alter • mitchell
With music by Louis Alter and lyrics by Sidney D. Mitchell, written in 1935, the song was first recorded by Bing Crosby on March 24, 1936. I first heard it as the title song for a 1959 album by Jimmie Rodgers [NOT the yodeling phenomenon, but James Frederick Rodgers (1933-2021)]. Latest, in 2018, the aussie artists Jen Mize and Mark Sholtez released an album with the same title and title song. In between first release and this one, comes about 60 more covers. A cozy and jazzy song, that is. No more, no less. And every time I play this, I'm praising my late and elder cousin Trygve Pettersen, who by introducing this saved me from pop junk and led me into folk- and roots music. That simple, good guy gave me a lifelong passion for this; at an early stage of life I was easily influenced.
when it's twilight on the trail
and I jog along
the world is like a dream
and the ripple of the stream is my song
when it's twilight on the trail
and I rest once more
my ceiling is the sky
and the grass on which I lie is my floor
never ever have a nickel in my jeans
never ever have a debt to pay
still I understand what real contentment means
guess I was born that way
when it's twilight on the trail
and my voice is still
please plant this heart of mine
underneath the lonesome pine on the hill
For the following CHORD section, fullscreen/horizontal mobile is recommended.
Chords in brackets may be omitted.
... G Em G when it's twilight on the trail G7 and I jog along C the world is like a dream Am D7sus4 Cmaj7 G and the ripple of the stream is my song Bm Em ...E9 never ever have a nickel in my jeans Bm Em ...E9 never ever have a debt to pay Bm Am still I understand what real contentment means Bm Bdim A7 ...D7sus4 ... D7 guess I was born that way
