footsore and Ill" "Tho' Poor I Am a Gentleman Still"
"Go Where You Will" and "Do What You May"
"I'm a Man You Don't Meet Every Day"
"The Homeliest Man in Town" is "The Fellow That Looks Like Me"
"Any Place That I Can Hang My Hat" is "Home Sweet Home" to me.
BLOW YOUR HORN HUNTER
As I went down by the riverside
Blow your horn hunter
A pretty fair maid in a tree I spied
And I am a joVILful hunterI said fair maid what brings you here
Blow your horn hunter
She said that wild boar brought me here
And are you a jovial hunter"I wish I would that wild boar see"
"Blow your horn hunter
And that wild boar will come to thee
And are you a jovial hunter"I went till I come to the wild boars den
Blow your horn hunter
I spied the bones of a thousand men
But I am a jovial hunterI raised my horn up to my mouth
Blow your horn hunter
Blew east and west and north and south
For I am a jovial hunterThat wild boar came all with a rush
Blow your horn hubter
He knocked down hickory, oak and ash
For to meet a jovial hunterThey fought for four hours in that day
Blow your horn hunter
Til he at last that boar did slay
For he was a jovial hunterHe met that witch wife on the bridge
Blow your horn hunter
"You killed my pretty spotted pig
Oh are you a jovial hunter?""There're three things I desire of thee
Blow your horn hunter
Your hound, your horn and your gay lady
If you are a jovial hunter""There 're three things you desire of me"
Blow your horn hunter
"But my sword and your neck do not agree
And I am a jovial hunter'"He split that witch wife to the chin
Blow your horn hunter
And he went on his way again
For he was a jovial hunter
11 GLORY TRAIL poem by Charles Badger Clark-1915
Way up high on the Mogollons upon the mountain tops
A lion picked a yearling's bones and licked his thankful chops
When on the picture who should ride, a-trippin' down the slope
But High Chin Bob with sinful pride and a maverick hungry rope
"Glory be to me", says he, "and fames unfading flowers
All meddling hands are far away, I ride my good top horse today
I'm top rope of the Lazy-J. Hi! Kitty cat, you're ours."The lion licked his paws so brown and dreamed sweet dreams of veal
'Till that circling loop sung down and roped him round his meal
He yowled quick fury to the world and all the hills yowled back
The top horse gave a snort and whirled, and Bob took up the slack.
"Glory be to me", says he, "I've hit the glory trail
No mortal man, as I have read, dare loop a lion round the head
Nor never horse could drag one dead until we tell the tale."Way up high in the Mogollons that top horse done his best
Through whippin' brush and rattling stones from canyon floor to crest
But every time Bob looked, and hoped a limp remains to find
A red-eyed lion, belly roped, but healthy, loped behind.
"Glory be to me", says he, "this glory trail is rough,
But 'till the toot on the judgement morn, gonna keep this dally
'round this horn
For never any hero born could stoop to holler: 'nuff!'"Three suns had rode their circles home beyond the desert's rim
And sent their star herds loose to roam the heavens high and dim
Yet up and down and 'round and 'cross Bob pounded, weak and wan,
For pride still glued him to his horse and glory drove him on.
"Glory be to me," says he, "he cain't be drug to death
And now I know beyond a doubt, the heroes I have read about
Are only fools who stuck it out 'till the end of mortal breath."Way up high in the Mogollons a prospect man did swear
A moon dream melted down his bones and heisted up his hair.
A ribby cow horse thundered by, a lion trailed along,
And the rider, gaunt, but chin on high, yelled out this crazy song.
"Glory be to me", says he,"and to my noble noose.
Stanger,tell my pards below, I took a rampin' dream in tow
And if I never laid him low, I never turned him loose."
13 MOLLY BAWN traditional
A story, a story to you I'll relate
Concerning Molly Leary, her fortune was great
Twas a fine summer evening as she journeyed along
Through green leafy bowers, from showers she runYoung William was out with his dog and his gun
As he journeyed a fowling at the set of the sun
Her apron was round her and he took her for a swan
And he shot Molly Leary at set of the sunWhen he went up to her and saw who was she
His limbs they fell feeble and his eyes could not see
He took her in his arums and he found she was dead
And fountings of sad tears down from his eyes shed"Oh Molly, dear Molly, I wish you was live
Oh Molly, dear Molly, I would make you my bride
Cursed be that young man who gave me his gun
To go so a-fowling at set of the sun"Home ran young William with his dog and his gun
Saying father, dear father, do you know what I've done
Her apron was round her and I took her for a swan
And I shot Molly Leary, now what's to be done?"Out came the old man and his head it was grey
Saying William, dear William do not run away
Stay in your own country till the trial comes on
And you'll never be hanged for the shooting a swan"Three days before the trial to her brother she appeared
Saying "Brother, dear brother, do not hang my dear
My apron was round me and he took me for a swan
But close to his heart lay his own Molly Bawn"
15 LEAVING SCOTLAND by Dan MacArthur
Lets leave this hungry land behind I heard my father say
The kids are alway hungry here and the lands waste away
So let's pack up what we've room for, the kids and you and me
And sail away across the briny sea
Here we're knockin' back and forth between the hunger and the law
Sheep are always skinny, they're the worst I ever saw
Let's take the few good things we own and close the cottage down
And sail away to North Amerikee
Oh what will the New World bring
What will the New World mean to me
I clutch my one rag doll to me and stare out on the sea
Oh what will the New World mean to me
So father's written off to find a passage on the sea
I've only room to take along a few small things with me
We've packed up all that we can take and closed the cottage down
And we're loading up the boat now from the shore
And I'm 'runnin' back and forth between the cottage and the shore
"Father can I take along just one small package more?"
"No,we've no more room , you'll have to leave all the rest behind
You'll never see these shores again no more"
Oh what will the New world bring
What will the New World mean to me
I've stowed away my one rag doll to keep me company
Oh what will the New World mean to me
The boat is small, the living's tight, we don' t get on so well
I'm jammed into a sailing berth with all the sailing smell
Too many people leaving on a boat that's just too small
We don't know if we'll make it through at all
And we're rocking back and forth upon the ocean waves
Father's always sick and the babies misbehave
But me I stand out on the deck closing of my eyes
Pulling this old sail boat safely home
Oh what will the new world bring
What will the New World mean to me
We don't know if we'll ever make it back to solid land
Oh what will the New World mean to me
The boat is anchored in the bay, we stare at our new land
Our few belongings are loaded down, we've forgotten how to stand
With the forests crowding in around the towns along the shore
We won't be tending sheep here anymore
And I'm rowing back and forth between the sailboat and the shore
I'll never set my feet in that old tub anymore
I'll stay upon the solid land where my legs don't weave and roll
And watch my new life in this land unfold
Oh what will the New World bring
What will the New World mean to me
I'll stay upon the solid land and watch my life unfold
Oh what will the New World mean to me
16 OH HAD I A GOLDEN THREAD by Pete SeegerHad I a golden thread and needle so fine
I'd weave a magic strand of rainbow design
Of rainbow designIn it I'd weave the bravery of women giving birth
I'd weave the innocence of children of this earth
Children of this earthFar o'r the water I'd stretch my rainbow band
To every human being so they would understand
So they would understandTell my brothers and my sisters of my rainbow design
Bind up this sorry world with heart and hand and mind
Heart and hand and mindFar o'r the waters I'd stretch my rainbow band
To every city and through every land
Through every landHad I a golden thread and needle so fine
I'd weave a magic strand of rainbow design
Of rainbow design