Get all 8 Jack Warshaw releases available on Bandcamp and save 35%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Mother Jones, The Last Tree, Misfits Migrants and Murders, ENDANGERED SPECIES, Long Time Gone, Troubadour, My Children, and GOOD ROAD.
1. |
Poor and Rambling Boy
03:13
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I am a poor and a rambling boy
Many are the shores it's I have been
In Cumberland City I paid my way
Spend my money at the ball in play
In Cumberland City I married me a wife
Loved her as I loved my life
She's treated me kind both night and day
Caused me to rob the road highway
So my pretty little miss, now fare thee well
Love you so well no tongue can tell
If pleasure no more on earth I see
I wouldn't treat you as you're a treatin' me
Oh my pretty little miss sixteen years old
Hair just as yeller as the shinin' gold
Oh the prettiest face and the neatest hands
God bless the ground on where she stands
Now my mother sits and weeps and moans
Sister says she's left alone
My true love weeps in deep despair
With her dark brown eyes and her curly curly hair
I'll get me some paper and it's I'll sit down
drop a few lines to Gov'ner Brown
And every word shall be the truth
Pray for the Gov'ner to turn me loose
I'll buy me a ticket in Greenville Town
Get on the train and it's I'll sit down
Oh the wheels will roll and the whistle will blow
Take me six months to get back home
Come young and old and stand around
See me laid in this cold ground
I'm not ashamed or afraid to die
But I hope to see you bye and bye
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2. |
1913 Massacre
04:15
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Take a trip with me in nineteen thirteen
To Calumet, Michigan in the copper country
I'll take you to a place called Italian Hall
And the miners are having their big Christmas ball
I'll take you in a door and up a high stairs
Singing and dancing is heard ev'rywhere
I'll let you shake hands with the people you see
And watch the kids dance 'round the big Christmas tree.
There's talking and laughing and songs in the air
And the spirit of Christmas is there ev'rywhere
Before you know it you're friends with us all
And you're dancing around and around in the hall
You ask about work and you ask about pay
They'll tell you they make less than a dollar a day
Working their copper claims, risking their lives
So it's fun to spend Christmas with children and wives.
A little girl sits down by the Christmas tree lights
To play the piano so you gotta keep quiet
To hear all this fun; you would not realize
That the copper boss thug men are milling outside
The copper boss thugs stuck their heads in the door
One of them yelled and he screamed, "There's a fire"
A lady she hollered, "There's no such a thing;
Keep on with your party, there's no such a thing."
A few people rushed and there's only a few
"It's just the thugs and the scabs fooling you."
A man grabbed his daughter and he carried her down
But the thugs held the door and he could not get out.
And then others followed, about a hundred or more
But most everybody remained on the floor
The gun thugs, they laughed at their murderous joke
And the children were smothered on the stairs by the door.
Such a terrible sight I never did see
We carried our children back up to their tree
The scabs outside still laughed at their spree
And the children that died there was seventy-three
The piano played a slow funeral tune,
And the town was lit up by a cold Christmas moon
The parents, they cried and the people, they moaned,
"See what your greed for money has done?"
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3. |
Richland Woman Blues
05:07
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She’s wearin’ red lipstick and a bright purple roughe
A shingle bob haircut and a shot of good booze
Refrain
Hurry down sweet daddy, come blowin’ your horn
If you come too late, sweet mama will be gone
Come along young fella, everything settin’ right
Husband’s gone away till next Saturday night
[Refrain]
She’s raring to go, got red shoes on her feet
Her mind’s sittin’ right for Tin Lizzie’s seat
[refrain]
Red rooster says, “Cockle doodle do do.”
Rich woman says, “Any dude will do”
[refrain]
With rosy red garters, pink hose on her feet
Turkey red bloomer, with a rumble seat
[refrain]
Stop at the fashion shop, pick the one looks best?
This red hot mama wants a brand new dress
[refrain]
Every Sunday mornin’ down to church she goes
Wings sprouted out, the preacher told her so
[refrain]
Dress skirt cut high, neck line cut low
Don’t think her a sport, keep on watchin’ her go
[refrain]
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4. |
The Mountain Miners
04:04
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Way down in the land of the hills and hollers
Way down in the land of the lonesome pines
Way down where the land is scarred and blasted
Live the men who work in the mountain mines
There’s lots of dog holes right in this county
Where none of the men are organized
They’re told they’re lucky to work at all
And most believe the bosses’ lies
We drill and blast in a three foot seam
Then the scoop moves in through the narrow hole
Under your feet is coal black water
The only roof is tons of coal
We go to the meetins at the union local
But they ain’t done much since John L died
Every once in awhile the government man
Sends another report to the Bureau of Mines
Those big bulldozers they roar like thunder
They strip the land and then move on
They take our topsoil and mountain forest
And leave the dead and broken land
Them little dog holes in every hillside
They work ‘em out till the coal is gone
They take our strong and healthy miners
And leave the dead and broken men
Down in Kentucky and West Virginia
Across the land we love so dear
The operators lay down the law
Just like they done for forty years
Oh the years have come and the years have gone
But the time has come to tell the man
We’ve dug our graves for long enough
You take your hole – we’ll take our land
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5. |
Liza Jane
03:13
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Look-a-here, Liza, listen to me
You're not the gal that you promised to be
Didn't you say you would always be true
You went out driving with Mr Brown
I am the laughing stock of the town
People said to never trust you
Chorus
Throw up your hands, babe, I'm a-gonna go
I was a good man while I had the dough
So it's goodbye Miss Liza
I'm a-gonna leave you
You know when I go, I'm the fellow with the dough-dough-dough
So sing a little song, travel along, yes travel along
Bid you good-day, babe, I'm on my way
Goodbye Miss Lisa Jane
Give me here my gold watch and chain
Give me that umbrella they said it might rain
Give me the clothes that I paid for, too
Down in the trunk and hand me them things
Give me here my diamond ring
Get Mr. Brown to dress you all up new
Chorus
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6. |
Matty Grove
06:24
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It was on a high holiday
Very first day of the year
Matty Grove to church did go
God's holy word to hear
God's holy word to hear
First to come down was a lady in red
Then a lady in pearl
Last to come down was Lord Banner's wife
The fairest among them all
She set her eyes on Matty Grove
Matty Grove on she
"What will you take little Matty Grove
To spend this night with me."
"To spend this night with you," said he
"Would cause no end of war
For I know you to be Lord Banners wife
By the gold rings that you wear."
"So what if I be Lord Banner's wife
Lord Banner is not at home
He's gone down to London Town
To fetch young Henry's throne"
A little foot page was a-standing there
He took to his heel and run
He run till he came to the water side
Then he bent his breast and swum
"What news, what news my little foot page
Is my castle burning down?
Or is my lady brought to bed
Of a daughter or a son."
"Your castle is not burning down
You have no daughter nor son
Little Matty Grove's in bed with your wife
They lie as they was one."
They hadn't been in bed but an hour or more
Nor yet fell fast asleep
When up there stepped Lorn Banner himself
And stood by their bed feet
"How do you like my blanket sir?
How do you like my sheets?
How do you like my gay young wife
That lies in your arms asleep?"
"Right well do I like your blanket sir
Right well do I like your sheets
Better do I like your gay young wife
That lies in my arms asleep."
"Arise and dress little Matty Grove
As fast as ever you can
It'll never be said in the morning sun
That I slew a naked man"
"By my side hand two broad swords
They cost so deep in purse
And you shall have the better one
And I shall have the worst"
Little Matty had the very first blow
He struck and hit the floor
Lord Banner had the second blow
And Matty struck no more
He took his lady by the hand
Set her on his knee
"Come tell to me which you love best
Little Matty Grove or me."
"Right well do I like your cheek, said she
Right well do I like your chin
Better do I like little Matty Grove
Than you and all your kin."
He took his lady by the hand
Led her through the hall
Took her to the uppermost room
And slew her before them all
"Go bury these lovers in one grave
Bury them soft within
But lay my lady on the top
For she's of a nobler kin."
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7. |
Colorado Girl
03:55
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COLORADO GIRL
Townes Van Zandt
I'm goin' out to Denver See if I can't find
I'm goin' out to Denver See if I can't find
That lovin' Colorado girl of mine
The promise in her smile shames the mountains tall
The promise in her smile shames the mountains tall
She can bring the sun to shining tell the rain to fall
It's been a long time, mama, since I heard you call my name
Been a long time mama, since I heard you call my name
I got to see my Colorado girl again
Be there tomorrow Mama, don't you cry
Be there tomorrow Now, mama, don't you cry
I got to kiss them New York City girls good-bye
I'm goin' out to to Denver See if I can't find
I'm goin' out to to Denver See if I can't find
That lovin' Colorado girl of mine
That lovin' Colorado girl of mine
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8. |
The Last Tree
04:53
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THE LAST TREE © Jack Warshaw 2020
Only after the last tree has been cut down Only after the last river has been poisoned Only after the last fish has been caught,
Only then will you find that money cannot be eaten.
-Cree Indian prophecy
I’ve worked my way round this green growing land
A land turned to dust again and again
They come then they’re gone, they dig and they spoil
Fracking for gas, drilling for oil
When the last tree is cut down
When the last river is fouled
When the last fish is caught
Then will you know
You can’t eat your gold
They come and they build wherever they can
Spread concrete and blacktop all over the land
Their factories poison, infecting our streams
Crushing our hopes and killing our dreams
When the last tree is cut down…
They pay us in pennies, then give us the sack
And leave us with nothing but the shirt on our back
They give us religion, and tell us to pray
That stairway to heaven hides misery today
When the last tree is cut down…
They use up the air, they use up the soil
They use up the ocean, they use up the world
So come all you people, and listen to me
Let’s show ‘em right now, what it means to breathe free
When the last tree is cut down…
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9. |
Heather Heyer
04:00
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Heather Heyer 2 © Jack Warshaw 2018/9
Her name was Heather, 30 years of age
She helped poor folks in Charlottesville and many did she save
They wear the scars of fear and pain ‘till they can take no more
Broke down and regulated like slave masters did before
She often wept and spoke out in the cause of liberty
She held the law above the goons who breed their bigotry
She stood against injustice, she spoke for civil rights
Her friends all praised her words but never thought she’d pay the price
She held a lamp of freedom, won with blood and tears
She held the light of day against the night of hate and fear
As she stood there in the sunlight, and as she stood her ground
The Dodge roared down on 4th Street, and there it cut her down
The driver of that Dodge, he loved Hitler so they said
Another white supremacist, another victim dead
Then Trump he sent a message- regards and sympathy
But never showed his face or laid the blame where it should be
The day the 12th of August, two thousand seventeen
The day when Death drove down the road a-raging and obscene
Her name was Heather Heyer, 30 years of age
Charlottesville is quiet now as she lies in her grave
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10. |
Anniversary Waltz
04:25
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© Jack Warshaw 2010
When first we met together I thought that time stood still
Let me call you in the morning, you know I surely will
When we sat and talked together, your gentle words flowed out
Didn’t know until that moment what love is all about
When we walked along together, arm in arm so tight
And I kissed you by the river, I knew it felt just right
When we played a game together, in the summer sun
So soon the game was over, but another just begun
When we drank a glass together, wine of deepest red
Your eyes they spoke so truly, though not a word was said
When we cooked and ate together, what more could I desire?
Each taste that graced upon my tongue set my soul on fire
When we kissed together, standing at your door
I said that I would love you, now and forever more
When we lay together, arms and legs entwined
You knew that I was yours, and I knew that you were mine
So I’ll say again I love you, like a flower loves the sun
And though it’s been a long, long time, I’d say we’ve just begun
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11. |
Green Rocky Road
04:00
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When I go to Baltimore
Make my pallet on your floor
Come along and follow me
We’ll go down in history
Chorus : Green green rocky road Promenade in green
Tell me who ya love Tell me who ya love
See that crow up in the sky
He don’t crow nor can he fly
He can’t walk nor can he run
He’s black paint splashed on the sun
Chorus :
See Miss Jane runnin’ to the ball
She don’t stumble, she don’t fall
Don’t she sing and don’t she shout
When she sing, come runnin’ out
Chorus :
Hooka tooka soda cracker
Does your mama chaw tobacca
If your mama chaw tobacca
Hooka tooka soda cracker
Chorus :
When I go to Baltimore
Make my pallet on your floor
Get up girl and follow me
We’ll go down in history
Chorus
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12. |
All Used Up
03:58
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I spent my whole life making somebody rich
Busted my back for that son of a bitch
And he left me to die like a dog in a ditch
And told me I'm all used up
He used up my labor, he used up my time
Plundered my body and squandered my mind
Then he gave me a handout, sweet talk and wine
And he told me I'm all used up
My kids are in hock to a god you call Work
Slaving their lives out for some other jerk
And my youngest in 'Frisco just made shipping-clerk
He don't know I'm all used up
Some young people reach out for power and gold
They don't have respect for anything old
Then for pennies they're bought, and for promises sold
Someday they'll be all used up
They use up the oil, they use up the trees
They use up the air and they use up the seas
Well, how about you, friend, and how about me
What's left, when we're all used up
I'll finish my life in this crummy hotel
It's lousy with bugs and my God, what a smell
But my plumbing still works and I'm clear as a bell
So don't tell me I'm all used up
Outside my window the world passes by
Gives me a handout, then spits in my eye
And no one can tell me, 'cause no one knows why
I'm still living, if I'm all used up
Sometimes in a dream I sit by a tree
My life is a book of how things used to be
And the kids gather 'round and they listen to me
And they don't think I'm all used up
And there's songs and there's laughter and things I can do
And all that I've learned I can give back to you
And I'd give my last breath just to make it come true
No, I ain’t all used up
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13. |
Pretty Fair Miss
03:53
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A pretty fair miss, all in her garden
Handsome cowboy, come a-riding by
Sayin, pretty fair Miss, come be my sweetheart
Come go with me and be my bride
O no kind sir, you’re a nice young fellow
How can you court a girl like me
When I have a lover among those cowboys
Three years away he’s gone you see
Perhaps he's dead, or maybe drownded
Perhaps he's by some Indian slain
Perhaps he's to some pretty girl married
An' will never return again
O, if he's drowned, I hope he's happy
Or if he's by some Indian slain
And if he's to some pretty girl married
I'll love the girl that married him
He thrust his hands into his pockets
His fingers being both long and small
Drew forth the ring that she had give him
An' straight before him she did fall
He picked her up just like a feather
An' kisses gave her, one, two, three
Saying, I’m your long and lonesome cowboy
Returning home for to marry thee
Come all you young an' tender ladies
Take a warning from a girl like me
If you’ve a lover, among those cowboys
Keep faith that he’ll return to thee.
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14. |
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He came from the heartland of my country
Born in the year of fifty three
Raised with all the care a kid could wish for
His hometown was a lucky place to be
School days now being left behind him
Got drafted in year of seventy two
And when the war in Vietnam was over
He wondered how he ever made it through
Lookin’ for a job then wasn’t easy
He travelled like the journeymen of old
Worked his way across the wide horizon
Sometimes it felt like being bought and sold
He built cars up in Flint and down in Dearborn
Drilled for oil out on the Texas plain
Last week they laid him off the Gulf Coast shipyard
Now it looks like he’ll never work again
They’re sayin’ these dark days will soon be over
But talk is cheap and words are wearing thin
Those fifty seven years say so completely
It’s gonna be a bit too late for him
Grandpa knew about the Great Depression
And what it felt like being down and out
Drifting down the mean streets of your cities
Never knowing what the next day’s all about
I never asked for nothing I ain’t worked for
Still proud to call this Land of the Free
But that can only buy a welfare check now
To take care of my own family
Them Wall Street big shot bastards still don’t notice
They’re living on the bitter price we paid
A million marchers chants are getting louder
Another broken promise that they made
And still they live the dream we worked to give them
Their laws still cut us down, right to the bone
Yesterday I couldn’t pay the mortgage
Tomorrow they’ll come and take our home
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15. |
Pretty Saro
04:16
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I come to this country in eighteen oh nine,
I saw many a true love, but I never saw mine.
I looked all around me and found I was alone.
And me a poor stranger, and a long way from home.
Down in some lonesome valley, in some lonesome place,
Where the wild birds do whistle their notes to increase,
I think of pretty Saro whose waist is so neat,
And I want nothing better than to be with my sweet.
I wish I were a poet and could write a fine hand,
I would send my love a letter that she’d understand.
I'd send it by messenger where the deep waters flow
And think of pretty Saro wherever I go.
My love she won’t have me, as I understand,
She wants some freeholder, and I have no land.
But I work for a living my money’s my own
And if she don’t like me she can leave me alone
It's not the long journey I'm dreading to go
Nor leaving of this country for the debts that I owe;
There is but one thing that troubles my mind,
That's a-leaving pretty Saro, my true love, behind.
Oh I wish I was a little dove, had wings and could fly,
Straight to my love's bosom this night I'd draw nigh
And in her little small arms all night I would lay
And think of pretty Saro till the dawning of day.
Farewell my dear father, likewise my mother too,
I'm a-going to ramble this country all through.
And when I get tired, I'll sit down and weep
And think of pretty Saro, then take my long sleep.
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16. |
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You read it in the papers, you watched it on TV
You followed it on Twitter, repeated endlessly
A simple little slogan, it read "Take back control"
You thought you cast your vote, but you really sold your soul
You sold away your freedoms that sweat and tears have won
You sold your children's birthright for tens of years to come
You sold a wealth of nations, joined in harmony
For lies and empty promises that can never come to be
Now they show true colours, hauled up on the mast
Stand up for Queen and country, marching forward- to the past
Soaring prices, lower wages, your money sunk to hell
Hurry to the auction 'till there's nothing left to sell
The beggars’ bowl is brought before the bandits at the gate
Hoping stupid Uncle Sam will make Britannia great
A power-hungry President wears a twisted grin
The victor gets the spoils, you've been hooked and rooked again.
Now Bozo and the billionaires still defend the fraud
They've already moved their cash to safer shores abroad
They tell you "It's the people's will," while they bleed you dry
And never give a damn if you live or how you die.
So, merry old Britannia, what will become of thee?
Will you stand for rule of law and uphold democracy?
Will our people come together, rise up and take control?
And break the band of Bozos who’ve come to claim your soul?
You read it in the papers, you watched it on TV
You followed it on Twitter, repeated endlessly
A simple little slogan, it read "Take back control"
The day you cast your vote, was the day you sold your soul.
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17. |
Roving Gambler
04:51
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I am a roving gambler, gambled all around
Any place I see a deck of cards I lay my money down.
I had not been in Washington many more weeks than three
Till I fell in love with a pretty little girl, she fell in love with me.
She took me to her parlour, cooled me with her fan
Whispered low in her mother's ear, "I love the gambling man."
Daughter, Oh dear daughter, how could you treat me so
To leave your dear old mama and with a gambler go?
Mama, Oh dear mama, you know I love you well
But the love I bear for the gambling man no human tongue can tell.
I’ll not marry in the spring, I’ll marry in the fall
I’m gonna marry that gamling man, winner takes it all
I’ll not marry in the fall, I’ll marry in the spring
If you ever see me back again I’ll wear his wedding ring
I've gambled out in Frisco, gambled down in Spain
I'm headed back to Georgee to gamble my last game
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18. |
Come Tomorrow
04:31
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I’ve been working ‘round this country
Now my race is nearly run
Seen ten thousand dawns a-breaking
Seen ten thousand setting suns
Fare thee well, come tomorrow
I’ll be gone from this old town
There’s a home in the valley
Where I’m bound, where I’m bound
Sailing on the widest ocean
Sailing on the sea so blue
In my dreams I see a harbour
In my dreams I look on you
Fare thee well, come tomorrow
I’ll be gone from this old town
There’s a girl in the valley
Where I’m bound, where I’m bound
There’s a tree by the river
Planted there when I was young
Now it stands broad and handsome
In the place from which it sprung
Fare thee well, come tomorrow
I’ll be gone from this old town
There’s a child in the valley
Where I’m bound, where I’m bound
I have lingered, contemplated
Why I ever chose to roam
If I stay here any longer
I may never see my home
Fare thee well, come tomorrow
I’ll be gone from this old town
There’ll be peace in the valley
Where I’m bound, where I’m bound
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Jack Warshaw UK
Veteran of the 1960s folk revival, he passionately believes, writes and sings with authenticity and respect for traditional American styles and song carriers. He has met, learned from or worked with such legends as Pete, Mike and Peggy Seeger, Tom Paley, Ewan MacColl, Bob Dylan, Mississippi John Hurt, Clarence Ashley, Dave Van Ronk, Stuart Burns and many others. Watch Youtube. Bio on Wikipedia ... more
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