Old Joe Clark

Wished I had a nickel,
Wished I had a dime.
Wished I had a pretty girl
To kiss and call her mine.

Fare thee well, Old Joe Clark,
Fare thee well, I say.
Fare thee well, Old Joe Clark
I’m a goin’ away.

I will not marry an old maid
I’ll tell you the reason why.
Her neck is so long and stringy
I’m afraid she’ll never die.

I asked my girl to marry me
And what do you think she said.
Time enough to marry you
When all the rest are dead.

Old Joe Clark did take sick
And what do you think ailed him.
He drank a churn of buttermilk
And then his stomach failed him.

Old Joe Clark did get drunk
And not a word could he utter.
He fell down on the supper table
And stove his nose in the butter.

Instruction on how to play this song can be found in Wayne Erbsen’s book: Clawhammer Banjo for the Complete Ignoramus