SALLY, DON'T YOU GRIEVE (WOODY GUTHRIE) (1944)

CISCO HOUSTON & WOODY GUTHRIE (c. 1944)

Any copyrighted material on these pages is used in "fair use", for the purpose of study, review or critical analysis only, and will be removed at the request of copyright owner(s).

"Sally, Don't You Grieve" features Guthrie's original wartime verses; the song became a pop folk standard after Malvina Reynolds fitted it with new, less topical verses.

Ronald D. Cohen & Dave Samuelson, liner notes for "Songs for Political Action," Bear Family Records BCD 15720 JL, 1996, p. 114.

As recorded by Woody Guthrie (with Cisco Houston) for Moses Asch, New York, NY, Apr 16-May 8, 1944; reissued on "Songs for Political Action," Bear Family Records BCD 15720 JL, 1996; lyrics as reprinted on p. 124 of liner notes.

I just got my army call
And I run down to the army hall.
Sally come a-runnin' like a cannonball
And I told her not to grieve after me.

CHORUS:
It's-a when I'm gone, Sally, don't you grieve
It's-a when I'm gone, Sally, don't you grieve
It's-a when I'm gone, Sally, don't you grieve
And I told her not to grieve after me.

I'm a-gonna cross that ocean wide
Army rifle by my side
When Hitler's beat you can be my bride
But I told her not to grieve after me.

I'm a-gonna jump in a flyin' machine
A-loaded full of this-a TNT
Stop old Hitler what I mean
And I told her not to grieve after me.

A souvenir I'll send to you
Send Hirohito and Hitler, too
That's about all one feller can do
But I told her not to grieve after me.

Sally, get a job and save your pay
Work your best for the U.S.A.
Write me a letter 'bout ever' day
And I told her not to grieve after me.

If a blackout comes to the old home town
Sally, won't you pull your curtains down
If a shade goes up and a ship goes down
I told her not to grieve after me.

TO TOP OF PAGE
TO WOODY GUTHRIE PAGE PAGE
TO WORLD WAR II PAGE
TO AMERICAN HISTORY IN SONG PAGE
TO STARTING PAGE

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page