“Lonesome Road”
Description
"Look down (x2) that lonesome road, Hang down your head and sigh. The best of friends must part some day, And why not you and I? (x2)." "I wish to God that I had died... Before I had seen your smilin' face." Singer may be in prison, having ignored mother
Notes
Not to be confused with the (non-traditional) blues by Will Nash, "Goin' Down that Long Long Lonesome Road." - RBW
Cross references
- cf. "More Pretty Girls than One" (tune)
- cf. "Lonesome Stream"
Recordings
- Luther B. Clark [or Blue Ridge Highballers], "Wish to the Lord I Had Never Been Born" (Columbia 15096-D, 1926) [note: tentative identification; I have not heard the recording]
- Delmore Brothers "Look Up, Look Down That Lonesome Road" (Bluebird B-7383, 1938)
- J. Paul Miles, "County Jail" (on AFS, pre-1940)
- New Lost City Ramblers, "Long Lonesome Road" (on NLCR06)
- Kilby Reeves, "County Jail" (on Persis1)
References
- BrownIII 292, "Lonesome Road" (2 texts); also 306, "By By, My Honey" (1 text, mostly "Who Will Shoe Your Pretty Little Foot" though with several floating verses, including one from this song)
- Scarborough-NegroFS, p. 73, "The Lonesome Road" (1 short text, 1 tune)
- Sandburg, pp. 322-323, "Lonesome Road" (1 short text, 1 tune)
- Lomax-FSNA 308, "Hattie Belle" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Courlander-NFM, p. 273, "Look Down" (1 tune, partial text, placed here on the basis of the first line)
- Roud #824
- BI, San322