Fifty Miles Of Elbow Room

I think this song is what first truly alienated me from my metal-head friends. They just couldn't get it why I would like a song so much that was about going to heaven. They sneered at the "three great chords" progression typical of the Carter Family tunes, and I just gave up explaining it. It's not supposed to be difficult to play; it's supposed to be fun to play. And that tune is kind of a doozy to sing, for all it's no "Oh Danny Boy."

One hundred miles its length and breadth

The four-square city stands

With gems its walls of jasper shine

Not made with human hands

One hundred miles the gates are wide

Abundant entrance there

With fifty miles of elbow room

On either side to spare

For the gates are wide on the other side

Just beyond the sunset sea

There'll be room to spare as we enter there

Room for you and room for me

For the gates are wide on the other side

Where the flowers ever bloom

On the right hand, on the left hand

Fifty miles of elbow room

Sometimes I'm cramped and crowded here

And long for elbow room

I want to reach for altitude

Where fair flowers bloom

It won't be long til I shall fade

Into that city fair

With fifty miles of elbow room

On either side to spare.

Jealous-Hearted Me

When I decided to learn the chords to this song, I didn't know how to play a bar-F chord, which played heavily in the tab I could find online. So I made it up. I think it is awesome. This version is heavily influenced by the Ma Rainey version, which predates the Carter Family recording, so I've listed both in the tags.

It takes a rocking chair to rock

| A - E |

Takes a rubber ball to roll

| A - E |

Takes the man I love to satisfy my soul

| A - E | A7 |

Because I'm jealous, jealous

| D |

Jealous-hearted me

| D | A |

I said I'm jealous

| E |

Jealous as I can be

| E | A |

You can have my money

You can have my home

But for god's sake women leave my man alone

[chorus]

I got a stove in the kitchen

And it bakes it nice and brown

But I need a papa to turn my damper down

[chorus]

I'm gonna buy me a bulldog

To watch him while he sleeps

Watch that man of mine on his midnight creep

[chorus]

[repeat verse 1]

[chorus]

Winding Stream

I've never actually heard the original Carter Family version of this song; I grew up listening to my mom sing it with her friends. I looked up the chords online, then tweaked them when I realized the tune I sang was slightly different.

Oh, give to me a winding stream

| D | D | D | D |

It must not be too wide

| D | D | A | A |

With waving leaves of maple trees

| A | A | A | A |

That reach from either side

| A | A | D | D |

The waters must be deep enough

| D | D | D | D |

To float a small canoe

| D | D | G | G |

With no one else but you

| A | A | D | D |

Do not disturb my waking dream

| D | D | D | D | D | D | A7 | A7 |

The splendor of that winding stream

| A7 | A7 | A7 | A7 | A7 | A7 | D | D |

Flow'r in my canoe

| D | D | D | D |

Her eyes they looked me through

| D | D | G | G |

A maiden fair with golden hair

| G | G | D | D |

Looks very much like you.

| A | A | D | D |

The sparkling trout beneath the bank

Doth leave his hiding place

Kingfisher from the bough above

So eager to give chase.

The spreading branches overhead

The sun was peeking through

While looking, dear, at you.

[chorus]