Song Lyrics

Come and gather around me good people
My life I must reveal
Tomorrow might have been different
And I know how my darling ought to feel

When I had plenty of money
My friends were all standing around
But when my pocketbook was empty
Not a friend no nearer could be found

The last time I saw my little woman
She had a wine glass in her hand
She was drinking down her troubles
With a low down sorry man

My daddy taught me a plenty
My momma she taught me more
If I didn't quit my rowdy ways
I'd have trouble knocking at my door

I wrote my momma a letter
I told her I was in jail
She wrote me back in a hurry
Saying honey I'm gonna come and throw your bail

I'm a laying around in this old jail house
Forty dollars would pay my fine
Corn whiskey done got my body
Pretty women are troublin' my mind

Give me cornbread when I'm hungry
Corn whiskey when I'm dry
Pretty women may swarming all around me
Sweet heaven when I die

Go dig a hole in the meadow
Go dig a hole in the ground
Come gather around me good people
And watch this poor rambler go down

Ralph Stanley, Ray Cline