Lyrics and Guitar Chords for the songs from "LISTEN TO POTLUCK"
(And a few bonus tunes as well)
These are only our version of the songs and may not be entirely correct
OCEAN OF DIAMONDS Written by: Jimmy Martin
G C
Some people drink champagne, out under the stars
D G
While others drink wine, leaning over a bar
C
But all that I need dear, to make me feel fine
D G
Is to know that your love, will forever be mine
CHORUS
G C G
I'd give an ocean of diamonds, a world filled with flowers
D G
To hold you closely, for just a few hours
C
Hear you whisper softly, that you love me too
D G
Would change all the dark clouds, to the bluest of blue
Well I don't drink their champagne, and I don't drink their wine
So if you refuse me, my poor heart will pine
I'll be so lonely, 'til the day that I die
And as long as I live dear, you can still hear me cry
CHORUS (repeat twice and end with retard on last line) Click here to LISTEN
MIDNIGHT SPECIAL Written by: Huddie Leadbetter A D A
Well, you wake up in the mornin,’ you hear the ding-dong ring
E A
You go runnin’ to table, it’s the same damned thing
D A
Knife and fork are on the table, nothin’ in your pan
E A
You say anything about it, you’re in trouble with the man
{Refrain}
D A
Let the midnight special shine a light on me (3X)
E E
Let the midnight special shine a ever-lovin' light on me
If you ever go to Houston; boy you'd better walk right
You'd better not gamble; and you'd better not fight
Sheriff Benson will arrest you; he’ll take you down
If the jury finds you guilty; you're penitentiary bound
{Refrain}
Yonder comes miss Rosie; how in the world do you know
By the way she wears her apron; and the clothes she wore
Umbrella on her shoulder; piece of paper in her hand
She goes marchin’ to the governor; says turn loose of my man
Refrain twice – retard ending Click here to LISTEN
TAKE ME IN YOUR LIFEBOAT Written by: Tommy Thompson
CHORUS
A D A
Take me in your lifeboat, take me in your lifeboat
E
It will stand the raging storm
A D A
Take me in your lifeboat, take me in your lifeboat
E A
It will bear my spirit home
A D A
Come brothers, sisters, don't fall asleep
E
Pray night and day, or you'll sleep in the deep
A D A
Fathers and mothers are praying so loud
E A
Saying Lord, won't you take us in your lifeboat
CHORUS
The clouds are so heavy, the wind is so loud
The thunder is roaring, breaking in the clouds
They pray to their shipmates for what they have done
They took the dying sinners in the lifeboat
CHORUS (REPEAT THEN RETARD ENDING) Click here to LISTEN
FEVER Written by: John Davenport & Eddie Cooley
Am E
Never know how much I love you, never know how much I care Am D E Am
When you put your arms around me; I get a Fever that's so hard to bear
CHORUS:
Am E
You give me Fever, when you kiss me; fever when you hold me tight
Am D Am E Am
Fever - in the morning; fever all through the night
Sun lights up the daytime, moon lights up the night
I light up when you call my name; and you know I'm gonna treat you right
CHORUS
Ev'rybody's got the Fever; that is something you all know
Fever isn't such a new thing; fever started a long time ago
CHORUS
Romeo loved Juliet, Juliet she felt the same
When he put his arms around her, he said, "Julie, baby, you're my flame"
Click to LISTEN
COAL TATTOO Written by Billy Ed Wheeler
Dm F C Dm
Travelin' down that coal town road,
F C Dm Listenin' to my rubber tires whine
F C Dm
Goodbye to Buckeye and White Sycamore,
F C Dm
I'm leavin' you behind
F B F
I've been coal miner all my life,
B C
Layin' down tracks in the hole
F C G
Gotta back like an ironwood, bent by the wind;
C C Dm
Blood veins blue as the coal,
B C Dm
Blood veins blue as the coal
Somebody said, "That's a strange tattoo, you got on the side of your head”
I said, "That's the blueprint left by the coal. A little more and I'd been dead
I love the rumble and I love the dark. I love the cool of the slate
But it's travelin' down this new road, lookin' for a job
Travelin' and lookin' I hate; travelin' and lookin' I hate
I Stood for the union, I walked in the line, I fought against the company
I Stood for the U. M. W. of A., now who's gonna stand for me
Got no house and I’ve got no pay, just got a worried soul
And this blue tattoo on the side of my head,
Left by the number nine coal; left by the number nine coal
Some day when I'm dead and gone, to heaven the land of my dreams.
Not gonna worry on losin' my job, to bad times and big machines
Not gonna pay my money away, on bills and hospital plans
I'm gonna pick coal while the blue heavens roll
And sing with the angel band; and sing with the angel band Click to LISTEN
EARLY MORNIN’ RAIN Written by: Gordon Lightfoot
G Am D C G
In the early mornin' rain, with a dollar in my hand,
Am C G
And an achin' in my heart, and my pocket's full of sand
G Am D7 G
I'm a long way from home, and I miss my loved ones so,
Am D7 G
In the early mornin' rain, with no place to go
Out on runway number nine, big 707 set to go
But I'm out here in the grass, where the cold wind blows
Well the liquor tasted good, and the women all were fast
There she goes my friend, she's rollin' now at last
Hear the mighty engines roar, see that silver bird on high
She's away and westward bound, far above the clouds she’ll fly
Where the mornin' rain don't fall, and the sun always shines
She'll be flyin' o'er my home, in about three hours time
This old airport's got me down,it's no earthly good to me
Cause I'm stuck here on the ground, cold and drunk as I can be
You can't jump a jet plane, like you can an old freight train.
So I'd best be on my way, in the early mornin' rain.
REPEAT FIRST VERSE AND END WITH REPEAT OF LAST LINE:
“In the early mornin' rain, with no place to go” Click to LISTEN
MY WALKIN' SHOES DON'T FIT ME ANYMORE
Written by: Jimmy Martin & Paul Williams
Chorus
G
My walking shoes don't fit me anymore
D
My walking shoes don't fit me anymore
G C
Stay on your side of town, honey, I don't get around
G D G
My walking shoes don't fit me anymore
It's a long way from here to over yonder; my feet are getting mighty sore
I ain't coming back, you've made your mind to wander
My walking shoes don't fit me anymore
CHORUS
I'll be a longtime gone from you baby; you'll never here me knock upon your door
I thought you were worth it once but I was crazy
My walking shoes don't fit me anymore
CHORUS Click to LISTEN
BLUE MOON Written by: Richard Rogers & Lorenz Hart G Em C D7 G Em
Blue Moon, you saw me standing alone
C D7 G Em
Without a dream in my heart
C D7 G Em C D7
Without a love of my own
G Em C D7 G Em
Blue Moon, you know just what I was there for
C D7 G Em
You heard me saying a prayer for
C D7 G C G
Someone I really could care for
CHORUS
Am D7 G Em
And suddenly there appeared before me
Am D7 G Em
The only one my arms could ever hold
Am D7 G Em
I heard somebody whisper please adore me
Am D7
And when I looked the Moon had turned to gold
G Em C D7 G Em
Blue Moon, now I'm no longer alone
C D7 G Em
Without a dream in my heart
C D7 G
Without a love of my own
BREAK
CHORUS/ENDING
And suddenly there appeared before me
The only one my arms could ever hold
I heard somebody whisper please adore me
And when I looked the Moon had turned to gold
Blue Moon, now I'm no longer alone; without a dream in my heart
Without a love of my own
(For ending, retard - use rock & roll "amen") Click to LISTEN
WILLIE & THE HAND JIVE Written by Johnny Otis(performed by Bo Diddley)
G G G - F G )
I know a cat named Way Out Willie
G G - F G
Got a cool little chick named Rockin' Millie
C C C - F C
He can walk and stroll and Suzy-Q
G G G - F G
Do that crazy hand jive too
Momma momma look at uncle Joe; doin' the hand jive with sister Flo
Uncle gave sister Flo a dime; said, do that hand jive one more time
CHORUS:
C G D G
Hand jive, hand jive, hand jive, do that crazy jive
C G D G
Hand jive, hand jive, hand jive, do that crazy jive
Doctor, a lawyer and an Indian chief; they all dig that crazy beat
Way Out Willie give 'em all a treat; when he did that hand jive with his feet...
CHORUS
Willie and Millie got married last fall; they had a Willie Junior and that ain't all
The kid's got crazy and it's plain to see; he's doin' that hand jive on T.V. ...
END WITH CHORUS Click to LISTEN
HEARTSTRINGS Written by Marshall Wilborn
G D Em
Way up north, where the snow flies
C D G D7
and the sun don't hardly shine
G D Em
If it weren't for, my true love
C D
I'd have long ago lost my mind
C D G (D7 after 1st verse only)
I'd have long ago lost my mind
There's good folks here and good folks there; most everywhere I go
But the land of my heart is down; where the snow white cotton grows
Where the snow white cotton grows
[chorus]
C Bm Am G
When the river runs over from the melting snow
C D G
We'll take to the higher ground
C Bm Am G
When the water goes down again, we'll saddle our old paint
C D G
And we'll be homeward bound
C Bm D G
Me and my love we’ll be homeward bound
[BREAK] play verse
Heartstrings hold tighter than the roots of a live oak tree
Holding through tornado wind
Tougher than timber, stronger than steel
They'll guide me back southward again
They'll guide me back southward again
[repeat chorus & end] Click to LISTEN
From our Homepage:
I'M IN THE JAILHOUSE NOW Written by: Jimmy Rodgers - 1927
D
I had a friend named Ramblin' Bob; He used to steal gamble and rob
G
He thought he was the smartest guy in town
Well I found out last Monday; That Bob got locked up Sunday
E7 A7
They've got him in that jailhouse way downtown
CHORUS:
D G
He's in the jailhouse now - he's in the jailhouse now
ECHO -----------------ECHO
A7
Well I told him once or twice, to quit playing cards and shootin’ dice
D
He's in the jailhouse now
Yodel...
Bob played a game called poker; Pinochle with Dan Yokum
But shooting dice was his favorite time
Now he's down in jail; no one to go his bail
The judge done said he refused to pay his fine
CHORUS:
He's in the jailhouse now; he's in the jailhouse now
ECHO------------------ECHO
I told him once or twice quit playin' cards and shootin' dice
He's in the jailhouse now
Yodel…
I went out last Tuesday; I met a little gal named Susie
Told her I was the coolest guy around
We started spendin’ my money; n’ she started callin’ me honey
We took in every honky-tonk in town
CHORUS:
We're in the jailhouse now; We're in the jailhouse now
ECHO--------------------ECHO
I told that judge straight to his face; I don’t like to see this place
We’re in the jailhouse now
Yodel twice for ending… Click to LISTEN
BONUS:
GENTLE ON MY MIND Words & Music John Hartford
G Am
It’s knowing that your door is always open and your path is free to walk
G
That makes me tend to leave my sleeping bag rolled up and stashed behind your couch
And it’s knowing I’m not shackled by forgotten words and bonds Am
And the ink stains that are dried upon some line;
that keeps you in the back roads, by the rivers of my memory
D7 G
That keeps you ever gentle on my mind
It’s not clinging to the rocks and ivy planted on their columns now that bind me
Or something that somebody said because they thought we fit together walking
It’s just knowing that the world will not be cursing or forgiving
when I walk along some railroad track and find
That you’re waving on the back roads, by the rivers of my memory
and for hours you’re just gentle on my mind
BANJO BREAK
Though the wheat fields and the clothes lines
And the junkyards and the highways come between us
And some other woman crying to her mother ‘cause she turned and I was gone
I still might run in silence, tears of joy might stain my face
And the summer sun might burn me till I’m blind
But not to where I cannot see you, walking on the back roads
By the rivers flowing gentle on my mind
MANDO BREAK
I dip my cup of soup back from the gurgling crackling cauldron in some train yard
My beard a ruffnin’ in a coal pile and a dirty hat pulled low across my face
Through cupped hands around the tin can,
I pretend to hold you to my breast and find
That you’re waving from the back roads, by the rivers of my memories
Ever smiling, ever gentle on my mind
BANJO OUT
To hear a Potluck practice session recording of this song, click HERE
Two Hank Williams "Heart" favorites: 
YOUR CHEATIN’ HEART BEST SUNG IN THE KEY OF B (G capo 4th fret)
G C
Your cheatin' heart will make you weep
D G
You'll cry and cry and try to sleep
C
But slee-eep won't come the whole night through
D G
Your cheatin' heart will tell on you
CHORUS
C G
When tears come down like fallin' rain
C D
You'll toss around and call my name
G C
You'll wa-alk the floor the way I do
D G
Your cheatin' heart will tell on you
BREAK
Your chea-tin' heart will pine some day; and crave the love you threw away
The ti-ime will come when you'll be blue; your cheatin' heart will tell on you
When tears come down like fallin' rain; you'll toss around and call my name
You'll wa-alk the floor the way I do; your cheatin' heart will tell on you
BREAK
REPEAT CHORUS TO END
When tears come down like fallin' rain; you'll toss around and call my name
You'll wa-alk the floor the way I do; your cheatin' heart will tell on you
(Sorry, no recording of this song on our site)
COLD COLD HEART
Words & Music by Hank Williams
C G7
I tried so hard my dear to show that you're my every dream
C
Yet you're afraid each thing I do is just some evil scheme
C7 F
A mem'ry from your lonesome past keeps us so far apart
G7 C
Why can't I free your doubtful mind and melt your Cold Cold Heart
Another love before my time made your heart sad and blue
And so my heart is paying now for things I didn't do
In anger unkind words are said that make the teardrops start
Why can't I free your doubtful mind and melt your Cold Cold Heart
You'll never know how much it hurts to see you sit and cry
You know you need and want my love yet you're afraid to try
Why do you run and hide from life to try it just ain't smart
Why can't I free your doubtful mind and melt your Cold Cold Heart
There was a time when I believed that you belonged to me
But now I know your heart is shackled to a memory
The more I learn to care for you the more we drift apart
Why can't I free your doubtful mind and melt your Cold Cold Heart
To hear a home recording of this tune by Jim, click HERE
SWEET SUNNY SOUTH (Collected by Cecil Sharp) 
Traditional CAPO 4 – Play C (Key of E)
BANJO INTRO
C G
Take me back to the place where I first saw the light
C F
To my sweet sunny south take me home
C F C G7
Where the wild birds sing me to sleep every night
C G7 C
Oh, why was I tempted to roam?
Take me back to the place where the peach blossoms grow
To my place in the evergreen shade
Where the flowers on the river's green margins did grow
And share their sweet scent with the glade
BREAK
Oh the path to our cabin they say has grown green
And the stones are quite mossy around
And I know that the faces and forms that I love
Now lie in the cold mossy ground
Take me back, let me see what is left that I knew
Can it be that the old house is gone?
Dear friends of my childhood indeed must be few
And I must stand here all alone
BREAK
REPEAT 1ST VERSE - END WITH TURN-AROUND
To hear Jim sing this tune (home recording), click HERE
To hear rough cuts of several recent originals by Jim,
just click here
Thankfully, there are no words in Banjo solos. Whew!
But, you can Click Here to hear Kyle play "Pony Express."
(Just kidding of course; Kyle's banjo playing is top-notch; you'll want to hear all his tunes)
"Our band name is a great reference for playing a musical banquet, with something on the menu for everyone!"
To let us know you stopped by, just click HERE