I've Always Been a Rambler | Performance
Added 2019-01-22 23:48:34 +0000 UTCf#DF#AD (relative) AKA "Reuben Tuning" or "Drop D" when playing with a guitarist.
I learned this song from Josh Hayes of Watauga County, North Carolina. Josh knows about a million songs and is a fantastic banjoist, singer and performer. When singing this (or similarly themed songs) he'll often shout "Poor Boy!" or "Take Warning!" etc. in between his verses.
I've always been a rambler my fortune's been quite hard
I always loved the women drank whisky and played cards,
My parents treated me kindly they had no boy but me
'Til I shook hands and parted at the age of twenty-three.
There was a wealthy farmer who lived a neighbor by
He had one only daughter on whom I cast my eye,
She was most tall and handsome so gentle and so fair
There ain't one girl in the wide world with her I could compare.
I asked her if she'd be true to me while I crossed o'r the plain
She said, "It makes no difference if you never return again!"
She said she would be true to me 'til the sea burned with fire
So I shook hands and parted with the girl I left behind.
I left old North Carolina up to Marion I did roam
On up to Johnson City, boys, all in the sleet and snow,
Work and money was plentiful and the women treated me kind
But the only object of my heart was the girl I left behind.
I's walkin' up on George Street all in the public square
The mail was just returning and the post boy met me there,
He handed me a letter that I might understand
The girl I left behind me had married some other man.
(Poor boy!)
I read on a few lines further till I seen that it was true
My heart was filled with trouble I didn't know what to do,
My heart was filled with trouble had trouble on my mind
I'm going to drink and gamble for the girl I left behind.
(Take Warning!)
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Comments
Hey Clifton, great song/performance- been trying to learn this song the last week or so.. BUT.. new to overhand the last 6 months and for the life of me I can’t work out the the little pull off/ double note ? You do between every few lines on 3rd string? ( got the rest down kinda ok.. the low part and the high part). I find the song is a bit lacking without that little note ( that I am now used to hearing). I’m hoping you know the constant note I mean? It’s not really covered in your lesson video and I apologise if it’s really obvious but.. buggered if I can get it right! Lol.. driving me crazy! alternatively please direct me to any of your videos that cover it? ( which I may have missed). Many thanks Greg from Oz
Greg Scourse
2023-05-26 11:59:45 +0000 UTCI like to listen to one of your songs/lessons before I go to work (right now), so it can roll around in my head all day and sometimes hum out of my lips if no one is there to hear. Because the melodies are short and almost hypnotic, it is a good way to cement them in my brain.
Joanne Baum
2019-01-31 11:02:23 +0000 UTC
