Lyrics
Oh come all you good-time people, while I’ve got money for to spend
Inviting people who enjoy life to join while the singer has money to spend.
For tomorrow might be Monday, and I’ll neither have a dollar nor a friend
Warning that tomorrow might bring hardship (Monday represents the start of the workweek) and the singer might be without money or friends.
Lord, when I’ve got plenty of money, good people, all my friends come standing around
When the singer has money, friends gather around.
But as soon as my pocketbook is empty, not a friend on this earth can be found
When the money is gone, friends disappear.
Oh the last time I seen my little woman, good people, she had a dram glass in her hand
The singer recalls seeing their partner drinking, possibly to cope with problems, alongside someone unsavory.
She’s a-drinking to drown her troubles, with a low-down and sorry man
The partner drinks to forget troubles, possibly with a disreputable person.
All around this old jailhouse I’m haunted, good people, forty dollars won’t pay my fine
The singer is financially unable to pay their fine and is troubled by alcohol and attractive women.
Corn whiskey has surrounded my body poor boy, pretty women a-troubling my mind
The singer is surrounded by alcohol (corn whiskey) and troubled by desires for women.
Oh my father he taught me a-plenty, good people, my mother she taught me more
The singer received teachings from both parents, warning about the consequences of reckless behavior.
She said son, if you don’t quit your rowdy ways, you’ll have troubles at your door
The mother warned that continuing rowdy behavior would invite trouble.
Oh if I had’ve listened to my mother, good people, well I would not have been here today
Reflecting on regret for not heeding the mother's advice, acknowledging the current dire situation.
A-drinking and a-shooting and a-gambling, at home I could not stay
Engaged in drinking, shooting, and gambling, making it difficult to stay at home.
So dig a hole, dig a hole in the meadow, good people, dig a hole in the cold, cold ground
Metaphorically suggesting preparing for the singer's demise by digging a grave.
And gather round me good time people, and see this poor rounder go down
As the end approaches, the singer asks for the good-time people to witness their downfall.
And when I’m dead and buried good people, with my pale face turned towards the sun
Imagining being dead and buried, asking the partner to reflect on their actions.
Would you walk all around little woman, and think on the ways you have done?
Requesting the partner to contemplate their behavior upon the singer's death.
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