Dry Bones is traditional spiritual folk song. Each verse corresponds to different verses in the Bible. When I heard Bascom Lamar Lunsford sing this on the Harry Smith Anthology of American Folk Music record I knew I had to learn it. I put my own spin on it.
Dry Bones - lyrics
Dry bones in the valley got up and took a little walk.
The deaf could hear, the blind could see and the dumb could talk.
I saw, I saw the light from heaven
A-shinin’ all around.
I saw the light come shining,
I saw that light come down.
Old Enoch he lived to be three-hundred and sixty-five,
When the Lord came and took him back to heaven alive.
I saw, I saw the light from heaven
A-shinin’ all around.
I saw the light come shining,
I saw that light come down.
When Paul prayed in prison, those prison walls fell down.
The prison keeper shouted, “Redeeming Love I’ve found.”
I saw, I saw the light from heaven
Shinin’ all around.
I saw the light come shining,
I saw the light come down.
When Moses saw that a-burning bush, he walked it ’round and ’round.
And the Lord said to Moses, “Your a-treadin’ holy ground.”
I saw, I saw the light from heaven
Shinin’ all around.
I saw the light come shining,
I saw the light come down.
Adam and Eve in the garden under the sycamore tree.
Eve said to Adam, Satan tempted me.
I saw, I saw the light from heaven
Shinin’ all around.
I saw the light come shining,
I saw the light come down.
Dry bones in that valley got up and took a little walk.
The deaf could hear, the blind could see and the dumb could talk.
I saw, I saw the light from heaven
Shinin’ all around.
I saw the light come shining,
I saw the light come down.
...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMIdFJKAxas
We dont get much snow where I live but were snowed in now. Its pretty exciting so I wrote this song just a couple hours ago. I wasnt planning to it just sort of came out of nowhere. Usually I practice for a week or so before recording and posting originals but I think it turned alright I guess.
Mighty Fine Day
written and performed by
Dan D. Dirges
Looking out my window, there`s snow on the ground.
It`s still early in the morning, the world makes no sound.
The snow`s still falling, but I cant complain.
It`s a gonna be, a mighty fine day.
I cant get very far, the cars stuck in the snow.
But my feet move me, where I want to go.
So I set out walking, the whole world awaits.
Its gonna be, a mighty fine day.
Think I`ll build me a Snowman, on the side of the road.
It will live forever, if I wish it so.
When people pass by, why it will smile and wave.
Its gonna be, a mighty fine day.
Saw some Children sleeding, down a big ole hill.
They got all day, and time to kill.
They will live forever, if they learn to pray.
Its gonna be, a mighty fine day.
Better get on back, suns going down.
I`ll have a few, there aint no doubt.
Just to warm the soul, and to ease the pain.
Its gonna be, a mighty fine day.
Yes its been, a mighty fine day
...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qL8Fv3_LJTg
Shout Lulu - (Traditional) - Lyrics
performed by Dan D. Dirges
As I went down to Lynchburg town,
I broke my yoke on the frozen ground;
I drove from there to bowling spring,
And tried for to mend my yoke and ring.
(Put my shoulder against the whale
then in the mud I stuck my eave.)
Oh little lulu shout
shout little lulu`s gone
Then I drove on down to the blacksmith shop
I called for the driver who couldnt get it to stop
Said I Mr Blacksmith mend my yoke
she jumped at the bell and puffed out smoke
Oh little lulu shout
shout little lulu`s gone
Jaybird sitting on a hickory limb
he winked at me and I winked at him
I picked up a rock and hit him on the shin
he said good God almighty dont cha you do that again
Oh little lulu shout
shout little lulu`s gone
Then a coon in the meadow in the pouring down rain
met a poor little mouse he was carrying it away.
The creatures in the woods had gathered round
The Grasshopper had to show him out.
Oh little lulu shout
shout little lulu`s gone
(added) Came to a river and I couldn't get across
Paid five dollars for a blind old hoss
Wouldn't go ahead, nor he wouldn't stand still
So he went up and down like an old saw mill
Oh little lulu shout
shout little lulu`s gone
As I came down the new cut road
Met Mr Bullfrog, met Miss Toad
And every time Miss Toad would sing
Old Bullfrog cut a pigeon wing
Then the bullfrog jumped from bank to bank
he swore by gup he skinned his shank
He jumped right high, stetched out his skin
swore by gup he could do that again
...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hin8XDdYy_E
Waiting For the Dawn take 5? Anyways I did a poor knee jerk Rodney Dangerfield impersonation and bad joke at the end. I`ll probably edit it off later.
...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgGQ7LFaL60
Holy Mountain is an old time banjo spiritual folk style song I came up with.
Holy Mountain - lyrics
banjo - standard tuning
two finger index lead
written by/ Dan D. Dirges
I`ve heard of a place where we can go,
where the hands of time cease to turn no more
Well its a beautiful land where we all belong,
where there`s no more dying and we all can get along
Where there`s no more hunger and there`s no more pain,
All the faithful in their graves will be risen on that day
--
Where is this place where we all belong,
can you show us the way, should we stumble and fall
Well its just over Jordan on the other side,
Up on holy mountain lives a man who for us he died
There we`ll see once more those who`ve gone before,
and walk in the light forever more
--
I`ve heard of a place not unlike a dream,
where the dead can walk and the blind can see
where the wolf and the lamb lay side by side,
we can run forever and never grow tired.
There the lame will leap and the dumb shout and sing
And the key to the kingdom is to just believe
...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXKsQNm08XA
Jackaroe or Jackaroo or Jack Monroe or Jack Has Gona A Sailing is an old traditional Australian folk song I think. Joan Baez has recorded it.
It tells the story of how a man goes off to war on a ship and his own true love wants to go with him so she dresses up as a man to get on board. Now a days Women are allowed to go to war :(
JACKAROO (traditional)
performed by, Dan D. Dirges
Am C E
There was a wealthy merchant, in London he did dwell
Am C F C
He had a beautiful daughter, the truth to you I'll tell
Am E Am
Oh the truth to you I'll tell
She had sweethearts a plenty and men of high degree
But none but Jack the sailor her true love e'er could be
Oh her true love e'er could be
Now Jackie's gone a sailing with trouble on his mind
He's left his native country and his darling girl behind
Oh his darling girl behind
She went down to a tailor's shop and dressed in man's array
She climbed on board a vessel to convey herself away
Oh convey herself away
Before you get on board Sir, your name I'd like to know
She smiled all in her countenance they call me Jack A Roe
Oh they call me Jack A Roe
I see your waist is slender, your fingers they are small
Your cheeks too red and rosy to face the cannonball
Oh to face the cannonball
I know my waist is slender, my fingers they are small
My cheeks too red and rosy to face the cannonball
Oh to face the cannonball
The war soon being over, she went and looked around
Among the dead and wounded her darling boy she found
Oh her darling boy she found
She picked him up all in her arms and carried him to town
She sent for a physician who quickly healed his wounds
Oh who quickly healed his wounds
This couple they got married, so well they did agree
This couple they got married, so why not you and me
Oh why not you and me
...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXc7fwNoqzE
When First Unto This Country is an American Civil War traditional folk song. This is an easy thumb strumming guitar version. I think I`ll be playing more in this style going forward. It`s funner, easier and I think it sounds better.
When First Unto This Country - lyrics
Traditional Folk Song
When first unto this country a stranger I came,
I courted a fair maid and Nancy was her name.
I courted her for love, and her love I didnt obtain,
Can you think I've any reason or right to complain.
I rode to see my Nancy, I rode both day and night,
I courted dearest Nancy, my own heart's true delight.
I rode to see my Nancy, I rode both night and day,
I stole a fine stallion from Captain Charles Grey {Till I stole a fine grey horse, from Captain William White)
The sheriff's men had followed and overtaken me,
They carted me away to the penitentiary.
They opened up the door and then they shoved me in,
They cleared off my head and they shaved off my chin.
They beat me and they banged me and they fed me on dry beans,
Till I wished to my own soul, I'd never been a thief.
With my hands in my pockets and my cap put on so bold,
With my coat of many colors, like Jacob of old.
When first unto this country a stranger I came,
I courted a fair maid and Nancy was her name.
...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezZsrm-C3hA
(I Wont Get Drunk No More) Way Down The Old Plank Road is an an old time traditional folk song. I tell a short story in the intro then sing and play it on the mountain banjo in the clawhammer style.
(I Wont Get Drunk No More) Way Down The Old Plank Road - lyrics
I went down to Darby to get on the gravel train
Very next thing they heard of me wearin’ the ball and chain
Won’t get drunk no more (3X)
Way down the old plank road
Joanie, oh dear Joanie, why do you treat me so?
‘caused me to wear the ball and chain now my ankles sore
I rather be in Richmond amidst the hail and rain
Than to be in Georgia, boys, wearing that ball and chain
Won’t get drunk no more (3X)
Way down the old plank road
I’m going to build a cabin way up on a mountain high
Just to see them pretty girls they go walking by
My wife died on Friday night, Saturday she got buried
Sunday was my courting day, and Monday I got married
Won’t get drunk no more (3X)
Way down the old plank road
Nashville is a pretty burg, Memphis is a beauty
You want to see them pretty girls go to Chattanoogee
Eighteen pounds of meat a week, whiskey here to sell
How can a young man be at home, pretty girls look so well
Won’t get drunk no more (3X)
Way down the old plank road
...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NffhsxaNk-A
Somewhere You Belong
Written and performed by
Dan D. Dirges
Someone told me its a sin, a voice out in the wind, I never should have let you in
But it`s cold out in the dark and here you`ve travelled so far, come and hear this sad guitar
Lay your body next to mine, two strangers entwined, feel the flesh burn inside
When its over, when its done, though we`d only just begun, lets leave it where it was
Somewhere out there you belong, somewhere far away from here
Somewhere out there you belong, follow down that trail of tears
Though the truth cant be seen, baby I will set you free. It was never meant to be
All those lies that I told were really something to behold. Dont let it turn your heart to stone
Baby please just walk away. Just let it rain. Its better off this way
I feel your sadness as you leave, dont turn to look at me. Just go out with the breeze
Somewhere out there you belong, somewhere far away from here
Somewhere out there you belong, follow down that trail of tears
========
Love Song, Ballad, original song, vocal and guitar, fingerpicking, singer songwriter,
Dan D Dirges, folk, indie, old time music, country music, blues
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_BQgJxwztE