ROVING GAMBLER

ROVING GAMBLER

(Cisco Houston)

I am a roving gambler, I gamble all around
Whenever I meet with a deck of cards I lay my money down.

I've gambled down in Washington, I've gambled over in Spain
I'm on my way to Georgia to gamble my last game.

I had not been in Washington not many more weeks than three
When I fell in love with a pretty little gal, she fell in love with me.

She took me to her parlor, she cooled me with her fan
She whispered low in her mother's ear, "I love that gambling man."

"Oh daughter, Oh dear daughter, how can you treat me so?
To leave your dear old mother, and with a gambler go?"

"Oh mother, Oh dear mother, you know I love you well
But the love I have for this gambling man, no human tongue can tell."

"I hear that train a-coming, it's a-coming 'round the curve
A-whistling and a-blowing and a-straining every nerve"

"Oh mother, Oh dear mother, I'll tell you if I can
If you ever see me back again, it'll be with that gambling man."

The Ballad of Jesse James

The Ballad of Jesse James

Jesse James was a lad that killed many a man

He robbed the Danville train

He stole from the rich and he gave to the poor

He'd a hand, a heart, and a brain

(Chorus)

(Poor ) Jesse had a wife, to mourn for his life

And three children, they were so brave

But that dirty little coward that shot Mr. Howard

Has laid poor Jesse in his grave

Jesse was a man, a friend to the poor

He couldn't see a brother suffer pain

And with his brother Frank

he robbed the Springfield bank

And he stopped the Glendale train

(Chorus)

It was Robert Ford, the dirty little coward

And I wonder how he feels

For he slept in Jesse's bed and he ate o' Jesse's bread

But he laid Jesse James in his grave

(Chorus)

It was with his brother Frank that he robbed the Gallatin Bank

An' carried the money from the town

It was at that very place that they had a little chase

For they shot ol' Captain Sheets to the ground

(Chorus)

They went to a crossing, not very far from there

And there they did the same

For the agent on his knees delivered up the keys

To the outlaws, Frank an' Jesse James

(Chorus)

It was on a Wednesday night, not a star was in sight

When they robbed the Glendale train

Those people, they did say for many miles away

It was robbed by Frank an' Jesse James

(Chorus)

It was on a Saturday night,

When Jesse was at home

Just talking with his family brave

Robert Ford came along like a thief in the night

And laid poor Jesse in his grave

(Chorus)

Now, the people held their breath

When they heard of Jesse's death

They wondered how he ever came to die

It was one of his own gang called little Robert Ford

An' he shot Jesse James on the sly

(Chorus)

Jesse went to his rest with his hand upon his breast

And there are many who never saw his face

He was born one day in the County of Clay

And he came from a solitary race

(Chorus)

This song was made by Billy Gashade

As soon as the news did arrive

He said there's no one man with the law in his hand

Could ever take ol' Jesse James alive

Into the Holler (by D Shea and Katy Hooper)

This is a song I wrote with my friend Katy Hooper who sings with me on this recording. We were pleased to have the able accompaniment of Diego Torres on the flute. I hope you like it. 

Questions, a key language learning technique (for all my students)

For the last few academic years, I have been considering different strategies to stimulate conversation in my classes. One fairly simple method of getting people talking is to propose topics of interest. For each topic, the students are presented with a series of questions to share with a partner or in small groups. 

This idea is not original, it actually dates backs to the Greeks, but more recently, I have been taken by the work of Larry Pitts who teaches English language and culture in Korea. His book has been a valuable resource for me. I do not use all his listed questions, but rather choose a few that I hope the students will appreciate. In future postings here, you will find some of my lists.

Advice

What three pieces of advice will you give your children?

Whose advice do you follow more, your parents’ or your friends’ advice?

If you could give the leader of your country some advice, what would it be?

If you could go back in time and give yourself some advice, what would you
tell your younger self?

Who was the wisest person in your country’s history? 

What kind of advice did that person give?

Where do you go to get good advice?

Now it’s your turn to give some advice:

1) 

2) 

3)

What are some things students should do to improve their English?

What should I do to make more money?

How can I get more free time?

What should people do when first meeting their boyfriend/girlfriend’s parents?

What should someone do to be happy?

( Adapted from the following source materials: http://iteslj.org/questions/)

CLIL students

Welcome to all my CLIL students who want to improve their communication skills, achieve better speaking skills. 
Here are our first questions: 

1) How useful is English to you?

2) How often do you use it?

3) What are your strengths in English?

4) What English speaking countries have your visited?

5) Do you have any strategies for improving your spoken English?

Huddie Ledbetter, great American singer, songwriter and the king of the 12-street guitar

Huddie Ledbetter, as known as Leadbelly, is one of my favorite singers. I am going to include two of his songs in the next few classes. I hope you like them and find them interesting and fun to sing!

biographical data for Huddie Ledbetter

On a Monday (by Huddie Ledbetter, aka Leadbelly)

For Leadbelly Song, Click here  

On a Monday (by Huddie Ledbetter, aka Leadbelly)

On a Monday
I was arrested
And on a Tuesday,

I got locked up in jail
And on a Wednesday
My trial was attested
And on a Thursday
Nobody would go my bail

Yes I'm gone
Aaaalmost most gone (3x)
And I ain't going to be seein' them pretty women no more

Take these stripes
These stripes from off my shoulder
Take these chains
These chains from off-a my leg
Well these stripes,
You know that they don't bother me
But these chains
These chains are killin' me dead

Yes I'm gone…

Now on a Friday
My baby went out walking
And on a Saturday
You know she locked up the door
And on a Sunday
She must have done some talkin'
Cause on a Monday
She had sold all o my clothes.

Yes I'm gone …