2. A. P. Carter, “Can the Circle Be Unbroken” (1935)
I was standing by the window On one cold
and cloudy day And I saw the hearse come
rolling For to carry my mother away
CHORUS
Can the circle be unbroken By and by, Lord, by
and by There's a better home a-waiting In the
sky, Lord, in the sky
Lord, I told the undertaker Undertaker, please
drive slow For this body you are hauling Lord,
I hate to see her go (CHORUS)
I followed close beside her Tried to hold up
and be brave But I could not hide my
sorrow When they laid her in the grave
(CHORUS)
Went back home Lord, my home was
lonely Since my mother she was gone All my
brothers, sisters crying What a home so sad
and lone (CHORUS)
3. Woody Guthrie (1912-67), “So Long, It’s Been Good to Know You” (rec. 1940)
So long, it's been good to know yuh; So long, been good the preacher, payin' his call. He said, ”Look at the shape
to know yuh; So long, it's been good to know yuh. This that the world is in; I’ve got to cut price on salvation of
dusty old dust is a-blowin' me home, I got to be rollin' sin!”
along.
So long, been good to know yuh; So long, it’s been good
I've sung this song, but I'll sing it again, Of the place that to know yuh; So long, it's been good to know yuh. This
I lived on the west Texas plains, In the city of Panther, the dusty old dust is a-drivin' me home, And I’ve got to be
county of Gray, Here's what all of the people there say: driftin' along.
So long, it's been good to know yuh; So long, it’s been The church houses were jammed and packed,
good to know yuh; So long, it's been good to know People were sittin’ from front to the back
yuh. This dusty old dust is a-blowin' me home, I got to It was so dusty the preacher couldn’t read his text,
be driftin' along.
so he folded his specs and took up collections.
Anyway, like I told yuh, the old dust storm hit there and
these people all congregated in their little houses So long, been good to know yuh; So long,it’s been good
to know yuh; So long, it's been good to know yuh. This
And then the room in the house that I was in, there was dusty old dust is a-rollin' me home, Got to be driftin'
12 or 15 people, and Pauly was there, telling each other along.
so long it’s been good to know yuh,
Dusty old dust is a-blowin’ me home, and I ain’t got long
to stay, I’ve got to be driftin’ along.
Well, here’s what happened.
The telephone rang, an' it jumped off the wall, That was
4. Bill Monroe (1911-96), “It’s Mighty Dark to Travel” (1957)
CHORUS
It's mighty dark for me to travel
For my sweetheart she is gone
The road is rough and filled with gravel
But I must journey on and on
To me she was a little angel
Sent down to me from God above
And on the day that I first met her
That I told her of my love (CHORUS)
(INSTRUMENTAL SOLO)
Many a night we strolled together
Talking of our love so fair
My love for her will never vanish
For I know I'll meet her there (CHORUS)
(INSTRUMENTAL SOLO)
Traveling down this lonesome highway
Thinking of my love who's gone
Knowing soon we'll be together
She's the only love I've known (CHORUS)
(INSTRUMENTAL SOLO, CHORUS REPEATED)
5. J. D. Miller
Hank Thompson
“It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels” (1952)
“The Wild Side of Life” (1952)
Performed by Kitty Wells
You wouldn't read my letter if I wrote you As I sit here tonight the jukebox playin'
You asked me not to call you on the phone The tune about the wild side of life
But there's something I'm wanting to tell you As I listen to the words you are sayin'
So I wrote it in the words of this song It brings memories when I was a trusting wife
CHORUS CHORUS
I didn't know God made honky tonk angels It wasn't God who made Honky Tonk angels
I might have known you'd never make a wife As you said in the words of your song
You gave up the only one that ever loved you Too many times married men think they're still single
And went back to the wild side of life That has caused many a good girl to go wrong
The glamor of the gay night life has lured you It's a shame that all the blame is on us women
To the places where the wine and liquor flows It's not true that only you men feel the same
Where you wait to be anybody's baby From the start most every heart that's ever broken
And forget the truest love you'll ever know (CHORUS) Was because there always was a man to blame (CHORUS)
6. Thomas A. Dorsey (1899-1993), “Talk About Jesus” (rec. 1986)
Performed by Marion Williams
Gospel
On the road, there was a cry, as the Lord was passing by.
I’m talking about Jesus, that friend of mine.
Don’t stay dying on the way, for he’s just seen today.
I’m talking about Jesus, that friend of mine.
Talking about Jesus, ah, he’s a friend of mine.
Talking about Jesus, hell yeah, he’s mighty fine.
When I sing and when I shout, when the tears come rolling out,
I’m talking about Jesus, oh, that friend of mine.
I’m talking about Jesus, yes I am, he’s a friend of mine, truly a friend of mine.
Talking about Jesus, he’s a friend of mine.
He’s a chief among ten thousand, Lord, he’s the fairest of all time.
I’m talking about Jesus that friend of mine.
