New Cut Road - Emmylou Harris

Coleman Bonner was a fiddle-playing fool

A backwoods rounder and a breaker of mules

Coleman Bonner’s got a wore out bow

Been playing two days at the new cut road

Coleman’s little sister said, «You better act right, Coleman

'Cause Daddy’s gone to Louisville and he’ll be back tonight

He’s gonna get another wagon and a good pair of mules

We’re gonna all move to Texas, we just waiting on you»

Now Coleman’s daddy, he pulled up in the yard

Said «Pack up your lives, kids, it’s gettin' too hard

Kentucky’s alright but there’s too many people

Just the other day, I thought I saw a church steeple»

Coleman said, «Daddy don’t you worry 'bout me

Gonna stay here in Kentucky 'til the day I d

Gonna drink that sour mash, gonna race that mare

Gonna find that woman with fox-red hair»

Now y’all been movin' west since the day you got married

Well I’m gettin' off the wagon, Daddy, I’m too old to be carried

Gonna stay here in Kentucky where the bluegrass grows

Gonna play it all night down the new cut road

Now Coleman’s daddy said, «What's it all coming to?

Young people these days, they’re just as stubborn as mules

You can’t make him go, he’s too old for that

It’s that damned old fiddle and that bowler hat

Now Coleman’s mama said, «Aw, let the boy stay

He’s raised up solid, he can find his own way

But as for me, honey, I’m with you

I always thought Kentucky was just passing through

Now Coleman’s little sister started in to crying

And his daddy shook his head for the very last time

Coleman’s mama said, «Somebody's gotta do it

Wouldn’t be no Kentucky unless you didn’t stick to it, Coleman»

Coleman Bonner stood on the porch of that cabin

And watched 'em all go to Texas in a covered wagon

And he pulled out his fiddle and resined up his bow

And played a little tune called the «New Cut Road»