Esteemed country songwriter Liz Anderson cut her first album in 1966 after her song "(All My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers" became a substantial hit for both Merle Haggard and Roy Drusky in 1965. Anderson seemed older than she was since her talented daughter, Lynn Anderson, began recording for Chart Records the same year, but Liz was only 36 when her debut album was made. She had a cute voice that was surprisingly more girlish than her daughter's, and a gift for spinning clever phrases into memorable songs, as heard on her rendition of the title track and lesser-known compositions like "The Words I'm Gonna Have to Eat." Anderson wrote every song — a rare accomplishment in country music — on the album, which is a splendid sendoff for a commercially and artistically successful career.
LIZ ANDERSON
STRANGERS
RCA Camden CAS-956June/1966
Produced Felton Jarvis
Jerry Reed, Jerry Kennedy - guitar/dobroWayne Moss, Velma Smith - guitar
Lloyd Green - steel
Henry Strzelecki - bass
Willie Ackerman - drums
Floyd Cramer - piano
Vocals:
Anita Kerr, Winifred Breast, Dottie Dillard, Louis Nunley, Bill Wright
Recorded:
1965, RCA Victor Studio, Nashville
1.
(ALL MY FRIENDS ARE GONNA BE) STRANGERS
(Liz Anderson) « © '64 Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »All the love you promised would be mine forever
I would have bet my bottom dollar on
Well it sure turned out to be a short forever
Just once I turned my back and you were gone
From now on all my friends are gonna be strangers
I'm all through ever trusting anyone
The only thing I can count on now is my fingers
I was a fool believing you and now you are gone
[ dobro ] It amazes me not knowing any better
Than to think I had a love that could be true
Why I should be taken out and torn and feathered
To have let myself be taken in by you
From now on all my friends...
**********
2.
PICK OF THE WEEK
(Liz Anderson) « © '64 Acuff-Rose Music, BMI / Shelby Singleton Music, BMI »You only say hello so you can say goodbye
While you're finding victims for your kisses sweet
You pick out the hearts that break to make your ego high
And I was just your pick of the week
For you could see that I would be the perfect fool
Too wrapped around your finger nice and neat
But there would be no end to what I take from you
So I was just your pick of the week
[ piano ] A heart that you can break is all you're looking for
Just the kind that you can trample at your feet
Even out to break in mine I know there'll still be more
I was just your pick of the week
For you could see that I would be...
Yes I was just your pick of the week
**********
3.
JUST BETWEEN THE TWO OF US
(Liz Anderson) « © '64 Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »(Just between the two of us we know our love is gone)
People think it's wonderful our love can be so true
You never say an angry word no matter what I do
And I have so much faith in you I trust you anywhere
The reason if they only knew is that we just don't care
Just between the two of us let's give up this fantasy
For we no longer care enough to even disagree
Everybody envies us and the way we get along
But just between the two of us we know our love is gone
[ steel ] Wish we could go back again to the days that used to be
We fought a lot but even then I knew you cared for me
Now we get along so well no teardrops ever fall
But there's no love no anything there's nothing left at all
Just between the two of us...
**********
4.
I CRIED ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK
(Liz Anderson) « © '65 Tree Publishing, BMI »Our divorce has been granted there's no more you and me
You don't care any longer what I think
You gave me so much money if I'd let you go free
And I cried all the way to the bank
For it was you that I wanted not your gold
It won't warm me when the nights are dark and cold
I've got money to burn and for that there's you to thank
But I cried all the way to the bank
[ steel ] Now with all of this money you have paid me to go
Tell me where can I buy some happiness
For my heart is so heavy that I'd sure like to know
How can something as empty weight so much
For it was you that I wanted...
Oh yes I cried all the way to the bank
**********
5.
WORST IS YET TO COME
(Liz Anderson) « © '65 Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »(And I know the worst is yet to come)
Such a little time has passed since you went away
Where are all these heartaches coming from
I can hardly stand the pain of missing you today
And I know the worst is yet to come
If there's something I could find to drive these tears from me
Then I'd go right out and get me one
I've already cried enough to fill the deep blue sea
And I know the worst is yet to come
[ steel ] There'll be all those sleepless nights when I'll just lay and cry
And the hours will seem to have no end
There'll be days when it won't matter if I live or die
Wishing I could have you back again
If there's something I could find...
And I know the worst is yet to come
**********
6.
GO NOW PAY LATER
(Liz Anderson) « © '65 Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »You're breaking up this home that has been ours
To you it's just a prison without bars
You don't know what the cost in tears will be
Your freedom won't be quite exactly free
Go now pay later
When time decides how many tears you'll cry
Go now pay later
The cost of leavin' may be much too high
[ steel ] You leave our little children half grown
They'll grow up having only half a home
They love you now but when thery're not so small
You'll be someone who gets presents and that's all
Go now pay later...
**********
7.
WHY WHERE AND WHEN
(Liz Anderson - Charlene Sapaugh) « © '65 Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »(Why where and when did I lose you)
I done over it and over in my mind
I can't think of one good reason why we're through
And I know I'll never rest until I find
Why where and when did I lose you
(Why) did you have to go away
(Where) did I go wrong loving you
(When) did you decide you didn't want me anymore
Why where and when did I lose you
[ ac.guitar - steel ] It makes not one bit of sense that you are gone
Was there something that I did or didn't do
Could it be how much I loved you wasn't shown
Why where and when did I lose you
(Why) did you have to go away...
Why where and when did I lose you
**********
8.
WORDS I'M GONNA HAVE TO EAT
(Liz Anderson) « © '65 Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »I don't love you anymore I'm glad that we are through
Just whatever was it that I thought I saw in you
Take those words and coke and chocolatte and make the sugar sweet
Those are the words that I'm gonna have to eat
I was wrong when I told you I didn't need your love
I can't live without you so what was I thinking of
Pride you had me talkin' big when I said foolishly
I no longer love you you don't mean a thing to me
Take those words and coke and chocolatte...
[ ac.guitar ] I can't stand it since you're gone this mis'ry has to end
I'll do anything you see to get you back again
Even gladly eat those words to make you satisfied
One by one I'll swallow them together with my pride
I don't love you anymore...
Take those words and coke and chocolatte...
**********
9.
BOTTLE TURNED INTO A BLONDE
(Liz Anderson) « © '65 Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »Always knew that of we two I was the stronger
You've had to have your bottle courage to go on
You're not holding just the bottle any longer
Now the bottle turned into a blonde
I stood by while you were holding just the bottle
For then you still needed me to lean on
But I knew it was goodbye nothing left for you and I
When the bottle turned into a blonde
[ dobro ] I kept hoping that with patience maybe someday
I could make you see the life you lead is wrong
But I gave up all my hoping on that one day
When the bottle turned into a blonde
I stood by while you were holding...
When the bottle turned into a blonde
**********
10.
BE GONE
(Liz Anderson) « © '65 Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »I gave you up she's got you now and you're not mine no more
Yet everytime I turn around you're knocking on my door
Somehow I can't get through to you to her you now belong
So be fair to her be faithful and be gone
It's funny just how easily the tables turn around
It seems so strange for me to be the other woman now
Don't hang around the way you do to her you now belong
So be fair to her be faithful and be gone
[ piano ] You're sorry now you want me back just like I knew you would
But when I gave you up that day I gave you up for good
When you chose her instead of me the choise was all your own
So be fair to her be faithful and be gone
It's funny just how easily...
**********
