Cat. #1288 (MFH #468) - As sung by Ollie Gilbert, Mountain View, Arkansas on November 30, 1971
VERSE 1
My Grandmother, she at the age of eighty three
One day, in May, was taken ill an' died
After she was dead, th will of course, was read
By a lawyer, us we all stood by her side
VERSE 2
To my brother it was found
She had left a hundred pound
To the same unto my Sister, I declare
But when he come to me
Th lawyer said I see
She has left to you her old armchair
VERSE 3
How they pittered, how they laughed
How my Brother an' my Sister too
Whent they heerd th lawyer declare
Granny only left to me
Her old armchair
VERSE 4
I thought it hardly fair
Said I didn't care
An' in th evenin' took th chair away
My Brother at me laughed
An' he said, it will come useful, John
Someday, when you settle down in life
An' find you a girl to be your wife
VERSE 5
You find it very handy, I declare
On a cold and winter night
When th fire is burnin' bright
You can set, in your old armchair
VERSE 6
What th lawyer said, was true
For in a year or two
Strange to say I settled down in married life
At first a girl did court
And then the ring I bought
Took her to the church an' made her my wife
VERSE 7
Now the dear girl an' me
Are as happy as can by
And when my work was over
Each night I stay at home
An' be seated in my ole armchair
VERSE 8
One night the chair fell down
When I picked it up I found
The seat had fallen out, upon th floor
An' there before my eyes
I saw to my surprise
A lot of notes, ten thousand pounds or more
VERSE 9
When my Brother heerd of this
Th poor feller, I confess
Went nearly wild with rage an' tore his hair
But I only laughed at him
Jim, don't you wish you had the old armchair
VERSE 10
No more they pitered, no more they laughed
No more my Brother an' Sister laughed
When they heerd th lawyer declare
Granny only left to me
Her old armchair