lp discography - covers & lyrics

1.

PO' FOLKS

(Bill Anderson)
« © '61 Tree Publishing, BMI »
There's a whole lotta people lookin' down their noses at me
Cause I didn't come from a wealthy family
There was ten of us livin' in a two room shack
On the banks of the river by the railroad track
We kept chickens in a pen in the back
And everybody said we was po' folks

My daddy was a farmer but all he ever raised was us
Dug a forty foot well struck thirty-six gallons of dust
Salvation Army give us clothes to wear
A man from the county came to cut our hair
We lived next door to a millionare
But we wadn't nothin' but po' folks

We was po' folks livin' in a rich folks world
We sure was a hungry bunch
If the wolf had ever come to our front door
He'd've had to brought a picnic lunch

My grandaddy's pension was a dollar and thirty-three cents
That was ten dollar less than the landlord wanted for rent
The landlord's letters got nasty indeed
He wrote get out but pa couldn't read
And we was too broke to even pay heed
But that's how it is when you're po' folks
[ harmonica ] We was po' folks livin' in a rich folks world
We sure was a hungry bunch
If the wolf had ever come to our front door
He'd've had to brought a picnic lunch

But we had something in our house money can't buy
Kept us warm in the winter cool when the sun was high
For whenever we didn't have food enough
And the howlin' winds would get pretty rough
We patched the cracks and set the table with love
Cause that's what you do when you're po' folks
And we wadn't nothin' but po' folks
My mom and my dad was po' folks
My brother and my sister was po' folks
My dog and my cat was po' folks
And even the po' folks was po' folks
**********

2.

CITY LIGHTS

(Bill Anderson)
« © '58 TNT Music, BMI »
The bright array of city lights as far as I can see
The great white way shines through the night for lonely guys like me
The cabaretes and honky tonks their flashing signs invite
A broken heart to lose itself in the glow of city lights

(Lights that say forget her name) in a glass of cherry wine
(Lights that offer other girls) for empty hearts like mine
They paint a pretty picture of a world that's gay and bright
But it's just a mask for loneliness behind those city lights

The world was dark and God made stars to brighten up the night
Did the God who put those stars above make those city lights
Did he make a place for men to cry when things don't turn out right
Are we just supposed to run and hide behind those city lights

(Lights that say forget her love) in a different athmosphere
(Lights that lure are nothing) but a masquarade for tears
They paint a pretty picture but my arms can't hold them tight
And I just can't say I love you to a street of city lights
**********

3.

AS LONG AS I LIVE

(Roy Acuff)
« © '54 Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
As long as I live if it be one hour
Or if it be one hundred years
I'll keep remembering forever and ever
I'll love you dear as long as I live

It was easy said the night we parted
That we'd forget we'd ever met
I haven't forgotten I wonder if you have
Or if your heart is full of regret

As long as I live...
[ steel ] I never thought the night we parted
That life without you could be so bad
I know it sounds funny but I can't forget
You the only happiness I've ever had

As long as I live...
**********

4.

BLUE EYES CRYING IN THE RAIN

(Fred Rose)
« © '51 Milene Music, ASCAP »
In the twilight glow I see her blue eyes crying in the rain
As we kissed goodbye and parted I knew we'd never meet again

Love is like a dying ember only memories remain
Through the ages I'll remember blue eyes crying in the rain
[ piano ] Now my hair has turned to silver all my life I've loved in vain
I can see her star in heaven blue eyes crying in the rain

Some day when we meet up yonder we'll stroll hand in hand again
In a land that knows no parting and no blue eyes crying in the rain
**********

5.

IT TAKES A WORRIED MAN

(A.P. Carter)
« © '59 Peer International, BMI »
It takes a worried man to sing a worried song
It takes a worried man to sing a worried song
It takes a worried man to sing a worried song
I'm worried now but I won't be worried long

This train I ride is twenty-one coaches long
Yeah this train I ride is twenty-one coaches long
This train I ride is twenty-one coaches long
The one I love she's on that train and gone

It takes a worried man...

I went across the river to lay me down to sleep
I went across the river to lay me down to sleep
I went across the river gonna me down to sleep
I woke up and I had shackles on my feet

It takes a worried man...
[ guitar ] I asked the judge what's gonna be my fine
I asked the judge what's gonna be my fine
I said old judge what's gonna be my fine
Twenty-one days on the Rocky Island Line
It takes a worried man...
**********

6.

MAMA SANG A SONG

(Bill Anderson)
« © '61 Tree Publishing, BMI »
(God put a song in the heart of an angel and softly she sang it to me)

I get to thinking lots of times about back when I was a lad
Of the old homeplace where I grew up of the days both good and bad
My overalls were hand-me-downs my shoes were full of holes
I used to walk four miles to school every day
Through the rain the sleet and the cold
I've seen the nights when my daddy would cry
For the things that his family would need
But all he ever got was a badland farm and seven hungry mouths to feed
And yet and yet our homefire never flickered once
Cause when all these things went wrong
Mama took the hymn book down and mama sang a song

(What a friend we have in Jesus)

I've been rocked to sleep many a night to the tune of What a Friend
And come morning Rock of Ages would wake me gently once again
And when daddy would reach up and he'd take the Bible down
And he'd read it read it loud and long
And I always felt that maybe our house was blessed
When daddy would say mama sing a song
Sister left home first I guess and then Bob and then Tommy and then Dan
By then dad's hair was turning white and I had to be mama's little man
But it seemed that as daddy's back grew weak my mother's faith just grew strong
And those were the greatest days of all when mama sang a song

(Rock of ages cleft for me let me hide myself in Thee)

I guess the house is still standing I don't get to go back much anymore
No voice is left to fill those halls and no steps to grace the floor
For you see my mother sings in heaven now around God's golden throne
But I'll always believe that this world is a better place
Because one time my mama sang a song

(Precious mem'ries flod my soul)
**********

7.

WALK OUT BACKWARDS

(Bill Anderson)
« © '60 Tree Publishing, BMI »
I'd rather live a life of lies and fantasy
Than face the truth and realize you're leaving me
You built me up so high my heart can't stand the fall
And life without you love just isn't life at all

So walk out backwards if you must go
And please don't wave goodbye just wave one last hello
The truth won't hurt so much if I can't just pretend
So walk out backwards and I'll think you're walking in
[ steel ] You walked into my heart in search of sympathy
From that day down to this you've walked all over me
And now you're walking out to love somebody new
But you're not by yourself cause my heart's leaving too

So walk out backwards...
**********

8.

WEDDING BELLS

(Claude Boone)
« © '49 Morley Music, ASCAP »
I have the invitation that you sent me
You wanted me to see yoy change your name
I couldn't stand to see you wed another
I hope that you'll be happy just the same

Wedding bells are ringing in the chapel
That should be ringing now for you and me
And down the aisle with someone else you're walking
Those wedding bells will never ring for me
[ steel ] I planned a little cottage in the valley
I even bought a little band of gold
I hope someday to place it on your finger
But now the future looks so dark and cold

I fancy that I see a bunch of roses
A blossom from an orange tree in your hair
And as the organ plays I'll love you truly
Just let me pretend that I am there

Wedding bells they say will ring in heaven
As the angel chorus sweetly sings
But as long as I am on this earth dear
Those wedding bells for me will never ring
**********

9.

COLUMBUS STOCKADE BLUES

(Jimmie Davis - Eva Sargent)
« © '59 Peer International, BMI »
Way down in Columbus Georgia
Wanna be back in Tennessee
Way down in Columbus Stockade
Friends have turned their backs on me

Oh go on and leave me if you wish to
Never let me cross your mind
In your heart you love another
Leave me little darlin' I don't mind
[ guitar ] Last night as I lay sleeping
I dreamed I held you in my arms
When I woke I was mistaken
I was peeping through the bars

Oh go on and leave me if you wish to...
Leave me little darlin' I don't mind
Leave me little darlin' I don't mind
**********

10.

NINETY-NINE

(Bill Anderson)
« © '62 Tree Publishing, BMI »
My mama always told me better than to play with a loaded gun
If I'd've just listened to her she'd've never had a prisoner for a son
The picture's still in front of my eyes the echo in my ears
When the jury said he's guilty and the judge said ninety-nine years

Oh for ninety-nine years I'll watch the sunrise over that some old sea
Ninety-nine years nothing but an empty cell for company
Yet there's not very much that stands between me and the freedom I hold dear
Just a thousand bars a big brick wall and a sentence of ninety-nine years

I kissed my darling on her tender lips and they took me by the hand
I had a nice little ride on a ferry boat to the rock where the prison stands
The warden said as he locked the door I hope you'll like it here
Just make yourself a home you're gonna be with us ninety-nine years

I've almost forgotten what my real name is been a number for so long
Making little bitty rocks out of great big rocks gets old as the days wear on
But I'll do my best for ninety-nine years just try to stay alive
Cause the Governor said if I'd be good I'd get out in ninety-five

Oh for ninety-nine years...
**********

11.

TIP OF MY FINGERS

(Bill Anderson)
« © '60 Tree Publishing, BMI »
I reached out my arms and I touched you
With soft words I whispered your name
I held you right on the tip of my fingers
But that was as close as I came

My eyes had a vision of sweet lips
Yeelding beneath my command
I had your love on the tips of my fingers
But I let it slip right through my hands
But I let it slip right through my hands

Somebody took you when I wasn't looking
And I should have known from the start
It's a long long way from the tip of my fingers
To the love hidden deep in your heart
To the love hidden deep in your heart

I had your love on the tips of my fingers
But I let it slip right through my hands
But I let it slip right through my hands
**********

12.

YONDER COMES A SUCKER

(Jim Reeves)
« © '55 Tree Publishing, BMI »
Railroad steamboat river and cannal
Yonder comes a sucker and he's got my girl
And she's gone gone gone and she's gone gone gone
And I'll bid her my last farewell

I fell in love with a pretty little thing
I thought that wedding bells would ring
She was as sweet as she could be
Till I found out what she did to me

Railroad steamboat river and cannal...
[ guitar ] Now I won't cry my life away
Some other sucker will have to pay
And when he finds that she is gone
I bet I'll hear him sing this song

Railroad steamboat river and cannal...
**********