Johnny Cash New Cut Road Lyrics

New Cut Road Lyrics

Coleman Bonner was a fiddle playin' fool

He's a backwoods rounder and a breaker of mules

Coleman Bonner's got a wore out bow

He's been playin' all day down the new cut road



Coleman's little sister said, "You better act right, Coleman

Daddy's gone to Louisville, he'll be back tonight

He's gonna get another wagon and a good pair of mules

And we gonna move to Texas, we just waitin' on you"



Coleman's daddy pulled up in the yard

He said, "Pack up your lives, kids, it's gettin' too hard"

Kentucky's alright but there's too many people

Just the other day I thought I saw a church steeple



Coleman said, "Daddy, don't you worry 'bout me

I'm gonna stay here in Kentucky till the day I'd

I'm gonna drink that sour mash and gonna race that mare

And find that woman with the fox red hair"



Now you all been movin' west since the day you got married

Well, I'm gettin' off the wagon, daddy, I'm too old to be carried

Gonna stay here in Kentucky where the bluegrass grow

I'm gonna play it all night down the new cut road



Coleman's daddy said, "Now what's it all comin' to

Young people these days are just as stubborn as mules

You can't make him go, he's too old for that

It's that damned old fiddle and that bowler hat"



Coleman's mama said, "Let the boy stay

He's raised up solid and he can find his own way

But as for me, honey, I'm with you

I always thought Kentucky was just passin' through"



Coleman's little sister then she started into a cryin'

And his daddy shook his head for the very last time

Coleman's mama said, "Somebody's gotta do it

Wouldn't be no Kentucky less you didn't stick to it, Coleman"



Coleman Booner stood on the porch of that cabin

Watched 'em all go to Texas in a covered wagon

He pulled out his fiddle and he rosined up his bow

And he played a little tune called the new cut road