There is nothing quite like the feeling of a newly written tune. It is a gift. Every time I get to experience it, I am deeply grateful. This one started out on the guitar, but I really enjoyed finishing it on the piano. This is basically a work-tape recording. But worth sharing, I think.
Feel free to hum or play along. I am playing this one in C. Enjoy.
An update for the curious: Directly below is my original piano work tape recording. As is often the case, I donned my editor/refiner hat. The lyrics below are edited some as I often have to discover how I might actually play and sing the song. Below the piano version, I share the guitar/harmonica rendition. You could call it the “traveling troubadour” version. I love pianos, but they do not travel well.
Piano
Guitar/Harmonica
Trouble Come
In the morning I must go, never to come back.
I’ve loved your love for a season.
But in my youth, I crossed a man and he’s ever on my track,
and if the harm came to you I’d be grieving.
“I will not let you go.” My love she spoke to me,
“I will not have your love for just a season”
You underestimate me, my love. Trouble I’ve known some.
Let trouble come. Let the man give me reason.
She said, “My daddy was a bad outlaw, many a man feared his gun,
And I his only child, and he raised me strong as any son.
I can ride long and fast, load and shoot good as any man.
Let trouble come. Trouble won’t find me fearing none.
So we made up our minds to stay. And God gave us three lovely daughters
And my love said, “Let’s raise them fierce as any sons,
And should trouble come some night we’ll put up one hell of a fight.
God help the man with any mind to harm us.
Now after a score of quiet years, joy, laughter, and tears
The crack of fiery shells upset my slumber.
Before I could rouse my gun the skirmish was all done.
The man had finally come and he’d fallen like thunder.
Now as the morning light did break, I did rise to survey
Many were the men who’d come and fallen.
For three daughters I could account, but my love was nowhere about
And I knew that dark angel had come calling.
I had told her, “In the morning I must go, never to come back
I’ve loved your love for a season.
But in my youth, I crossed a man, and he’s ever on my track
and if the harm came to you I’d be grieving”
“I will not let you go.” My love she said to me,
“I will not hold your love for just a season”
You underestimate me, my love. Trouble I’ve known some.
Let the man come. Let the man give me reason.
copyright scot phegley