Coleman Bonner was a fiddle-playing fool
A backwoods rounder and a breaker of mules
Coleman Bonner's got a wore out bow
Been playing two days at the new cut road

Coleman's little sister said, "You better act right, Coleman
'Cause Daddy's gone to Louisville and he'll be back tonight
He's gonna get another wagon and a good pair of mules
We're gonna all move to Texas, we just waiting on you"

Now Coleman's daddy, he pulled up in the yard
Said "Pack up your lives, kids, it's gettin' too hard
Kentucky's alright but there's too many people
Just the other day, I thought I saw a church steeple"

Coleman said, "Daddy don't you worry 'bout me
Gonna stay here in Kentucky 'til the day I d
Gonna drink that sour mash, gonna race that mare
Gonna find that woman with fox-red hair"

Now y'all been movin' west since the day you got married
Well I'm gettin' off the wagon, Daddy, I'm too old to be carried
Gonna stay here in Kentucky where the bluegrass grows
Gonna play it all night down the new cut road

Now Coleman's daddy said, "What's it all coming to?
Young people these days, they’re just as stubborn as mules
You can't make him go, he's too old for that
It's that damned old fiddle and that bowler hat
Now Coleman's mama said, "Aw, let the boy stay
He's raised up solid, he can find his own way
But as for me, honey, I'm with you
I always thought Kentucky was just passing through

Now Coleman's little sister started in to crying
And his daddy shook his head for the very last time
Coleman's mama said, "Somebody's gotta do it
Wouldn't be no Kentucky unless you didn't stick to it, Coleman"

Coleman Bonner stood on the porch of that cabin
And watched 'em all go to Texas in a covered wagon
And he pulled out his fiddle and resined up his bow
And played a little tune called the "New Cut Road"