Roots of American Fiddle Music
•"hell, there ain't no notes to it...you just play it"

I’ve Always Been a Rambler
Grayson & Whitter

I’ve always been a rambler, my fortunes been quite hard
Always loved the women, drink whiskey and played cards
My parents treated me kindly, as they had no boy but me
My mind was bent on rambling, at home I couldn’t agree.

There was a wealthy farmer, who lived in the country by
Had one handsome daughter, on who I cast an eye
She was so tall and handsome, so pretty and so fair
There ain’t one girl in the wide world, with her I could compare.

So I asked if it made any difference, if I crossed o’er the plain
She said it’ll make no difference, so you return again
She said that she’d prove true to me, until I proved unkind
We shook hands and parted, with the one I left behind.

I left old North Carolina, to Marion I did go
Went on to Johnson City, gonna see this wide world o’er
Where money and work was plentiful, and the girls treated me kind
The only object of my heart, was the one I left behind.

I rambled out one evening, down on the public square
The mail had just arriven, when the postman met me there
Handed me a letter, which give me to understand
Girl I’ve left in North Carolina, has married another man.

I read a few lines further, till I found that it was true
My heart was filled with trouble, I didn’t know what to do
My heart was filled with trouble, while trouble’s on my mind
Going drink and gamble, for the one I’ve left behind.