CALIFORNIA BLUES
(Jimmie Rodgers)

Jimmie Rodgers - 1928
Blue Ridge Rangers - 1973
Also recorded by : John C. Fogerty; Cornell Hurd; Rob Ickes; 
Dan Lund; Gene Parsons; The Seldom Scene; Doc Watson.


I'm goin' to California, where they sleep out every night, yeah.
I'm goin' to California, where they sleep out every night, yeah.
I'm leavin' you, Mama, 'cause you know you don't treat me right.

Let me tell you somethin', Mama that you don't know,
Let me tell you somethin', good gal that you don't know,
Yeah, I'm a do-right Papa, and got a home everywhere I go.

I got the California blues, and I'm sure gonna leave here, Lord, Lord.
I got the California blues, and I'm sure gonna leave you here,
I may ride the blinds (*), I ain't got no railroad fare.
Come on in here.

Listen to me, Mama, while I sing this song, Lord.
Listen to your Daddy sing you this lonesome song.
You got me worried now, but I won't be worried long.

I got the California blues, and I'm sure gonna leave here, hey, hey, hey.
I got the California blues, and I'm sure gonna leave you here,
I may ride the blinds (*), I ain't got no railroad fare.
Honey, get over here. 



(*) (Corrected by Steve Noceti - November 2004)
This was common hobo lingo (meaning to ride beneath the freight cars)
that Jimmie Rodgers used often.