When I first came to town They called me the roving jewel Now they've changed their tune They call me Katy Cruel Oh diddle day, oh diddle lie o day Oh that I was where I would be Then I would be where I am not Here I am where I must be Go where I would, I can not Oh diddle day, oh diddle lie o day When I first came to town They brought me the bottles plenty Now they've changed their tune They bring me the bottles empty Oh diddle day, oh diddle lie o day CHORUS I know who I love And I know who does love me I know where I'm going And I know whose going with me Oh diddle day, oh diddle lie o day CHORUS Down the road I go And through the boggy mire Straight way cross the field And to my heart's desire Oh, diddle day, oh, diddle lie o day CHORUS Oxford Tragedy Traditional version of Knoxville Girl. Nick's version is also available. From English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, Sharp. Collected from Mary Wilson and Mrs. Townley, Kentucky, 1917 Once there was a little tailor boy About sixteen years of age; My father hired me to a miller That I might learn the trade. I fell in love with a Knoxville girl, Her name was Flora Dean. Her rosy cheeks, her curly hair, I really did admire. Her father he persuaded me To take Flora for a wife; The devil he persuaded me To take Flora's life. Up stepped her mother so bold and gay, So boldly she did stand; Johnny dear, go marry her And take her off my hands. I went unto her father's house About nine o'clock at night, A-asking her to take a walk To do some prively talk. We had not got so very far Till looking around and around, He stooping down picked up a stick And knocks little Flora down. She fell upon her bended knees, For mercy she did cry: O Johnny dear, don't murder me, For I'm not fit to die. I took her by her lily-white hands A-slung her around and around; I drug her off to the river-side, And plunged her in to drown. I returned back to my miller's house About nine o'clock at night, But little did my miller know What I had been about. The miller turned around and about, Said:" Johnny, what blooded your clothes?" Me being so apt to take a hint: By bleeding at the nose. About nine or ten days after that, Little Flora she was found A-floating down by her father's house Who lived in Knoxville town. How Long, How Long Blues Leroy Carr A traditional song which was a likely inspiration for The Train Song. How long, how long, has that evenin' train been gone? How long, how long, baby how long. Heard the whistle blowin', couldn't see the train Way down in my heart I had an achin' pain. How long, How long, how long. If I could holler like a mountain jack I'd go up on the mountain and call my baby back. I went up on the mountain, looked as far as I could see The man had my woman and the blues had poor me. I can see the green grass growin' on the hill But I ain't seen the green grass on a dollar bill. I'm goin' down to Georgia, been up in Tennessee So look me over baby, last you'll see of me. The brook runs into the river, river runs into the sea If I don't run into my baby, a train is goin' to run into me. Mister Frog Went A-Courting A traditional song which was a likely insiration for King Kong Kittchee Ki-Mi-O. Mister frog went a-courting and he did ride Uh-hmm, Uh-hmm Mister frog went a-courting and he did ride A sword and pistol by his side Uh-hmm, Uh-hmm. He went down to Missy Mousie's door Where he had often been before. He said, "Missy Mouse, are you within?" "Yes kind sir, I sit and spin." He took Missy Mouse upon his knee And said "Missy Mouse, will you marry me?" "Without my Uncle Rat's consent" "I wouldn't marry the pres-I-dent." Uncle Rat laughed and shook his fat sides, To think his niece would be a bride. When Uncle Rat gave his consent The weasel wrote the publishment. Where will the wedding supper be? Way down yonder in a holler tree. What will the wedding supper be? Two green beans and a black-eyed pea. The first guest in was a bumblebee He danced a jig with a crook-backed flea. The owl did hoot, the birds they sang And through the woods the music rang. They all went sailing 'cross the lake And got swallered up by a big black snake There's bread and cheese upon the shelf If you want any more you can sing it yourself. Banks of the Roses A traditional song which was a likely inspiration for Where The Wild Roses Grow. Nick's song is also available. When I was a wee thing, I heard my mother say That I was meant for rambling and would easy go astray And before that I would work, I would rather sport and play With my Johnny on the banks of red roses On the banks of red roses, my love and I sat down He took out his tuning box to play his love a tune In the middle of the tune, his love got up and cried Oh Johnny, lovely Johnny, would you leave me? So they walked and they talked until they came upon a cave Where the night before her darling had spent digging on her grave Aye, the night before her darling had spent digging on her grave On the bonnie, bonnie banks of red roses Oh no, oh no, cried she, that grave's not meant for me Yes, oh yes, my darling, that your bridal bed shall be Yes, oh yes, my darling, that your bridal bed shall be And he's made her to lie down on red roses And all on his way homeward, his heart was filled with fear Every maid he came upon, he thought it was his dear Yes, every maid he came upon, he thought it was his dear Who he made to lie down on red roses All The Pretty Little Horses Traditional song that Nick used for the track he wrote on the Current 93 album All The Pretty Little Horsies. Nick's version is also available. Hushaby, don' you cry Go to sleepy little baby When you awake you shall have cake And all the pretty little horses. Blacks and Bays, Dapples and Grays Coach, and a six a little horses. So hushaby, etc. Way down yonda', down in the medder There's a poor little lambie. Bees an' the butterflies peckin' out his eyes Poor lambie cried fo' his mammy. But hushaby, etc. Stagalee Three traditional versions of the song from Murder Ballads. Nick's version is also available. Further details (and the actual book Nick edited from) are also available. Stagolee Bad man Stagalee when he bad, He bad wid a gun Stagalee, Stagalee --- you must-a been a sinner Ev'ry- Christmas eve they give Stagalee a dinner Bad man Stagalee, when he bad He bad wid a gun. Don't you remember you remember One dark stormy night Stagalee and Bill O. Lion Dey had dat noble fight. Bill O. Lion tole Stagalee Please don't take my life I got three little children And a dear lil' lovin'wife Stagalee told Billy O. Lion I don't care for your three lil' children Or even your lovin' wife You stole mah Stetson hat And I'm goin to take yo'life Stagalee pulled out his forty-four It went boom boom boom It wasn't long' fore Bill O. Lion WVere layin'on de flo' Stagalee's woman she went to her boss Said, "Please give me some change. Dey got my baby in de station house An'mah business mus'be'ranged. " Stagalee asked his woman "How much change has you got?" She run her han'in her stocking feet And pulled out a hundred spot. She had to get mo'money. From Southern Folk Ballads, McNeill Collected from Vera Hall, AL 1947 Stagolee Stagolee was a bad man, Ev'rybody knows. Spent one hundred dollars Just to buy him a suit of dothes. He was a bad man That mean old Stagolee Stagolee shot Billy de Lyons What do you think about that? Shot him down in cold blood Because he stole his Stetson hat; He was a bad man That mean old Stagolee Billy de Lyons said, Stagolee Please don't take my life I've got two little babes And a darling, loving wife; You are a bad man You mean old Stagolee. What do I care about your two little babes, Your darling loving wife?, You done stole my Stetson hat I'm bound to take your life; He was a bad man, That mean old Stagolee. The judge said, Stagolee, What you doing in here?, You done shot Mr. Billy de Lyons, You going to die in the electric chair; He was a bad man That mean old Stagolee. Twelve o'clock they killed him Head reached up high Last thing that poor boy said, "My six-shooter never lied." He was a bad man, That mean old Stagolee. Stagolee chorus: Stagolee, Stagolee, he's the meanest man in town When that boy starts gamblin', better lay your money down Down in New Orleans where they got that Lyon's Club Every step you step you're steppin' in Billy de Lyon's blood I remember one September, on a cold and stormy night Billy de Lyon and Stagolee, Lord, they had a great big fight Billy shot a seven, and Stack he said he'd pass Stack said to Billy de Lyon, "Brother, You done shot your last" The woman asked the sheriff, said "How can this be? You got all them bad men, but you can't get Stagolee" Deputies took their badges and they laid them on the shelf "If you want to get that bad man, you get him by yourself" Now send for the policemen, a hundred thousand come Loaded down with rifles and a great big Gatling gun On Friday we condemned him, the judge he lowered his head On Saturday we hanged him, I was glad to see him dead Peace In the Valley Erik wrote: "The theme is similar to the Nick's song New Morning. Note also that the line 'There'll be no sadness, no sorrow' also is in New Morning. Finally, the bright day versus black night antithesis is also the same. Well, I'm tired and so weary but I must go along, Till the Lord comes and calls, calls me away, oh, yes, And the mornin's so bright and the lamb is the light, And the night, night is as black as the sea, oh, yes. CHORUS There will be peace in the valley for me, some day, There will be peace in the valley for me, dear Lord, I pray. There'll be no sadness, no sorrow, no trouble I see, There will be peace in the valley for me. The bear will be gentle and the wolf will be tame, And the lion shall lie down with the lamb, that's what it says, And the beasts from the wild will be led by a child, And I will be changed, changed from this creature that I am, oh, yes. CHORUS Wade In The Water Printed in J. Silverman, American History Songbook. Nick has sung his version of this song live. (Chorus) Wade in the water. Wade in the water, children. Wade in the water. God's gonna trouble the water. Jordon's water is chilly and cold. God's gonna trouble the water. It chills the body, but not the soul. God's gonna trouble the water. If you get there before I do. God's gonna trouble the water. Tell all of my friends I'm coming too. God's gonna trouble the water. Oh, Happy Day Written by Edwin R. Hawkins Nick has performed a version of this song live (combined with Deanna). He also sung it on The Road to God Knows Where. Oh happy day, oh happy day; When Jesus washed, oh when He washed When my Jesus washed, He washed my sins away; Oh happy day. He taught me how to walk, fight and pray, fight and pray And in rejoicing, in rejoicing every, every day, every day. Oh happy day, oh happy day; When my Jesus washed, oh when He washed When my Jesus washed all the sins away Oh happy day, yeah. You see He taught me how to watch, fight and pray fight and pray And in rejoicing, in rejoicing every day, every day Oh happy, happy day, oh happy, happy day Oh it felt so good when Jesus, when Jesus washed, When my Jesus washed my sins away. Cindy Words and music by Kaye - Weisman - Fuller "The Bad Seeds performed Cindy regularly in their live sets in 1990,and indeed on a TV appearance as well. I have a version of Elvis Presly doing this song, but I think it's a traditional, also known as 'I Wish I Was An Apple', or as 'Sydney'. I think The Bad Seeds often sang 'Come on home, Sydney Cindy' -Maurice Wish I was an apple dangling from a tree Every time you'd pass me by you'd take a bite of me I wish I was a bluebird I'd never fly away I'd sit up on your shoulder baby and sing to you all day Come on home Cindy Cindy, Come on home Cindy Cindy Come on home Cindy Cindy, Come on home to me I wrote it in a letter, carved it on a tree Told it to a honeycomb, told it to a bee Told them that I love you, they all know its true Say it till the cows come home until it gets to you Come on home Cindy Cindy, Come on home Cindy Cindy Come on home Cindy Cindy, Come on home to me Need you in the morning to start the coffee pot Need you in the afternoon to fan me when I'm hot Need you in the evening when supper time is through What I'm really tryin' to say is I can't get enough of you Come on home Cindy Cindy, Come on home Cindy Cindy Come on home Cindy Cindy, Come on home to me If I were a musician I'd harp on just one thing You should never play my harp the way you pluck a string If only you would love me say it and tell me so I need two charms about me baby to have the whole world know Come on home Cindy Cindy, Come on home Cindy Cindy Come on home Cindy Cindy, Come on home to me Come on home Cindy Cindy, Come on home Cindy Cindy Come on home Cindy Cindy, Come on home to me Love Henry Words and Music by Bob Dylan (1993 Special Rider Music) Original version of Henry Lee. Nick's version is also available. "Get down, get down, Love Henry," she cried, "And stay all night with me. I have gold chains, and the finest I have I'll apply them all to thee." "I can't get down and I shan't get down, Or stay all night with thee. Some pretty little girl in Cornersville I love far better than thee." He laid his head on a pillow of down. Kisses she gave him three. With a penny knife that she held in her hand She murdered mortal he. "Get well, get well, Love Henry, " she cried, "Get well, get well," said she. "Oh don't you see my own heart's blood Come flowin' down so free?" She took him by his long yellow hair, And also by his feet. She plunged him into well water, where It runs both cold and deep. "Lie there, lie there, Love Henry," she cried, "Til the flesh rots off your bones. Some pretty little girl in Cornersville Will mourn for your return." "Hush up, hush up, my parrot," she cried, "Don't tell no news on me, Or these costly beads around my neck, I'll apply them all to thee. "Fly down, fly down, pretty parrot," she cried, "And light on my right knee. The doors to your cage shall be decked with gold And hung on a willow tree." "I won't fly down, I can't fly down And light on your right knee. A girl who would murder her own true love Would kill a little bird like me." Tupelo Blues (John Lee Hooker 1959) A song which was a likely inspiration for Tupelo. Nick's song is also available. Tupelo Blues - John Lee Hooker (3:23) (from the album The Country Blues Of John Lee Hooker, Riverside 1959). Recorded several more times, issued as Vee Jay single "Tupelo (Backwater Blues) / Dusty Road", June 1960; also on 1962 Vee Jay album "The Folklore of John Lee Hooker" as "Tupelo". Also issued a live recording from Newport Folk Festival in the early 60s. Did ya read about the flood? Happened long time ago, In Tupelo, Mississippi. There were thousands o' lives, Destroyed. It rained, it rained, Both night and day. The poor people was worried. Didn't have no place to go. Could hear may people, cryin' "Lord!" Have mercy!" 'Cause you're the only one, That we can turn to" Happened a long time ago. A little town, Way back in Mississippi, In Tupelo Hm-mm, Hm-mm, Hm-mm-mm, Hm-mm, Hm-mm, Hm-mm-mm, Hm- mm, Hm-mm-mm, Hm-mm, Hm-mm, Hm-mm-mm, There was women, and there was children, They were screamin' an' cryin', Cryin', "Lord, have mercy! You're the only one now, that we can turn to." Way back down in Mississippi, a little country town. I know ya read about it, 'Cause I'll never forget it. The mighty flood in Tupelo, Mississippi. Been years ago. Hm-mm, Hm-mm Hm-mm-mm, Oh-hoh, Oh- hoh Oh-oh-oh Hm-mm-mm Oh-hmm, Lord, have mercy! Wasn't that a mighty time? Tupelo's gone. I Rowed a Little Boat John Lee Hooker - Vocal, Acoustic Guitar (Orpheum Music, 1959) A traditional song similar to My Little Boat Is Empty. Nick's song is also available. You know I rowed a little boat, five miles 'cross the pond You know I rowed a little boat, 'bout five miles 'cross the pond I throwed my things in the little boat, it rolled me right along It was thunderin' and lightenin', but it rolled me right along It was thunderin', it was lightenin', Oh yeah, it rolled me right along There were thousands of people, they didn't have no place to go, mmm Little children they were screamin' and cryin', Oh yeah The wind was howlin', they didn't have no place to go, mmm There were thousands o' people, they's goin' from door to door, mmm My little boat kept rollin', it kept on rollin', You know it rolled me right along Mmm-mmm, Kept on rollin, Kept on rollin' Kept on rollin' Kept on rollin', Rollin'