Rye Whiskey

Jack o' Diamonds, Jack o' Diamonds and I know you of old

You've robbed my poor pockets of silver and gold

It's a whiskey, you villain, you've been my downfall

You've kicked me, you've cuffed me, but I love you for all

It's a whiskey, rye whiskey, rye whiskey I cry

If I don't get rye whiskey, well, I think I will die

I'll eat when I'm hungry, I'll drink when I'm dry

If the hard times don't kill me, I'll lay down and die

I'll tune up my fiddle and I 'll rosin my bow

I'll make myself welcome, wherever I go

Rye whiskey, rye whiskey, rye whiskey I cry

If a tree don't fall on me, I'll live till I die

Beefsteak when I'm hungry red liquor when I'm dry

Greenbacks when I'm hard up and religion when I die

They say I drink whiskey, my money's my own

All them that don't like me, can leave me alone

Rye whiskey, rye whiskey, rye whiskey I cry

If a tree don't fall on me, I'll live till I die

Sometimes I drink whiskey, sometimes I drink rum

Sometimes I drink brandy, at other times none

But if I get boozey, my whiskey's my own

And them that don't like me, can leave me alone

Rye whiskey, rye whiskey, rye whiskey I cry

If a tree don't fall on me, I'll live till I die

If the ocean was whiskey and I was a duck

I'd dive to the bottom to get one sweet suck

But the ocean ain't whiskey and I ain't a duck

So we'll round up the cattle and then we'll get drunk

Rye whiskey, rye whiskey, rye whiskey I cry

If the whiskey don't kill me, I'll live till I die

My foot's in my stirrup, my bridle's in my hand

I'm leaving sweet Lillie, the fairest in the land

Her parents don't like me, they say I'm too poor

They say I'm unworthy to enter her door

It's a whiskey, rye whiskey, rye whiskey I cry

If I don't get rye whiskey, well, I think I will die

Sweet milk when I'm hungry, rye whiskey when I'm dry

If a tree don't fall on me, I'll live till I die

I'll buy my own whiskey, I'll make my own stew

If I get drunk, madam, it's nothing to you

Rye whiskey, rye whiskey, rye whiskey I cry

If a tree don't fall on me, I'll live till I die

I'll drink my own whiskey, I'll drink my own wine

Some ten thousand bottles I've killed in my time

I've no wife to quarrel, no babies to bawl

The best way of living is no wife at all

Rye whiskey, rye whiskey, rye whiskey I cry

If a tree don't fall on me, I'll live till I die

Way up on Clinch Mountain I wander alone

I'm as drunk as the devil, oh, let me alone

You may boast of your knowledge an' brag of your sense

'Twill all be forgotten a hundred years hence

Rye whiskey, rye whiskey, you're no friend to me

You killed my poor daddy, God damn you, try me