Rye Whiskey - Traditional Folk Song - Mountain Banjo version

Rye Whiskey is a traditional folk song. I sing and play it on the mountain banjo clawhammer style this time.Show more

I have a guitar version posted as well if you want to have a listen here is the link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kcm3hXoMoWc

Rye Whisky - lyrics
Arranged and adapted by Dan D. Dirges
Banjo version clawhammer banjo

I'll eat when I'm hungry,
I'll drink when l'm dry,
If the hard times don't kill me,
I'll lay down and die.

Way up on Clinch Mountain
I wander alone,
I'm as drunk as the devil,
Oh, let me alone.

Rye whisky, rye whisky,
Rye whisky, I cry,
If I dont get rye whisky,
I surely will die.

I'll tune up my fiddle,
And I'll rosin my bow,
I'll make myself welcome,
Wherever I go.

its Beefsteak when I'm hungry,
rye whisky when I'm dry,
Greenbacks when I'm hard up,
And religion when I die.

Jack o' diamonds, jack o' diamonds,
I know you of old,
You've robbed my poor pockets
Of silver and gold.

Rye whisky, rye whisky,
Rye whisky, I cry,
If I dont get rye whisky,
I surely will die.

If the ocean was whisky,
And I was a duck,
I'd dive to the bottom
and never come up.

But the ocean ain't whisky
And I ain't no duck,
So we'll round up the cattle
And then we'll get drunk.

They say I drink whisky,
My money's my own;
All who don't like me,
Can leave me alone.

Sometimes I drink whisky,
Sometimes I drink rum,
Sometimes I drink brandy,
At other times none.

Rye whisky, rye whisky,
Rye whisky, I cry,
If I dont get rye whisky,
I surely will die.

Her parents don't like me,
They say l'm too poor;
They say I'm unworthy
To enter her door.

I`ll eat when I`m hungry,
I`ll drink when I`m dry,
If a tree don't fall on me,
I'll live till I die.

I'll buy my own whisky,
I'll make my own stew,
If I get drunk, madam,
It's nothing to you.

I'll drink my own whisky,
I'll drink my own wine,
Some ten thousand bottles
I've killed in my time.

Rye whisky, rye whisky,
Rye whisky, I cry,
If I dont get rye whisky,
I surely will die.

I've no wife to quarrel
No babies to bawl;
The best way of living
Is no wife at all.

Oh, whisky, you villain,
You've been my downfall,
You've kicked me, you've cuffed me,
But I love you for all.

Way up on Clinch Mountain
I wander alone,
I'm as drunk as the devil,
Oh, let me alone.

Rye whisky, rye whisky,
You're no friend to me;
You killed my poor Pappy,
doggone you, try me.

Rye whisky, rye whisky,
Rye whisky, I cry,
If I dont get rye whisky,
I surely will die.