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A Horse Apiece

by Yellow Jack

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1.
Buffalo Gals 02:25
As I was walking down the street, down the street, down the street A pretty girl I chanced to meet, and we danced by the light of the moon CHORUS Buffalo gals won't you come out tonight, come out tonight, come out tonight? Buffalo gals won't you come out tonight, and we'll dance by the light of the moon. I danced with a gal with a hole in her stocking and her knees was a-knockin' and her shoes was a-rockin' I danced with a gal with a hole in her stocking, and we danced by the light of the moon CHORUS I danced all night with a bottle in my hand, bottle in my hand, bottle in my hand Danced all night with a bottle in my hand, oozed right over in the promised land. I got a gal that lives on the hill, lives on the hill, lives on the hill! I’ve got a gal that lives on the hill! Tell me won’t ya come out tonight? She’s a bootlegger's daughter but I love her still, love her still, love her still The bootlegger's daughter and I love her still! Tell me won’t ya come out tonight? CHORUS Hurry up Joe and don't go slow! Here you go, 'n don't go slow! Chicken in the bread pan pickin’ at dough, There you go, kickin' up snow! Well, a right foot up and left foot down, swing that girl around and round Right wing up, left wing down, you just go a-kicking at the floor CHORUS
2.
It was hot night on Goat Island, in 1848 And little Nettie wanted to play She pulled on the sleeve of a family friend Her parents said it was okay The young man picked her up, but Nettie wiggled away And landed just a footstep too far The river pulled her in, the young man tried to swim; When they found them she was still in his arms CHORUS Oh, Mighty Niagara, come and see what you have done. Oh, Mighty Niagara, stole the soul of another young one. Fiddle Solo Old Red Hill SENIOR grew up on her shores Her every nook and eddie he did swim He saw the suicides, the daredevils with big eyes He watched them, and he dragged their corpses in. The idea crossed Red’s mind, to try the jump himself, To win riches and fame beyond compare But the old man kept his head, died peacefully in bed But Red Hill JUNIOR, well, that’s a whole different affair… CHORUS Mandolin Solo Well I learned all these stories from a history book And that’s how I know they’re all true But if you think it’s bunk, go on and try your luck: Next week we’ll be singing about you. CHORUS Stole the soul of another star-struck one. Stole the soul of another lovelorn one.
3.
Well I showed up for my Sunday School but I never understood How God could kill the fishes with a flood Or why he’d want to kill them anyway When he knows how they were made CHORUS Oh, won’t you pray? (Won’t you pray?) 2x Won’t you pray for this poor atheist when you reach those pearly gates? Oh, won’t you pray? (Won’t you pray?) 2x Won’t you pray for this poor scientist when you reach those pearly gates? Fiddle Solo I tried to turn the other cheek but I wound up twice as sore Tried giving everything away but people just wanted more And it only got me knifed to pretend My enemy was my friend CHORUS I tried to muster up some shame for all my mortal sins But cradled in my sweet love’s arms it just wasn’t happening What kind of God would stock a world with sweets We’re not supposed to eat? CHORUS
4.
We were forty-nine miles from Albany, forget it I never shall. What a terrible storm we had that night On the E-ri-e Canal. CHORUS Oh! the E-ri-e was rising. And the gin was a-getting low. And I scarcely think we'll get a drink ‘Til we get to Buff-a-lo-o-o; ‘Til we get to Buffalo. Our cook her name was Big Foot Sal, she wore a bright red dress We h'isted it up on the mast as a signal of distress. Oh yea, she was a grand old gal, stood 6 foot in her socks. With a HOOF just like an elephant, and breath that opened locks. CHORUS Fiddle Solo We were loaded down with barley, we were chock-full up on rye. And the captain he looked down at me with his gol-durned wicked eye. Oh, lay me on the horse bridge, With my feet up toward the bough Let it be a Lockport laker or a Tonawanda scow* CHORUS Two days out from Syracuse the vessel struck a shoal; We like to all be foundered on a chunk o' Lackawanna coal. We hollered to the captain on the towpath, treadin' dirt He jumped on board and stopped the leak with his old red flannel shirt. CHORUS Mandolin Solo I’ve travelled all around this world, and Tonawanda, too I’m every inch a sailor boys, been beaten black and blue The cook is in the Police Gazette, the captain went to jail; And I'm the only son-of-a-bitch that's left to tell the tale. Oh! CHORUS
5.
6.
Have you heard the name, Black Hannah? Have you heard, boys? Gather ‘round! Born in slavery, floated down the Er-I-E To Tonawanda town. Where the elm leaves stop the sunlight and the brick road turns into a path Past the sulphur spring, among the wake-robin, you’ll find her tiny shack. All the young folk go to see her to eat her cakes and have their fortunes to-old Who will marry well? Who will miss love’s spell? Who will never grow old? Have you heard the name Black Hannah? She’ll read your future in a cup of tea A cad once asked his fate, but Hannah only looked away Cause there was no future to see Mandolin Solo Hanna Johnson lives here with her husband and other black folk we see come and go-o How they all get here, and to where they disappear, only Hannah seems to know. Have you heard the name Black Hannah? A fortune teller of great renown But some people insist her greatest magic trick Is a railroad underground. Fiddle Solo Hannah died in peace one summer morning; so gently she was carried to her gra-ave Young and old we cried as she was laid inside and the last light fell across her face Have you heard of old Black Hannah? Gather round, girls, and I’ll try to explain Her shack is long gone; her headstone, it got lost And that’s why we gotta sing her name Have you heard the name Black Hannah? Her woods were somewhere right around here! When from the power lines you hear an old crow cry Just maybe Hannah’s near
7.
I am a poor wayfaring stranger, travelin' through this world of woe. But there’s no sickness, toil, nor danger, in that bright land to which I go. I'm going there to see my Father I’m going there no more to roam. I'm just goin' over Jordan, I'm just goin' over home. Mandolin Solo I know dark clouds will gather round me, I know my way is dark and steep. But golden fields lie just beyond me, where souls redeemed their vigils keep. I'm going there to see my Mother, she said she'd meet me when I come. I'm just goin' over Jordan, I'm just goin' over home. Fiddle Solo I want to wear that crown of glory When I get home to that bright land. I want to shout salvation’s story In concert with that blood-washed band. I’m goin’ there to see my savior, To sing His praises evermore. I’m just goin’ over Jordan I’m just goin’ over home.
8.
Verse 1 (Dennis) Grover Cleveland and Geronimo were out enjoying a Sunday drive “Take me to the Aerodome!” Geronimo he suddenly did cry. He didn’t wait for an answer, he went and took the wheel The Silver Arrow spun out on an apple peel Csolgosz begged the mob to let them through to Highway 62. Verse 2 (Keith) There’s a little bit of everything, baby, just tell me where to go. We can do pizza in Niagara Falls, or Whataburger in old El Paso. The tourism leaflets are fading in the light Still legible on the reverse is, “For a good time, Set your touring compass to Highway 62.” Verse 3 (Andrew) The rest stop was stripped to the walls, everything that wasn’t sold was burned The looters all took numbers, Czolgosz was still waiting for his turn Grover got awfully friendly with the help; [said, “You’re a] hottie with a smoking body.” She said, “You’re not so bad yourself-- Why’s a two-timer like you, on Highway 62?” Mandolin Solo Verse 4 (Keith) The county boys stopped a Chevy, rattling along the boulevard The driver played it nice and cool, waited til the cops let down their guard He pressed the pedal to the floor, he knew he had to bail Flashing lights in his mirrors were hot on his tail I blocked his path, I wouldn’t let him through, on Highway 62 Verse 5 (Andrew) The city canceled miracles, music unilaterally on hold (classified as non-essential, since it merely nourishes the soul) On every star of every flag, some hero had spray-painted, “No goal” (no goal!) We stopped at a NOCO to get directions from A disgraced field goal kicker--I think he made them up; They were off a yard or two, from Highway 62 Verse 6 (Dennis) The Silver Arrow was out of gas, and Geronimo was fresh out of ideas …. The zoning board let the motels moulder where they fell Saying, “Make like a tree and bury yourself. Hurry up, you’re blocking our view--of Highway 62.”
9.
10.

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Recorded 2020 at Mark Custom Recording, Clarence, N. Y.

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released December 31, 2020

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Yellow Jack Buffalo, New York

Yellow Jack plays Americana and folk, with an emphasis on the rich history in song of their native Western New York and Erie Canal region.

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