Rye Whiskey
Rye whiskey, rye whiskey, rye whiskey I cry
If I don't get rye whiskey I surely will die
Jack of diamonds, jack of diamonds, I know you of old
You've robbed my poor pockets, Of silver and gold
Whiskey, you villian, you've been my downfall
You've kicked me, you've cuffed me, But I love you for all
They say I drink whiskey, my money is my own
And them that don't like me can leave me alone
I'll eat when I'm hungry, I'll drink when I'm dry
And when I get thirsty I'll lay down and cry
It's beefsteak when I'm hungry and whiskey when I'm dry
Greenbacks when I'm hard up and heaven when I die
Baby, oh baby, I've told you before
You make me a pallet, I'll lay on the floor
If the ocean was whiskey and I was a duck
I would dive to the bottom and never come up
But the ocean ain't whiskey, and I ain't no duck
So I'll play the Jack of diamonds and trust to my luck
If you like this site, you may also be interested in our books and cds...
Most of the 400 or so traditional songs available online are also in our songbooks.
Lyrics from the Mountain Music for Everyone Collection, a database of nearly 400 traditional songs common in bluegrass and old-time circles. The collection is provided by the Abbott family, which also offers books and CDs aimed at providing a path to playing by ear, songbooks, and play-along CDs for learning these traditional songs. Visit www.PlayingByEar.com for more.