New Cut Road
recorded by Bobby Bare
written by Guy Clark
G
Coalman Bonner was a fiddle playing fool
D7
He was a backwoods rounder and a breaker of mules
Coalman Bonner’s got a worn out bow
G
He been playing two days down a new cut road
Now Coalman’s little sister said you better act right
D7
Your daddy’s going to Louisville he’ll be back tonight
He’s gonna get another wagon and a good pair of mules
G
Oh we gonna move to Texas we just waiting on mules
Now Coalman’s daddy he pulled up in the yard
D7
He said back up your lives kids it’s getting too hard
Kentucky’s alright but there’s too many people
G
Well just the other day I thought I saw a church steeple
Now Coalman said daddy don’t you worry ‘bout me
D7
I’m gonna stay here in Kentucky till the day I dee
I’m wanna drink that sour mash I’m gonna raise that mare
G
Ya I got me a woman with a foxy red hair
We all been moving west since the day he got married
D7
I’m getting off the wagon I’m too old to be carried
I’m gonna stay in Kentucky where the blue grass grows
G
I’m gonna play it all night down a new cut road
Now Coalman’s Daddy said what’s it all coming to
D7
Young people these days are just stubborn as mules
He can’t make um go he’s too old for that
G
It’s that damned ole fiddle and that bowler hat
Now Coalman’s momma said let the boy stay
D7
Cuz he’s raised up solid he can find his own way
But as for me honey I’m with you
G
Well I always thought Kentucky was just passing through
Coalman’s little sister she started in a cry
D7
And her daddy shook his head for the very last time
Coalman’s momma said somebody gotta do it
G
Wouldn’t be no Kentucky less you didn’t stick to it Coalman
Coalman Bonner stood on the porch of that cabin
D7
Watched um all go to Texas in a covered wagon
A
He pulled out his fiddle and he rosined up his bow
G
And he played a little tune down a new cut road
