I'll eat when I'm hungry. I'll drink when l'm dry. If the hard times don't kill me. I'll lay down and die.. . Rye whisky rye whisky. Rye whisky I cry. If you don't give me rye whisky. I surely will die.. . I'll tune up my fiddle. And I'll rosin my bow. I'll make myself welcome. Wherever I go.. . Beefsteak when I'm hungry. Red liquor when I'm dry. Greenbacks when I'm hard up. And religion when I die.. . They say I drink whisky. My money's my own;. All them that don't like me. Can leave me alone.. . Sometimes I drink whisky. Sometimes I drink rum. Sometimes I drink brandy. At other times none.. . But if I get boozy. My whisky's my own. And them that don't like me. Can leave me alone.. . Jack o' diamonds jack o' diamonds. I know you of old. You've robbed my poor pockets. Of silver and gold.. . Oh whisky you villain. You've been my downfall. You've kicked me you've cuffed me. But I love you for all.. . If the ocean was whisky. And I was a duck. I'd dive to the bottom. To get one sweet suck.. . But the ocean ain't whisky. And I ain't a duck. So we'll round up the cattle. And then we'll get drunk.. . My foot's in my stirrup. My bridle's in my hand. l'm leaving sweet Lillie. The fairest in the land.. Her parents don't like me. They say l'm too poor;. They say I'm unworthy. To enter her door.. . Sweet milk when l'm hungry. Rye whisky when l'm dry. If a tree don't fall on me. I'll live till I die.. . I'll buy my own whisky. I'll make my own stew. If I get drunk madam. It's nothing to you.. . I'll drink my own whisky. I'll drink my own wine. Some ten thousand bottles. I've killed in my time.. . I've no wife to quarrel. No babies to bawl;. The best way of living. Is no wife at all.. . Way up on Clinch Mountain. I wander alone. l'm as drunk as the devil. Oh let me alone.. . You may boast of your knowledge. An' brag of your sense. 'Twill all be forgotten. A hundred years hence.. . (Negro Variant). In my little log cabin. Ever since I been born. Dere ain't been no nothin'. 'Cept dat hard salt parched corn.. . But I know whar's a henhouse. De turkey he charve;. An if ol' Massa don' kill me. I cain't never starve.. . (Variant chorus). Rye whisky rye whisky. You're no friend to me;. You killed my poor daddy. Goddamn you try me.. . From American Ballads and Folk Songs Lomax.