Traditional, arr. by Crooked Still

[ cross-picked, refrain after each verse as you feel ]

Wake up wake up darling Corey
Tell me what makes you sleep so sound
The highway robbers are coming
They're ringing around your town

/ D - / - A / :

{refrain}
Dig a hole dig a hole in the meadow
Dig a hole in the cold cold ground
Dig a hole dig a hole in the meadow
Gonna lay darling Corey down

Go away go away darling Corey
Quit hanging around my bed
Pretty women gonna run me distracted
Corn liquor is killing me dead

Well the first time I seen darling Corey
She was standing in the door
She had her shoes and stocking in her hands
And her little feet on the floor

[ nice if no refrain from last verse ]
Well the next time I seen darling Corey
She was sitting on the banks of the sea
Had a forty-four wrapped around her body
And a banjo on her knee

Oh the last time I saw my Corey
She had a wine glass in her hand
She was drinking that sweet liquor
With a low-down gambing man

[ nice to do this one sparsely ]
Can't you hear those bluebirds a singing
Don't you hear that mournful sound
They're preaching darling Corey's funeral
In some lonesome graveyard ground

(additional/variant verses)

Oh the last time I saw Darling Corey
She had a forty-five in her hand
Said she'd kill the revenue officers
If they leave here with my man

Oh watch out for Darling Corey
Because she's a crackerjack shot
She put a bead on the tax man
And she blowed his head clean off

Wake up wake up Darlin Corey
And go and bring me my gun
I ain't no man for trouble
But the trouble's already begun

Better run, better run Darling Corey
It's best to get thee gone
Corn liquor's done ruined my body
And I don't believe I can come along

Wake up wake up Darlin Corey
And go get me my gun
I ain't no man for fightin'
But I'll die before I run

Go away, go away darling Corey
Quit hanging around my bed
Your liquor has ruined my body
Pretty women has gone to my head