Results 1 to 5 of 5

Thread: The words to The Ballad of Stringbean and Estelle....

  1. #1
    Facing the Storm Duane Graves's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    New Brunswick, Canada
    Posts
    420

    Default The words to The Ballad of Stringbean and Estelle....

    Per chance, does any one have the lyrics to The Ballad of Stringbean and Estelle...I think I would like to sing and play that great tune. Sam Bush's mandolin is so sweet on it and it is such an emotional story really. I just can't find it with any google posts for whatever reason--dgg.
    "....if you can't find a way out...go deeper in..."

    Eastman 805D
    Fender 53S SB

  2. #2

    Default Re: The words to The Ballad of Stringbean and Estelle....

    Quote Originally Posted by Duane Graves View Post
    Per chance, does any one have the lyrics to The Ballad of Stringbean and Estelle...I think I would like to sing and play that great tune. Sam Bush's mandolin is so sweet on it and it is such an emotional story really. I just can't find it with any google posts for whatever reason--dgg.
    Hi ya'll!
    I have to admit I don't own the Sam Bush album yet, where the song is included.
    So I heard it the first time the other day on Transatlantic Sessions 5.
    And right after I finished listen to it I smartly switched on the computer to find the lyrics of the song. Didn't found nothing, but I stumbled into this thread. So if you haven't found the lyrics yet, I know it's been 2,5 years. but if your still interested here it is..
    Please correct me if the words is not right, and the chords of course.
    (The reason for it all is in the bib of his overalls), I'd rather sing that line without the S in overall. I don't know what Sam was thinking, but I get a picture he had the money on him in the pocket of his overall?

    Em
    On Ridgetop, Tennessee in 1973
    Am B7 Em
    The brown boys killed Stringbean and Estelle
    Em
    The reason for it all is in the bib of his overalls
    Am B7 Em
    Least that's what the brown boys would tell

    Am B7 Em
    The thieves laid in wait for hours
    AM B7 Em
    But things didn't go their way
    Em
    It was just a simple plan, to rob a banjo man
    Am B7 Em
    But he wouldn't let go of his Opry pay

    It must have been a terrible struggle
    For the cash in his bib overalls
    The brown boys said don't give us no trouble
    We came for some good, now we want it all
    And the thieves said stand and deliver
    But Stringbean would not tell
    And later we would learn, there was a pawn? of no return
    They shot him dead, and then shot Estelle

    He saw no smoke from the chimney
    So grandpa knew that something was not right
    It would burn ever more in his memory
    Picture of that dreadful aweful sight
    And 23 years later
    They tore the fireplace down
    There was 20.000 dollars
    That the brown boys, never found

    Well it seem like easy money
    But things didn't go their way
    It was just a simple plan, to rob a banjo man
    But he wouldn't let go of his Opry pay
    Now, string said you can't have my Opry pay

    They say that nothing sacred
    And now I have seen it all
    I read it in this mornings paper
    They auctioned off Strings overalls

    BTW, I'm a proud member of this board. I've been reading the threads for years but never thought I needed an account. so Hi Everyone!

  3. #3
    Registered User Bill Snyder's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Central Texas
    Posts
    7,316

    Default Re: The words to The Ballad of Stringbean and Estelle....

    Here is a video of Mr. Bush performing the ballad.

    Bill Snyder

  4. #4

    Default Re: The words to The Ballad of Stringbean and Estelle....

    Beautiful song..... It seems somehow odd that one of the most beautiful songs sung about an old time banjo player like Stringbean is done with a mandolin.
    Last edited by hedgehog; Nov-23-2011 at 11:13am.

  5. #5
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    North Carolina
    Posts
    12,258

    Default Re: The words to The Ballad of Stringbean and Estelle....

    Yeah, a great modern-day ballad about an awful event. Sam's mandolin work at the beginning is beautiful.

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •