Me, Backwards

I have become singularly obsessed with the song “James Alley Blues” since I heard it recently on KEXP’s streaming archives.  I’m pretty sure it was on The Roadhouse.  I’m not sure which artist they had on the show, but I’ve downloaded the Wilco version and keep playing it over and over and over.  Obsessive much?  It’s also gotten me interested in the Harry Smith Project albums … threw them on my Amazon wish list and will have to get them at some point.

Times right now ain’t nothin’ like they used to be
Well times right now ain’t nothin’ like they used to be
You know I’ll tell you all the truth, won’t you take my word from me

Well I seen better days, but I ain’t puttin’ up with these
Well I’ve seen better days, but I ain’t puttin’ up with these
I had a lot better time with those women down in New Orleans

Well I was born in the country so she thinks I’m easy to lose
Well I was born in the country so she thinks I’m easy to lose
She wants to hitch me to a wagon and drive me like a mule

I bought her a gold ring and I pay the rent
I bought her a gold ring and I pay the rent
She tried to get me to wash her clothes but I got good common sense

Well if you don’t want me then why don’t you just tell me so?
Well if you don’t want me then why don’t you just tell me so?
It ain’t like I’m a man that ain’t got nowhere else to go

I give you sugar for sugar, but all you want is salt for salt
I give you sugar for sugar, but all you want is salt for salt
Well if you can’t get along with me, then it’s your own fault

Well, you want me to love you, but then you just treat me mean
Yea, you want me to love you, but then you just treat me mean
You’re my daily thought and you’re my nightly dream

Well, sometimes I think that you’re just too sweet to die
Ah, sometimes I think that you’re just too sweet to die
And other times I think that you ought to be buried alive

found on: The Harry Smith Connection: A Live Tribute

words: Rabbit Brown (traditional)

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 11th, 2008 at 10:26 pm and is filed under Life. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.