Goodnight Irene

Words & Music:

Huddie Ledbetter & John Lomax (1950)

 

CHORUS:

C          G       G7         C

Irene, goodnight.  Irene, goodnight.

    C       C7        F                 G7            C

Goodnight, Irene, goodnight Irene, I'll see you in my dreams.

 

    C                       G        G7              C

Sometimes I live in the country, sometimes I live in town.

    C       C7           F         G7                    C

Sometimes I have a great notion to jump in the river and drown.

 

CHORUS:

 

Quit rambling and quit gambling, quit staying out late at night,

Stay home with your wife and family, sit down by the fireside bright.

 

CHORUS:

 

I love Irene, God knows I do, I'll love her 'til the seas run dry.

And if Irene turns her back on me, I'll take morphine and die.

 

CHORUS:

 

You cause me to weep, you cause me to mourn,

You caused me to leave my home.

But the very last words I heard her say was

"Please sing me one more song."

 




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