Unless otherwise noted, text and photos copyright © 2011 Michael Dietsch. All rights reserved. No reproduction permitted without prior consent.

Whiskey, rye whiskey

Jack o’ Diamonds, Jack o’ Diamonds, I know you of old
You have robbed my poor pockets of silver and gold
It’s a-whiskey, you villain, you’ve a been my downfall
You’ve kicked me, you’ve cuffed me,
But I love you for all.

And it’s a whiskey, rye whiskey
Rye whiskey, I cry
If I don’t get rye whiskey
Well I think I will die.

It’s a beefsteak when I’m hungry
Rye whiskey when I’m dry
Greenback when I’m hard up
Heaven when I die.

I’ll a-go to yonder holler
I’ll build me a still
I’ll give you a gallon
Fer a five dollar bill

Whiskey, rye whiskey
Rye whiskey, I cry
If a tree don’t fall on me,
I’ll live ’til I die.

If the ocean was whiskey
And I was a duck
I’d dive to the bottom
An’ never come up

Now the ocean ain’t whiskey
And I ain’t a duck
I’ll play Jack o’ Diamond
And trust to my luck

Ha ha ha whiskey, rye whiskey
Rye whiskey, I cry
If whiskey don’t kill me,
I’ll live ’til I die.

–Tex Ritter, “Rye Whiskey”