Rye Whiskey (Version 2, typed, key of A)
Public domain - full karaoke IMMHA-L390
Credit: Traditional · traditional
Origin: Traditional American song (Roud 941), author unknown, collected by John Lomax by 1910; public domain. Version 2 of 2: typed in small capitals, no chords, 3/4 time, key of A, 'Traditional'. Typed as 'A GREEN BACK'. The PDF copy (pdf1-2/pdf2-2) is the same page.
Source: https://balladindex.org/Ballads/R405.html
Lyrics sheet: courtesy of Country Roads Folk Music Camp, Mount Madonna County Park, California (about the camp)
Original scan: from John's songbook (scan to be posted on @IMMHACAL)
Chords as printed on the original song sheet. No chords on this sheet; see Version 1 for chords.
CHORUS: RYE WHISKEY, RYE WHISKEY, RYE WHISKEY I CRY IF I DON'T GET RYE WHISKEY I SURELY WILL DIE. IT'S WHISKEY, RYE WHISKEY, I KNOW YOU OF OLD YOU ROBBED MY POOR POCKETS OF SILVER AND GOLD. (CHORUS) IT'S BEEFSTEAK WHEN I'M HUNGRY, RYE WHISKEY WHEN I'M DRY A GREEN BACK WHEN I'M HARD-UP, OH HEAVEN WHEN I DIE. (CHORUS) I'LL GO TO YONDER HOLLER AND BUILD ME A STILL AND I'LL SELL YOU ONE GALLON FOR A TWO DOLLAR BILL. (CHORUS) IF THE OCEAN WAS WHISKEY AND I WAS A DUCK I'D DIVE TO THE BOTTOM AND NEVER COME UP. (CHORUS) BUT THE OCEAN AIN'T WHISKEY AND I AIN'T A DUCK SO I'LL PLAY JACK-O-DIAMONDS AND TRUST TO MY LUCK. (CHORUS)