Lyrics: Traditional
Music: Traditional
Only ever played once by the Dead, on 20 November 1970 during a jam with Jorma Kaukonen.
Also played by Garcia, Hunter and Leicester in July 1961.
I had assumed from the list in DeadBase that Jorma sang it at the 1970 show.
But on listening to the tape, I believe it is Garcia.
He sings only two verses, which are pretty hard to decipher.
Wake up, wake up, darling CoreyThe Garcia/Hunter/Leicester version from 1961 includes an additional verse:
What makes you sleep so sound
[The revenue officers are coming]
They're gonna tear your still house down
Dig a hole, dig a hole in the meadow
Dig a hole in the cold ground
[Dig a hole, dig a hole in the meadow]
We're gonna lay him in the ground
Wake up, wake up darling Corey (note 1)Bob Weir drew on this song for Lay My Lily Down.
Quit hanging around my bed
Bad liquor ruined my body
Pretty women gone to my head
Wake up, wake up, darling CoreyB.F. Shelton recorded a version also in 1927, with the "Dig A Hole" verse:
What makes you sleep so sound
Those highway robbers are raging
Famous around your town
Wake up, wake up, darling Corey
How can you sleep so late
When those burglars now are coming
They're waiting at your gate
Just see that old train a-coming
See her coming around the curve
She's a-pulling for the station
And straining every nerve
Just see those pretty girls coming
With curls all round their head
When I see those pretty girls coming
I wish darling Corey was dead
Last night I lay on a pillow
Tonight I lay on a bed
Last night I lay on a pillow
And I dreamed darling Corey was dead
Oh go dig a hole in the meadowThere are numerous other versions with slight variations in the lyrics. A good sample of them is here. See also the David Nelson version.
Oh go dig a hole in the ground
Go dig a hole in the meadow
Let me lay pretty Corey down
Oh the last time I saw darlin' Corey
She was sittin' on the bank of the sea
With a forty-four around her
And a banjo on her knee
Wake up, wake up, darling Corey
How can you sleep so sound
Highway robbers are comin'
Gonna tear your still-house down
Go away, go away, darlin' Corey
And bring to me my gun
I ain't no man for trouble
But trouble just now begun
The last time I saw darling Corey
She had a forty-five in her hand
Kill them revenue officers
If they leave here with my man
Go away, go away, darling Corey
Quit your hangin' around my bed
Whisky has ruined my body
Pretty women will kill me stone dead
Across the deep blue ocean
Across the deep blue sea
Go bring to me darlin' Corey
Wherever she may be
Wake up, wake up, darlin' Corey
Go do the best you can
I have got me another woman
You can notch you another man
Oh yes, oh yes, my darlin'
I'll do the best I can
But I'll never give my pleasure
For another gamblin' man