Johnny Cash

New Cut Road

Johnny Cash


Coleman Bonner was a fiddle playin' fool 
He's a backwoods rounder and a breaker of mules 
Coleman Bonner's got a wore out bow 
He's been playin' all day down the new cut road 
Coleman's little sister said you better act right Coleman 
Daddy's gone to Louisville he'll be back tonight 
He's gonna get another wagon and a good pair of mules 
And we gonna move to Texas we just waitin' on you 
Coleman's daddy pulled up in the yard 
He 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 
I'm gonna stay here in Kentucky till the day I d 
I'm gonna drink that sourmash and gonna race that mare 
And find that woman with the fox red hair 
Now you 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 grow 
I'm gonna play it all night down the new cut road 
Coleman's daddy said now what's it all comn' to 
Young people these days are 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 
Coleman's mama said let the boy stay 
He's raised up solid and he can find his own way 
But as for me honey I'm with you 
I always thought Kentucky was just passin' through 
Coleman's little sister then she started into a cryin' 
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 less you didn't stick to it Coleman 
Coleman Booner stood on the porch of that cabin 
Watched 'em all go to Texas in a covered wagon 
He pulled out his fiddle and he rosined up his bow 
And he played a little tune called the new cut road