I'd Rather Be A-Pickin' Songtext
von Moe Bandy & Joe Stampley

(Dan Darst)

Daddy farmed the river bottom mama milked the cow
Sister washed the dirty dishes brother run the plow
Uncle Billy coon huntin′ cousin Willy drunk
Granny run the washboard sittin' on a stump.

Daddy comin′ home with a sack of turnip greens
Dirt on his hand and holes in his jeans
And I'm the only one ain't doin′ any good
A pickin′ on the guitar instead of choppin' wood.

They all say I′m no count ain't worth a pair of shorts
Pickin′ on the roof top pickin' on the porch
A country boy′s pickin' isn't doin′ what he should
I′d rather be a pickin' than a choppin′ that wood.

Willy's on the pond in a leaky John boat
Ned′s in the outhouse learnin' how to smoke
Cousin Homer chewin′ on a day's worth plug
Gettin' up the courage just take another slug.


Willy′s soakin′ wet cause the boat don't float
Brother stopped the plow said the mule done broke
Grandpa′s got some catfish a hangin' on a string
Sister′s in the holler gettin' water from the spring.

They all say I′m no count ain't worth a pair of shorts
Pickin' on the roof top pickin′ on the porch
A country boy′s pickin' isn′t doin' what he should
I′d rather be a pickin' than a choppin′ that wood.

--- Instrumental ---

Mama's cookin' supper on a big wood stove
Sister′s makin′ biscuits outta ole sourdough
Big channel cat just a cookin' in the grease
Make me hungry make me wanna eat.

They all say I′m no count ain't worth a pair of shorts
Pickin′ on the roof top pickin' on the porch
A country boy′s pickin' isn't doin′ what he should
I′d rather be a pickin' than a choppin′ that wood.

A country boy's pickin′ isn't doin′ what he should
I'd rather be a pickin' than a choppin′ that wood...