Coleman Bonner was a fiddle playin' fool He's a backwoods rounder and a breaker of mules Coleman Bonner's got a wore out bow He's been playin' two days down the new cut road
Now Coleman's little sister said you better act right Coleman Daddy's gone to Louisville he'll be back tonight He's gonna get another wagon and a good pair of mules Oh we gonna move to Texas we just waitin' on you
Now Coleman's daddy he pulled up in the yard He said pack up your lives kids it's gettin' too hard Kentucky's alright but there's too many people For just the other day I thought I saw a church steeple
Now Coleman said daddy don't you worry bout me I'm gonna stay here in Kentucky till the day I'd I wanna drink that sourmash I wanna race that mare And I got me woman with the fox red hair
Now you all been movin' west since the day you got married Well I'm gettin' off the wagon daddy I'm too old to be carried Gonna stay here in Kentucky where the bluegrass grow I'm gonna play it all night down the new cut road
--- Fiddle ---
Now Coleman's daddy said what's it all comin' to Young people these days are just as stubborn as mules You can't make him go he's too old for that It's that damned old fiddle and that bowler hat
Now Coleman's mama said let the boy stay Cause he's raised up solid and he can find his own way But as for me honey I'm with you I always thought Kentucky was just passin' through
Coleman's little sister she started into a cryin' And his daddy shook his head for the very last time Coleman's mama said somebody gotta do it Wouldn't be no Kentucky less you didn't stick to it Coleman
Coleman Bonner stood on the porch of that cabin Watched 'em all go to Texas in a covered wagon He pulled out his fiddle and he rosined up his bow And he played a little tune called the new cut road