Goodnight Irene Karaoke - The Brothers Four

"Goodnight, Irene" or "Irene, Goodnight," is a 20th-century American folk standard, written in 3/4 time, first recorded by American blues musician Huddie 'Lead Belly' Ledbetter and J. A. Lomax in 1933.

Goodnight Irene Song Trivia

The lyrics tell of the singer's troubled past with his love, Irene, and express his sadness and frustration. Several verses make explicit references to suicidal fantasies, most famously in the line "sometimes I take a great notion to jump in the river and drown," which was the inspiration for the 1964 Ken Kesey novel Sometimes a Great Notion and a song of the same name from John Mellencamp's 1989 album, Big Daddy, itself strongly informed by traditional American folk music.

The Brothers Four made a cover of "Goodnight Irene" in the album The Brothers Four - Song Book released in 1961 under Columbia Records.

Goodnight Irene Song Lyrics

When I asked your mother for you
She told me you were too young
Now I wish I had never even seen your face
Or heard your lyin' tongue

So Saturday night I got married
Me and my wife settled down
Now me and my wife are parted
I'm gonna take another stroll downtown

Irene goodnight,
Irene goodnight
Goodnight Irene, goodnight Irene
I'll see you in my dreams

MUSIC BREAK

Sometimes I live in the country
Sometimes I live in town
Sometimes I have a great notion
To jump into the river and drown

So stop your ramblin', stop your gamblin'
Stayin' out late at night
Go home to your wife and fam'ly
Sit down by the fireside bright

Irene goodnight,
Irene goodnight
Goodnight Irene, goodnight Irene
I'll see you in my dreams

Goodnight Irene, goodnight Irene
I'll see you in my dreams