1) Bluegras… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least 3 groups called The Country Gentleman
1) Bluegrass, Progressive Bluegrass, Country Gospel, Washington, DC, United States. 1957-
2) Pop Group, 1963-1967, Manchester, United Kingdom
3) Garage Rock, 1967, CA, USA
1.
Charlie Waller (January 19, 1935 – August 18, 2004) was the lead singer and guitarist for the legendary bluegrass band the Country Gentlemen. Waller was involved with the Country Gentlemen for 47 years. As a member of the Country Gentlemen, Waller was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor in 1996.
The Country Gentlemen achieved fame across the United States and internationally. While more than 100 musicians have been Country Gentlemen, Waller was an original member of the group and has many famous songs to his credit. The band was scheduled to release a new album, Songs of the American Spirit, in September 2004.
Culled from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Waller
2.
Peter Cowap (guitar), Leo Laherty (drums), Nick Duvall (bass, 1963-66), Alan Doyle (rhythm guitar, 1963-64), Terry Morton (rhythm guitar, 1964-66), Rod Clare (bass, 1966-67), Geoff Foot (rhythm guitar, 1966-67), Frank Dwyer (keyboards, 1966-67)
3.
Made one 7', Saturday Night / For You - 1967.
Poor Ellen Smith
The Country Gentlemen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shot through the heart lying cold on the ground
Her clothes were all scattered and thrown on the ground
The blood marks the spot where poor Ellen was found
2. They pick up their rifles and hunted me down
They found me a-loafing in all around the town
They pick up her body and carried it away
And now she is sleeping in some lonesome old grave
3. I got a letter yesterday I read it today
The flowers on her grave have all faded away
Someday I'll go home and say when I go
On poor Ellen's grave pretty flowers I'll stow
4. I've been in this prison for twenty long years
Each night I see Ellen through my bitter tears
The warden just told me that soon I'll be free
To go to her grave 'neath that old willow tree
5. My days in this prison are ending at last
I'll never be free from the sins of my past
Poor Ellen Smith how was she found
Shot through the heart lying cold on the ground
" Poor Ellen Smith" is a touching folk ballad written by the Country Gentlemen, a bluegrass band that repeatedly dominated the market. The song tells the story of Ellen Smith, a woman who was murdered in cold blood. Her body was found on the ground with her clothes scattered around and blood all over the place. The first verse shows the scene of the murder and raises the question of what happened to Ellen Smith.
In verse two, the singer talks about his involvement in the murder. According to him, the townspeople caught and arrested him for the crime. They found him wandering aimlessly around town with the murder weapon. They take away Ellen Smith's dead body, and she now rests in a lonely grave. In the third verse, the singer reflects on a letter he received about Ellen's grave. The flowers have withered away, and he promises to bring better flowers and honor her memory.
In the fourth verse, the singer talks about his long years in prison, where he weeps bitterly with remorse. He is about to be released, and he can't wait to pay his respects to Ellen at her grave. Finally, the last verse highlights the singer's desperation as he's leaving prison, confessing that he will never be free of the sins of his past. He mourns the loss of Ellen, who was killed brutally and left to die.
Line by Line Meaning
Poor Ellen Smith how was she found
The song starts with the death of Ellen Smith and the mystery surrounding her murder.
Shot through the heart lying cold on the ground
Ellen Smith was found dead on the ground, shot through the heart, with her clothes scattered around her.
Her clothes were all scattered and thrown on the ground
The killer had thrown Ellen's clothes on the ground to make it look like a robbery gone wrong.
The blood marks the spot where poor Ellen was found
The place where Ellen was found was marked with her blood, which reminded everyone of the tragedy.
They pick up their rifles and hunted me down
The artist is the killer, who is being hunted by the authorities.
They found me a-loafing in all around the town
The authorities found the killer roaming around the town, which led to his arrest.
They pick up her body and carried it away
The authorities took Ellen's body away for a proper burial.
And now she is sleeping in some lonesome old grave
Ellen is buried in a grave, and her soul lies there in peace.
I got a letter yesterday I read it today
The artist received a letter from someone, and he read it on the day of the song's narration.
The flowers on her grave have all faded away
The flowers that were put on Ellen's grave have now withered away with time.
Someday I'll go home and say when I go
The singer plans to visit Ellen's grave someday and pay his respects to her.
On poor Ellen's grave pretty flowers I'll stow
The artist promises to put beautiful flowers on Ellen's grave when he visits it.
I've been in this prison for twenty long years
The singer has been in prison for the last twenty years for killing Ellen.
Each night I see Ellen through my bitter tears
The singer regrets killing Ellen and is filled with remorse and guilt about his actions.
The warden just told me that soon I'll be free
The warden informed the singer that he will soon be released from prison.
To go to her grave 'neath that old willow tree
The artist plans to visit Ellen's grave under the old willow tree once he is released from prison.
My days in this prison are ending at last
The artist is finally going to be free after spending twenty long years in prison.
I'll never be free from the sins of my past
Although the singer is getting released, he knows that he will never be free from the guilt of killing Ellen.
Poor Ellen Smith how was she found
The song ends with the same line it started with, emphasizing the mystery surrounding Ellen's death.
Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: PETER DE GRAFF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind