Cherokee Fiddle Lyrics

Michael Martin Murphey Cherokee Fiddle

When the train pulled into the station
Rolled up his sleeves, rosened up the bow
He fiddled upside down Orange Blossom Special
If you want to make a livin'
You got to put on a good show


Chorus:
When he smelled the smoke and the cinder
He slicked his hair back
He opened up his case
He played Cherokee fiddle
He played for the whiskey
Good whiskey never let him lose his place


He was always there playing for the miners
Devil's Dream was a tune they understood
Then he'd go back to Oklahoma
Wait till the train was running and the weather was
good


Repeat Chorus


Now the Indians, they're all dressing like cowboys
And the cowboys all put leather and turquoise on
And all the music is sold by lawyers
And the fools who fiddle in the middle of the stations
are gone


Some folks say they'll never miss him
Fiddles screech like the engine breaks
Cherokee fiddle, gone forever
Like the music that the whistle on an old locomotive
makes


Chorus Variation:
When you smell the smoke and the cinders
Slick your hair back
Open up your case
Play Cherokee fiddle
Play it for the whiskey, boys
That ol' whiskey never let you lose your place
Ol' whiskey never let you lose your place
Jack Daniel's never let's you lose your place