Will Frady - Posted - 04/30/2026:  20:26:12

I have a question concerning the old Home place In , I think it’s the first line of the second verse. It says the girl ran off with somebody else.Ok here’s my question. Are the words the tariffs took all my pay or the taverns took all my pay? My whole life I’ve been singing tariffs, but I may be wrong. Can someone share some light on the subject ? Obliged

corcoran - Posted - 04/30/2026:  21:17:19

Some years ago I saw an article in which one of the Dillards reported that the correct word is "taverns."

Culloden - Posted - 04/30/2026:  22:02:46

Most recordings I have heard say "tariffs", but "taverns" makes more sense. If one of the Dillards said it was supposed to be taverns, I would say that is correct. They wrote the song.

HSmith - Posted - 05/01/2026:  03:30:49

I've been listening to the Dillards play this song for decades, ever since I bought the (vinyl) album in the 1970s. I've always heard the word 'tariffs'. Just listened again, and I still hear 'tariffs'.

Texasbanjo - Posted - 05/01/2026:  04:05:06

I also play and sing that song and although when I listen to recordings of it I hear "tariffs", I still sing "taverns" because, as said above, that makes more sense.

Is that right or wrong? Frankly, I don't care, I just sing what sounds right to me.

lature - Posted - 05/01/2026:  04:45:36

I thought it was: "The sheriff took all my pay"

kayakeradam - Posted - 05/01/2026:  04:53:55

I had always kind of guessed that some people say "sheriff" and some say "tavern" and if in the moment, you can't decide which to use, it comes out as tariff.

But on reflection, this theory makes no sense as A) why would a sheriff be taking your money? and B) if someone bumbled a lyric in the studio, they could go back and re-record that part.

dfstd - Posted - 05/01/2026:  05:56:07

It sounds different on different recordings. Here's one from much later.

RB3 - Posted - 05/01/2026:  06:21:56

The other day, I did a Google search for the lyrics to "Dooley". The composer credits were attributed to Rodney Dillard and Jayne Mitchell.

stanleytone - Posted - 05/01/2026:  06:30:10

Ive heard some say "taxes".
But taverns makes most sense. And it flows better

Ira Gitlin - Posted - 05/01/2026:  07:02:32

You mean it's NOT "The tourists took off my toupee"...?

TScottHilton - Posted - 05/01/2026:  07:51:42

While we're on the subject:

At various times I've heard "now I stand where the old home stood" as well as "now I stand by where the old home stood" AND "now I stand by the old homestead"

Different artists may sing different renditions. It's also not all that uncommon for a singer to either intentionally or unintentionally switch up some words when performing live.

banjered - Posted - 05/01/2026:  08:31:35

Ears and preferences vary? Wow! Learn something new everyday...... banjered

Old Hickory - Posted - 05/01/2026:  10:22:09

The lyrics written by the Dillards are "taverns" and "where the old home stood."

In the popular video of Tony Rice singing Old Home Place with J.D. Crowe and the New South, it sounds like he sings "tariffs," which may well be the source -- since I know a lot of people thought it was a J. D. Crowe song and were not aware the Dillards wrote and recorded the original over ten years earlier.

Jerry Hatrick - Posted - 05/01/2026:  12:12:39

This song is included in the Real Bluegrass Songbook, and I’ve just checked it and can confirm it has “tarriffs” there. From memory though I thought it was “taverns”, but that’s probably more my own personal experience in life.

ChunoTheDog - Posted - 05/01/2026:  15:09:41

And here I was hearing "the terrorists took all my pay"