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

Tanner's Boarding House
Gid Tanner

I'm just a country fella from way out in the sticks
I have a lot of trouble, I get a lot of kicks
I raise my cotton and corn, I never owned a Ford
I run the boardin' house where folks don't pay no board

My boardin' house, my boardin' house, it sets up on the hill
Now come along and join the throng, your welcome if you will
Eat corn bread and taters too, and drink out of a gourd
My boardin' house, my boardin' house, where folks don't pay no board

There is a lot of people, sometimes it makes me blue
Stay here all the summer, and spend the winter too
Brag about how well they live when they're up in town
But when the grocery bill is due, they never are around
Great deal, hahahaa

My boardin' house, my boardin' house, it sets up on the hill
Now come along and join the throng, your welcome if you will
Eat corn bread and taters too, and drink out of a gourd
My boardin' house, my boardin' house, where folks don't pay no board

Hunt and fish all day, till out of breath
Come home and to my supper, perished most to death
Eat my ham and middlins too, but surly as a pig
And rinse out all the awful beds and never wash your feet

My boardin' house, my boardin' house, it sets up on the hill
Now come along and join the throng, your welcome if you will
Eat corn bread and taters too, and drink out of a gourd
My boardin' house, my boardin' house, where folks don't pay no board

By Jesus I'm gone