Sampson Pittman - I Been Down In The Circle Before

(Spoken: Boys, ain?t no need to try and tell me nothing. You can?t tell me nothing ?bout the circle because [?] the circle ?cause I worked for every contractor up and down the line. And I know just exactly what they?ll do and how to [?]. That?s why you hear me say: I ain?t no stranger, you can?t tell me nothing. I been down there lots of times.)

I worked on the levee, long time ago,
there ain?t nothing ?bout the levee camp, boy, that I don?t know
Partner, partner, partner, don?t you think I know
Son, I ain?t no stranger, been down in the circle before

Now, there ain?t but the one contractor that I fear, God willing,
George Mullin they don?t allow him back here
Partner, partner, partner, don?t you think I know
Son, I ain?t no stranger, I been down in the circle before

Now, there?s Mr. Forrest Jones and he?s so long and tall,
he killed a merchant man and he?d love to kill us all
Partner, partner, partner, don?t you think I know
Son, I ain?t no stranger, I been down in the circle before

(Spoken: Play it one time, play it)

Now, Mr. Charlie Loran, he?s the mercy-man, the best contractor,
partner, that?s up and down the line
Partner, partner, partner, don?t you think I know
Well, I ain?t no stranger, I been down in the circle before

Now, when you leave, I?d [take ?] by Highway 44,
the first camp you get to, it is called Rainy More
Partner, partner, partner, don?t you think I know
Said, I ain?t no stranger, I been down in the circle before

I ain?t gonna shed sorrow, I ain?t gonna break down,
drinking while I?m wheeling, getting mean, all [?]
Partner, partner, partner, don?t you think I know
Son, I ain?t no stranger, I been down in the circle before

Now, our friend in Arkansas, tell him what to do,
they done told him to come to Arkansas, I told him no, no, no
Partner, partner, partner, don?t you think I know
Son, I ain?t no stranger, I been down in Arkansas before

(Spoken: Goodbye)