3. Granny's Rheumatiz Medicine

[Verse 1 – male storyteller] Up in the Ozarks near Yellville town, Granny’s got a little cabin on rocky ground. Hills all around and the creeks run cold, she’s been scrapin’ by since the days of old. Great Depression hittin’ folks all around, but Granny just smiles — it can’t drag her down. [Verse 2 – male storyteller] Back in sixty-five when the bluecoats came, raided Yellville, set the mill aflame. Young Granny grabbed her old shotgun, fought those raiders till her pa was gone. Carried him up to these mountains that day, buried him here and this is where she’ll stay. [Chorus – Male storyteller] You can still hear Granny say, Goin’ down to my still — my knees killin’ me, room-a-tees got me stiff as a hickory tree. But comin’ back up with that jug in my hand, I feel finer than a young critter in the promised land. This room-a-tees medicine hits just right, cures what ails me from mornin’ till night. [Verse 3 – male storyteller] Got a patch of taters and a row of beans, chickens scratchin’ and a mess of greens. Hogs in the pen and a milk cow too, squirrel in the pot when the huntin’ comes through. Folks down the road losin’ all they own, but Granny just wants to be left alone. [Verse 4 – male storyteller] Back in the twenties when the law came callin’, revenuers huntin’ shine and always haulin’. Granny’s husband stood his ground one moonlit night, took a bullet for the still in that deadly fight. She buried him quiet on this mountain slope, and keeps on brewin’ stronger — dare a soul to hope. [Chorus – Male storyteller] You can still hear Granny say, Goin’ down to my still — my knees killin’ me, room-a-tees got me stiff as a hickory tree. But comin’ back up with that jug in my hand, I feel finer than a young critter in the promised land. This room-a-tees medicine hits just right, cures what ails me from mornin’ till night. [Verse 5 – male storyteller] If a stranger comes wanderin’ up her trail, Granny greets them with shotgun and a quiet glare. She don’t take kindly to trespassin’ feet, near her still where the laurel grows thick and sweet. Whole row of graves by her husband’s stone, the next one’s waitin’ for whoever comes alone. [Chorus – Male storyteller] You can still hear Granny say, Goin’ down to my still — my knees killin’ me, room-a-tees got me stiff as a hickory tree. But comin’ back up with that jug in my hand, I feel finer than a young critter in the promised land. This room-a-tees medicine hits just right, cures what ails me from mornin’ till night. [Final Chorus – Male storyteller] You can still hear Granny say, Goin’ down to my still — my knees killin’ me, room-a-tees got me stiff as a hickory tree. But comin’ back up with that jug in my hand, I feel finer than a young critter in the promised land. This room-a-tees medicine hits just right, cures what ails me from mornin’ till night.