Cisco Houston Web Site

The Songs He Sang

Old Howard: Lyrics

As performed by Cisco Houston

Traditional

Appears on:
Old Howard's dead and gone
Left me here to sing this song
Well old Howard's dead and gone
Left me here to sing this song

Old Howard's dead and he's gone
Old Howard's dead and he's gone
Well, Old Howard's dead and he's gone
Lord, Lord
And he left me hear to sing this song

Old Howard's dead and he's gone
Old Howard's dead and he's gone
Old Howard's dead and he's gone
Lord, Lord
And he left me hear to sing this song

Who's been here since I've been gone
A great big man with a derby on
Who's been here since I've been gone
Great big man with a derby on

Great big man with a derby on
Great big man with a derby on
Well a great big man with a derby on
Lord, Lord
And he left me hear to sing this song

Who's been here since I been gone
Pretty little girl with a red dress on
Who's been here since I been gone
Pretty little girl with a red dress on

Pretty little girl with a red dress on
Pretty little girl with a red dress on
Pretty little girl with a red dress on
Lord, Lord
And she left me hear to sing this song

Old Howard's dead and gone
Left me here to sing this song
Old Howard's dead and gone
Left me here to sing this song

Old Howard was his mother's poor boy
Old Howard his mother's poor boy
Well old Howard his mother's poor boy
Lord, Lord
And left me here to sing this song

Old Howard's dead and gone
Left me here to sing this song
Old Howard's dead and gone
Left me here to sing this song

Old Howard's dead and he's gone
Old Howard's dead and he's gone
Well old Howard's dead and he's gone
Lord, Lord
And he left me hear to sing this song

Of note:

For those who claim that much contemporary music is too obscure, please help me understand who poor old Howard was. He's dead, and he's certainly gone, but what this song is about is beyond me. And yet, some of Ciscos' finest singing, along with his very unusual and lengthy guitar solo, make it a performance to be treasured, even if I can't imagine who "the man with the derby on" is.

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