Lyrics: Traditional/Fiddlin' Arthur Smith
Music: Traditional/Fiddlin' Arthur Smith
This was played by Jerry with Old And In The Way in 1973-74, and much earlier with the Black Mountain Boys in 1964 and with the Hart Valley Drifters in 1962.
The sleeve note with Old And In The Way's "Breakdown" says it was composed by Grand Ole Oprey fiddler Arthur Smith even though it lists the song as "traditional."
It says, though, that Jerry sings the same verses as Carter Stanley, which are different from those sung by Smith.
ChorusNotes
I got a pig, home in a pen (note 1)
Corn to feed him on
All I need is a pretty little girl
To feed him when I'm gone
Dark clouds are rising (note 2)
Sure sign of rain
Get your old grey bonnet on
Sweet little Liza Jane
[chorus]
Bake 'em biscuits, baby
Bake 'em good and brown
When you get them biscuits baked
We're Alabama bound
[chorus]
Goin' on a mountain (note 3)
To sow a little cane
Raise a barrel of sorghum (note 4)
Sweet little Liza Jane
[chorus]
[chorus]
Jerry Garcia Recordings | |||||
Date | Album | Recorded By | |||
fall 1962 | Folk Time | Hart Valley Drifters (note a) | |||
1 Oct 1973 | Breakdown | Old And In The Way (note b) | |||
8 Oct 1973 | Old And In The Way | Old And In The Way (note c) | |||
4 Nov 1973 | Live At Sonoma State | Old And In The Way |
ChorusJerry Garcia follows the Stanley Brothers' version, though they hav the verses in a different order and with one additional verse that Jerry doesn't sing:
Got that pig at home in a pen
Corn to feed him on
All I want is a pretty little girl
To feed him when I'm gone
Went to see my darling
What do you think she said
She said she wouldn't marry me
[unclear]
[chorus]
When she see me coming
She wrings her hands and cries
Yonder comes the sweetest boy
That ever lived or died
When she see me leaving
She wrings her hand and cries
Yonder goes the meanest boy
That ever lived or died
[chorus]
Chorus
I got a pig at home in a pen
Corn to feed him on
All I need's a pretty little girl
To feed him when I'm gone
Goin' on the mountain
To sow a little cane
Raise a barrel of sorghum
To sweeten ol' Liza Jane
[chorus]
Black cloud's a-risin'
Surest sign of rain
Get the old gray bonnet on
Little Liza Jane
[chorus]
Yonder comes that gal of mine
How d'you think I know
Can tell by that gingham gown
Hangin' down so low
[chorus]
Bake them biscuits, lady
Bake 'em good n' brown
When you get them biscuits baked
We're Alabamy bound
[chorus]