“Worried Man Blues” is the Peace Song of the Day for November 3, 2011. This is a traditional song. You can find the lyrics in the Rise Up Singing songbook on page 105.

A new verse by Duchess Susanna: “It takes a worried nation, to make an occupation…”

Below is a video with Pete Seeger and Johnny Cash. (You know ol’ Pete will ask you to sing along…)

***
Lyrics:

Worried Man Blues
traditional

Chorus:
It takes a worried man to sing a worried song (3x)
I’m worried now, but I won’t be worried long.
*
I went across the river & I lay down to sleep (3x)
When I woke up, had shackles on my feet
*
The shackles on my feet had 21 links of chain (3x)
(Or, “29 links” of chain)
And on each link the initials of my name
*
I asked that the judge “Tell me what’s gonna be my fine?”
“21 years on the Rocky Mountain line!”
*
The train came to the station, 21 coaches long
The one I love is on that train & gone
*
I looked down the track as far as I could see
A little bitty hand was waving after me
*
If anyone should ask you who made up this song
Tell ’em ’twas I & I sing it all day long.
*

New verses for the American Autumn, 2011:

It takes a worried nation, to make an occupation (3)
We’re worried now, but we won’t be worried long.
*
The banksters took our dough, and now we say no, no (3)
We’re worried now, but we won’t be worried long
*
It start with you and me, to save democracy (3)
We’re worried now, but we won’t be worried long
*
It takes a peaceful nation, to win an occupation (3)
We’re worried now, but we won’t be worried long
*
The occupation thrives, if we keep it alive (3)
We’re worried now, but we won’t be worried long

______________________

Bonus video versions at Youtube:

Johnny Cash and the Carter Family: here.

Stanley Brothers Bluegrass on The Pete Seeger Show: here.

Woody Guthrie: here.