Breedloves's Folk Songs

O BABE IT AINT NO LIE

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O BABE IT AINT NO LIE
Elizabeth Cotten’s original version can be found on the Smithsonian/Folkways recording
of her work “Freight Train and Other North Carolina Folk Songs and Tunes”. Mike
Seeger’s liner notes say “An unusual blues sung around the Chapel Hill area.” In his notes
to the song in the “Old-Time String Band Songbook” he similarly says: “A country blues
that Elizabeth Cotten learned around her home near Chapel Hill, North Carolina.” Cotton
has said herself about the song “That song’s ’bout me getting punished for something my
sister did. My feelings got hurt, ’cause I did not do what Miss Mary said I did. And I used
cry in a bed, and a little verse came to me, a pretty tune came to me, and I made a little
song, a little tune I love.
Been all around this whole round world
And I just got back today
Work all week, honey, I get home to you
Honey baby what more can I do
Oh babe, it ain’t no lie
Oh babe, it ain’t no lie
Oh babe, it ain’t no lie
You know this life I’m living is mighty high
One old woman, Lord, in this town
Keep a-telling her lies on me
Wish to my soul that old woman would die
Keep a-telling her lies on me
Oh babe, it ain’t no lie
Oh babe, it ain’t no lie
Oh babe, it ain’t no lie
You know this life I’m living is very high
Been all around this whole round world
And I just got back today
Work all week, honey, and I get home to you
Honey baby what more can I do
Oh babe, it ain’t no lie
Oh babe, it ain’t no lie
Oh babe, it ain’t no lie
You know this life I’m living is very high

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