jack clement
For almost 5 decades I thought this song was written by Harlan Howard, depending on credits from a deceptive compilation album cover. Nope. Reading Jack Clement's memorial, I found HIM responsible for this odd, but catchy song. Howard *could* have written this; they were both prolific songwriters in the same genres.
This is certainly not a true story, but Miller's Cave is told to really exist. There are more caves in Georgia than ants in a hive. There is a Tiger Mountain, too ... but no cave like this is mentioned officially. Clement has simply taken a map, and picked up a few good names for the song.
This song is most often heard in Bobby Bare's version from 1964, but was first released by Tommy Tucker Jauary 1960, then by Hank Snow and Dicky Lee, following a lot of others. It usually rises sharp with the two last verses. I play it starting G major, switching to A major and finish it B major. The song is that simple I leave you only G key.
way down in the State of Georgia
among the swamps and the everglades
there's a big old hole in Tiger Mountain
God help the men who gets lost in Miller's Cave
I had me a girl from Waycross, Georgia
but she had unfaithful ways
she made me feel I was unwanted
like the bats and the bears in Miller's Cave
I couldn't stand the way she did me
couldn't take her low down ways
before I'd stay with a cheating woman
I'll go to live the bats and bears in Miller's Cave
I caught her out Sunday morning
with some guy they call Big Dave
the meanest man in Waycross, Georgia
I'd rather fight a mountain lion in Miller's Cave
I said you'll pay both you and Davy
I must see you in your grave
they laughed at me and then I shot them
I took their cheating scheming bones to Miller's Cave
I couldn't stand the way she did me
I guess I showed her I was brave
the most wanted man in the State of Georgia
they'll never gonna find me cause I'm lost in Miller's Cave
For the following CHORD section, fullscreen/horizontal mobile is recommended.
Chords in brackets may be omitted.
G D7 G way down in the State of Georgia D D7 G ...G7 among the swamps and the everglades C G ...Em there's a big old hole in Tiger Mountain G D7 G God help the men who gets lost in Miller's Cave
