1. |
St. James Infirmary
04:22
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I went down to Old Joe’s Barroom
On the corner of old Jackson Square
He was servin’ up the drinks as usual
And the usual crowd was there
To my right was old Joe McKinley
His eyes bloodshot and red
He stood and looked at the crowd all around him
And these are the words that he said
I went down to the Saint James Infirmary
Saw my baby there
Stretched out on a long white table
So sweet, so cold and so fair
Let her go, let her go, God bless her
Wherever she may be
You can search this whole wide world over, yes
And never find another lover like me
When I die I want you to bury me
In a straightlaced suit with a Stetson hat
Put a twenty dollar gold piece on my watch chain
So the boys’ll know I died standing pat
Then get me six sharp-shootin’ pallbearers
Have a chorus girl sing me a song
And promise me you won’t forget about me, darlin'
Please remember me once I’m gone
And now that you’ve heard my story
Hey bartender how 'bout another round, another round of that booze
And if anybody should ever ask you
Just tell ‘em I got the Saint James Infirmary Blues!
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2. |
Hide a Body
02:04
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You wouldn't hide a body
Where I have my heart
Don't you know that every killer
Just really wants to be caught?
So won't you help me find it
before it decomposes
Or you could just leave it
Leave it there to rot
Bernie crawled under
The porch to die
Now the people wonder
And they ask me why
My outlook is abysmal
It's so goddamn dim and dismal
I need some Pepto-Bismol
Before my stomach turns inside out
A nest of newborn spiders
Is incubating in my arms
Please do not be frightened, no
They don't mean you any harm
But maybe if I raise them
As my very own
We could be a family
I wouldn't need to be alone
You wouldn't hide a body
Where I have my heart
Don't you know that every killer
Just really wants to be caught?
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3. |
Poor Boy
02:56
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Daddy ain't a lawyer
Momma's not a queen
Crooked nose and child's heart
I sure came out mean
Teacher ain't a teacher
Preacher do not preach
Devil's son, my alibi
Keeps me out of reach
Tell me I should get a job
I've been thinking long enough
Poor boy, workin' man
Tell me I should get a job
I've been thinking long enough
Poor boy, workin' man
Poor boy, workin' man
Beggars ain't always begging
Sinner don't live in sin
When they reach the doors of death
Who's gonna let them in?
Who's gonna let them in?
Who's gonna let them in?
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4. |
Train Sounds
02:33
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I’m just looking for some ghosts
The nighttime that scares me the most
When the foxes hunt for glory in the mud
Old habits seek stories and blood
The train sounds like my heart does
And I might just take the next bus
My sleeping feet feel like lightning
And I feel my hands ripening
I’m unsettled in my ways
I’ve been looking for desperate grace
Follow the dogs as they find their homes
They like me for my rattling bones
The train sounds like my heart does
And I might just take the next bus
My sleeping feet feel like lightning
And I feel my hands ripening
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5. |
Eat Crow Tomorrow
02:26
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Well I'd rather have my cake and eat crow tomorrow
I'd rather have my joy and save my sorrow
I'm calling all my friends for some money I can borrow
By the morning I will be dead
I'd rather spend my money in having a good time
Instead of hanging on to every nickel and dime
I'm gonna open up one last bottle of wine
By the morning I will be dead
By the morning I will be dead
You may find me in the morning with a bullet in my head
At least I got to paint the town red
If in the morning you find me...
I wish I could've died young as a good honest person
Instead of waiting around for my condition to worsen
The human one that is the one we're all cursed with
By the morning I will be dead
It takes a worried soul to sing a worried song
It takes a worried soul to sing a worried song
I'm worried now but I won't be worried long...
By the morning I will be dead
You may find me in the morning with a bullet in my head
At least I got to paint the town red
If in the morning you find me.... Dead
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6. |
Hope Provides
03:44
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I've been startin' to feel like this life is a joke
And I just stopped laughin'
Once I wasn't broken, I was just broke
But then I kept on livin'
And you drink the water that hope provides
I was hidin' my face, hidin' my disgrace
Behind another layer of gauze
When you're losin' the race, gettin' laughed in last place
Life can start to feel like a lost cause
And you drink the water that hope provides
Drink the water that hope provides
Let it flow, so deep inside
There's a narrow way 'cross a river so wide
So drink the water that hope provides
Drink the water that hope provides
You dropped your fist as he threw his right
And he landed the finishing blow
Someday they'll say that you threw the fight
But you're the only one who'll ever know
And you drink the water that hope provides
Drink the water that hope provides
Let it flow, so deep inside
There's a narrow way 'cross a river so wide
So drink the water that hope provides
Drink the water that hope provides
Drink the water that hope
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7. |
Man in the Moon
03:20
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You say there’s a man in the moon
That just can’t be true
You say the sun is a star
Well, that just can’t be true
I don’t want to believe
The things you say are true
You say I should just take some time
That just can’t be true
You say this’ll do me some good
That just can’t be true
I don’t want to believe
The things you say are true
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8. |
Sick & Tired
03:53
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Oh I’m tired of bein' numb
Oh I’m tired of bein' numb
Well I’ve done my share of cryin'
But my people keep on dyin'
And I’m tired of feelin' numb
Cuz people come
And people go
People are the reason why
I’ve got a tired soul
Oh I’m tired
Yes I’m tired
Oh I’m tired of feeling numb
Oh I’m tired of bein' dumb
Oh I’m tired of bein' dumb
I open up my mouth to speak
But it is empty as a drum
And I’m tired of feelin' dumb
Cuz words they come
And words they go
Words are just one reason why
I’ve got a tired soul
Oh I’m tired
Yes I’m tired
Oh I’m tired of bein' dumb
Oh I’m tired of bein' poor
Oh I’m tired of bein' poor
If it goes on too much longer
They’ll come knockin' at my door
And I’m tired of bein' poor
Cuz money comes
And money goes
Money is the reason why
I’ve got a tired soul
Oh I’m tired
Yes I’m tired
Oh I’m tired of bein' poor
Oh I’m sick of being tired
Oh I’m sick of being tired
I feel like God has come on down
And snipped all of my wires
And I’m sick of being tired
Cuz strength it comes
And strength it goes
I’ve been beat down for too long now
I’ve got a tired soul
Oh I’m tired
Yes I’m tired
And I’m sick of being tired
Yes I’m sick of being tired
Yes I’m sick of being tired
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9. |
Jacky Bones
03:20
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Jacky Bones you walked in the saloon
Ready to howl at the moon
You’re afraid you can’t handle change
I’m not like you so I must be insane
Oh, don’t you close your eyes
Jacky Bones, don’t close your eyes
Don’t close your eyes
Jacky Bones, you’re looking at your cards
But that hand won’t get you very far
You’re alright with black, white, and red
But other colors go over your head
Oh, don’t you close your eyes
Jacky Bones, don’t close your eyes
Don’t close your eyes
While you’re howling at the moon
We might come storming in to steal your silver spoon
We don’t mean you no pain
But we won’t let you take our souls away
Jacky Bones, don’t close your eyes
Don’t close your eyes
Jacky Bones, you’re threatened to the core
On our words you’re waging war
You’re shaking in your boots, you’re confused
By the way we voice our strange views
Oh, don’t you close your eyes
Jacky Bones, don’t close your eyes
Don’t close your eyes
Jacky Bones, don’t close your eyes
Don’t close your eyes
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10. |
Columbus Stockade
02:34
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Way down Columbus, Georgia
Lord wish I was back in Tennessee
Way down Columbus Stockade
All my friends have turned their backs on me
Go leave me if you wish to
Never let me cross your mind
In your heart you love another
Leave me little darlin' I don't mind
Many nights with you I've rambled
Many countless hours I have spent
I thought I had your little heart and precious love forever
Turns out it was only lent
Go leave me if you wish to
Never let me cross your mind
In your heart you love another
Leave me little darlin' I don't mind
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are grey
You'll never know, dear, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine way
Take it!
Last night when I was sleepin'
I dreamed I held you in my arms
When I awoke I was mistaken
I was still behind these bars
Go leave me if you wish to
Never let me cross your mind
In your heart you love another
Leave me little darlin' I don't mind
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are grey
You'll never know, dear, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine way
Don't take my sunshine away
Don't take my sunshine away
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The Ragshakers recommends:
Preh(E)rstoric
by Felecia and the Dinosaur
Our good friends playing feminist folkabilly. Stay tuned for our upcoming split together!
go to album
Through the Fear of It
by Arroyo Deathmatch
Unique hand-made instruments playing witchy death folk.
go to albumIf you like The Ragshakers, you may also like:
supported by 4 fans who also own “Dead at the Blue House”
Don’t know when or where I discovered this album. I’m glad I did.
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Probably Nothing, Possibly Everything
by Pat The Bunny
supported by 4 fans who also own “Dead at the Blue House”
I love that I always calls me back to it.
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A partnership between Yep Roc and The Southern Folklife Collection, the LP features a never-before-heard live performance by Doc Watson.
go to album
Forever Only Idaho
by Harrison Lemke
Big, strummy songs that recall the heart-on-sleeve earnestness and lo-fi glory of early Mountain Goats.
go to album
