I Don't Mind Marrying: Lyrics

Woody Guthrie

• LP Lonesome Valley (Called The Rambler on that LP)
• LP The Cisco Special
• CD American Folksay: Ballads & Dances, Volumes 5 & 6; Chain Gang Volumes 1 & 2 (as The Rover)

Lonesome Valley/American Folksay

Well, I don't mind marryin'
But I can't stand settlin' down
I don't mind marryin'
But Lord, settlin down
Gonna act like a preacher
So I can ride from town to town

Yodels

I'd like to be your sidetrack
Baby, till your mainline comes
Like to be your sidetrack
Baby, just till your mainline comes
I can do more switchin
Than your mainline ever done

Yodels

What makes that rooster
Crow at the break of day?
What makes that rooster, boys,
Crow at the break of day?
To let the little dog know
That the big dog's on its way

The Cisco Special

Well, I don't mind marryin'
But I can't stand settlin' down
I don't mind marryin'
But Lord, settlin down
Gonna act like a preacher
So I can ride from town to town

What makes that rooster
Crow at the break of day?
What makes that rooster, boys,
Crow at the break of day?
To let the little dog know
That the big dog's on its way

I'd like to be your sidetrack
Till your mainline comes
Like to be your sidetrack
Baby, just till your mainline comes
I can do more switchin
Than your mainline ever done

Well I'm going to town honey
What can I bring you back
I'm going to town baby
What can I bring you back
Bring a pint of good rye whiskey
And a John B. Stetson hat

Yodels

Of note:

He sure sounds as if he means it, but on both LPs he also sings:

Not a girl in ten-thousand
That a poor boy can trust

So which was the real Cisco?

But gosh, his voice is fine on The Cisco Special. Nearly every cut reveals a fine vocalist and a tasty guitarist, but on this, he just hits it perfectly. No gooey backgrounds, just Cisco and a guitar, doing what he does better than anyone.

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