Collected by Max H unter (H-12)
For Mary C. Parler
Transcribed by Frances Majors
Sung by Arlie Lynch
Route 5, Rogers, Arkansas
August 13, 1958
Reel 255-56, Item 25
Old Armchair
Oh, my grandmother she,
At the age of eighty-three
One day in May was taken ill and died;
But after she was dead,
The will of course was read
By a lawyer as we all stood by his side.
To my brother it was found
She had left a hundred pound,
The same unto my sister, I declare;
But when it came to me,
The lawyer said, I see
She has left to you her old armchair.
Oh, I thought it hardly fair,
Still,I said I didn't care,
And in the evening took the chair away;
My neighbors at me chaffed,
brother at me laughed,
And said, It will be useful, John, some day.
When you settle down in life,
Take some girl to be your wife,
You will find it very handy, I declare;
On a cool and frosty night,
When the fire is burning bright,
To be seated in your old armchair.
What my brother said was true,
For in a year or two,
Strange to say, I settle down in married life;
I first a girl did court,
And then the ring I bought,
Took her to church and then she was my wife.
Oh, the dear old girl and me
Was as happy as could be,
When my evening work was over, I declare;
I ne'er abroad would roam,
But each night stayed at home,
And be seated in my old armchair.
The Old Armchair (Cont'd)
Reel 255-56, Item 25 (Cont'd)
One night the chair fell down;
When I picked it up I found
The seat had fallen out upon the floor.
And there, to my surprise,
I saw before my eyes,
A lot of notes, ten thousand pounds or more.
When my brother heard of this,
Boor fellow, I confess,
Almost went mad with rage and tore his hair
I only laughed at him,
And kindly whispered, Jim,
Don't you wish you had the old armchair?