Grey Goose (1947) Lead Belly

"Grey Goose" (1947) by Lead Belly is a folk-blues song that tells the story of a man reflecting on love and loss, using the metaphor of the grey goose as a symbol of freedom and longing. The lyrics convey themes of heartache, nostalgia, and the struggles of life. Musically, it features Lead Belly's signature twelve-string guitar, blending rhythmic strumming with powerful vocals. The song has influenced various artists in the folk and blues genres, highlighting Lead Belly's impact on American music. #FolkBlues

[Intro]
Now this is the 'Grey Goose'
Down in my home, people go to church on a Sunday
A Baptist church—and they had a preacher which was a pastor of that church
Instead of he going to church that Sunday, he went out and tried to kill a grey goose, and the goose is still laughin' at him

[Verse]
One Sunday mornin', Lord, Lord, Lord
Preacher went a-huntin', Lord, Lord, Lord
He carried 'long his shotgun, Lord, Lord, Lord
'Long come a grey goose, Lord, Lord, Lord
Gun went "a-boo-loo!" Lord, Lord, Lord
He was six weeks a-fallin', Lord, Lord, Lord
He was six weeks a-haulin', Lord, Lord, Lord
Then my wife an' your wife, Lord, Lord, Lord
Get a-feather-pickin', Lord, Lord, Lord
They was six weeks a-pickin', Lord, Lord, Lord
Put him on a parboil, Lord, Lord, Lord
He was six weeks a-boilin', Lord, Lord, Lord
And they put him on a table
And the fork wouldn't stick him
And the knife wouldn't cut him
Then they throwed him in the hog bin
And the hog couldn't eat him
And he broke the hog's teeth out
And they put him in the sawmill
And the saw couldn't cut him
And he broke the saw's teeth out
And the last time I seen him, Lord, Lord, Lord
Flying 'cross the ocean, Lord, Lord, Lord
With a long thing of goslings, Lord, Lord, Lord
And they all went "quack quack," Lord, Lord, Lord

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