Misc Traditional – The Lane County Bachelor (Guitar)

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Chords

[Verse 1]
      G
Frank Baker's my name and a bachelor I am

    Am                              D
I'm keeping old batch on an elegant plan

       G
You'll find me out west in the county of Lane

    Am          D          G
I'm starving to death on a government claim
My house it is built of the natural soil
    Am                             D
The walls are erected according to Hoyle

    G
The roof has no pitch but is level and plain

      Am         D           G
And I always get wet when it happens to rain
[Chorus 1]
  G
Hurrah for Lane County, the land of the free

    Am                                   D
The home of the grasshopper, bed bug and flea

     G
I'll sing loud its praises and tell of its fame

      Am          D          G
While starving to death on a government claim
[Verse 2]
   G
My clothes they are ragged, my language is rough

   Am                                    D
My bread is case-hardened both solid and tough

    G
The dough it is scattered all over the room

        Am            D             G
And the floor it gets scared at the sight of a broom
My dishes are scattered all over the bed
         Am                                  D
They are covered with sorghum and government bread

        G
Still I have a good time and live at my ease

   Am         D            G
On common sop-sorghum, old bacon and grease
[Chorus 2]
     G
Then come to Lane County, here's a home for you all

          Am                                    D
Where the winds never cease and the rains never fall

        G
And the sun never sets but will always remain

        Am            D       G
Till it burns you all up on a government claim
[Verse 3]
    G
How happy I feel when I crawl into bed

      Am                               D
And a rattlesnake rattles a tune in my head

      G
And a gay little centipede, void of all fear

       Am      D             G
Crawls over my neck and down into my ear
And the little bed bugs so cheerful and bright
     Am                                   D
They keep me a-laughing two-thirds of the night

        G
And the gay little flea with sharp tacks in his toes

       Am            D             G
Plays “Why don't you catch me” all over my nose
[Chorus 3]
  G
Hurrah for Lane County, hurray for the West

      Am                               D
Where farmers and laborers are ever at rest

            G
For there's nothing to do but to sweetly remain

    Am            D        G
And starve like a man on a government claim
[Verse 4]
    G
How happy I am on my government claim

         Am                                  D
For I've nothing to lose nor I've nothing to gain

     G
I've nothing to eat and I've nothing to wear

    Am           D          G
And nothing from nothing is honest and fair
Oh it is here I am solid and here I will stay
       Am                                D
For my money is all gone and I can't get away

         G
There is nothing that makes a man hard and profane

     Am          D          G
Like starving to death on a government claim
[Chorus 4]
  G
Hurrah for Lane County, where blizzards arise

          Am                                   D
Where the winds never cease and the flea never dies

     G
Come join in the chorus and sing of its fame

    Am          D            G
You poor hungry hobos that's starved on the claim
[Verse 5]
   G
No don't get discouraged, you poor hungry men

           Am                             D
For we are all here as free as a pig in a pen

     G
Just stick to your homestead and battle the fleas

    Am           D        G
And look to your Maker to send you a breeze
Now all you claim holders I hope you will stay
    Am                                            D
And chew your hardtack till you are toothless and gray

    G
But as for myself I'll no longer remain

    Am            D        G
And starve like a dog on a government claim
[Chorus 5]
    G
Farewell to Lane County, farewell to the West

     Am                                  D
I'll travel back East to the girl I love best

     G
I'll stop in Missouri and get me a wife

    Am           D           G
And live on corn dodgers the rest of my life