Jimmy Driftwood

James Corbitt Morris (20 June 1907 – 12 July 1998), more famous as Jimmy Driftwood or Jimmie Driftwood, was a prolific American folk songwriter and musician, most famous for his songs "The Battle of New Orleans" and "Tennessee Stud".

In 1814 we took a little trip
Along with Colonel Jackson down the mighty Mississip.

Ole Hickory said we could take 'em by surprise,
If we didn't fire our muskets 'til we looked 'em in the eyes.

Quotes

I never would have got through the Arkansas mud
If I hadn't been a-ridin on the Tennessee stud.

I love the girl with golden hair
And the Tennessee stud loves the Tennessee mare.

• In 1814 we took a little trip
  Along with Colonel Jackson down the mighty Mississip.
  We took a little bacon an' we took a little beans
  And we caught the bloody British at the town of New Orleans.

  We fired our guns an' the British kept a'comin'.
  There wasn't nigh as many as there was awhile ago.
  We fired once more an' they begin to runnin'
  Down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.

  • "The Battle of New Orleans" (1936)

• Ole Hickory said we could take 'em by surprise,
  If we didn't fire our muskets 'til we looked 'em in the eyes.
  We held our fire 'til we seed their faces well,
  Then we opened up our squirrel guns an' really gave 'em ...well!

  Yeah, they ran through the briars an' they ran through the brambles
  An' they ran through the bushes where the rabbits couldn't go.
  They ran so fast that the hounds couldn't catch 'em
  Down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.

  • "The Battle of New Orleans" (1936)

• We fired our cannon 'til the barrel melted down,
  So we grabbed an alligator an' we fought another round.
  We filled his head with cannon balls an' powdered his behind,
  An' when they touched the powder off, the 'gator lost his mind.
  • "The Battle of New Orleans" (1936)

• Along about eighteen and twenty-five
  I left Tennessee very much alive
  I never would have got through the Arkansas mud
  If I hadn't been a-ridin on the Tennessee stud.
  • "Tennessee Stud" (1958)

• The Tennessee stud was long and lean
  The color of the sun and his eyes were green.
  He had the nerve and he had the blood
  And there never was a hoss like the Tennessee stud.
  • "Tennessee Stud" (1958)

• I found that girl with the golden hair
  And she was ridin' on a Tennessee mare.
  • "Tennessee Stud" (1958)

• Stirrup to stirrup and side by side
  We crossed the mountains and the valleys wide.
  We came to Big Muddy and we forded the flood
  On the Tennessee mare and the Tennessee stud.
  • "Tennessee Stud" (1958)

• Pretty little baby on the cabin floor
  Little hoss colt playin' 'round the door
  I love the girl with golden hair
  And the Tennessee stud loves the Tennessee mare.
  • "Tennessee Stud" (1958)

External links

• In Memoriam Jimmy Driftwood