Coleman Bonner was a fiddle playin' fool
He's a backwoods rounder and a breaker of mules
Coleman Bonner's got a wore out bow
He's been playin' two days down the new cut road

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

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

Now Coleman said, "Daddy don't you worry 'bout me
I'm gonna stay here in Kentucky 'til the day I D
I'm gon' drink that sourmash and I'm gon' race that mare
Ooh, I've got me a woman with the fox red hair"

"Now you 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
I'm gonna stay here in Kentucky where that bluegrass grow
And I'm gon' play it all night down the new cut road"

Now Coleman's daddy said, "What's it all comin' to?
Young people these days are just as stubborn as mules
Well 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, "Let the boy stay
'Cause he was raised up solid and he can find his own way
But as for me, honey, I'm with you
Oh I always thought Kentucky was just passin' through"

Now Coleman's little sister then she started into a cryin'
And his daddy shook his head for the very last time
Coleman's mama said, "Somebody's gotta do it
Oh there wouldn't be no Kentucky unless you didn't stick to it Coleman"

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