Johnny Cash – New Cut Road lyrics

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 sour mash 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 comin' 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