COLUMBUS STOCKADE BLUES

“Columbus Stockade Blues” made famous the unlikely Columbus-based duo who first

recorded it, Tom Darby and Jimmie Tarlton. Darby gave the song its weathered, world-

weary voice. Tarlton played a slide guitar in the background, adding a sound that was

certainly no stranger to black blues music but was practically unheard of in white country

songs until then. The song also drove the two apart, most people think, due to conflicts

over its authorship or the money it made for people who were named neither Darby nor

Tarlton. Both men claimed to have written the song. People who knew the musicians fall

into different camps, and they’ve all got their anecdotal evidence to back them. In truth,

neither man might have been able to make the true claim of authorship.

Way down in Columbus Georgia

Want to be back in Tennessee

Way down in Columbus stockade

My friends all turned their backs on me

Go and leave me if you wish to

Never let it cross your mind

In your heart you love another

Leave me, little darling. I don’t mind

Last night as I lay sleeping

I dreamt I held you in my arms

When I woke I was mistaken

I was peering through the bars

Go and leave me if you wish to…

Many a night with you I’ve rambled

Many an hour with you I’ve spent

Thought I had your heart forever

Now I find ‘t was only lent

Go and leave me if you wish to.

Banjo Mountain