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

[Duane Graves]

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.

[Len Millar]

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!

[Bill Snyder]

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


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpB0rAACfKA

[hedgehog]

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.

[AlanN]

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