lp discography - covers & lyrics

1.

500 MILES AWAY FROM HOME

(Bobby Bare - Charlie Williams) « © '63 Central Songs, BMI »
I'm five hundred miles away from home

Teardrops fell on mama's note when I read the things she wrote
She said we miss you son we love you come on home
Well I didn't have to pack I had it all right on my back
Now I'm five hundred miles away from home

Away from home away from home cold and tired and all alone
Yes I'm five hundred miles away from home

I know this is the same road I took the day I left home
But it sure looks different now
Well I guess I look different too cause time changes everything
I wonder what they'll say when they see their boy looking this way
Oh I wonder what they'll say when I get home

Can't remember when I ate it's just thumb and walk and wait
And I'm still five hundred miles away from home
If my luck had been just right I'd be with them all tonight
But I'm still five hundred miles away from home

Away from home away from home...
**********

2.

HOMESTEAD ON THE FARM

(A.P. Carter) « © '61 Peer International, BMI »
I wonder how the old folks are at home
I wonder if they miss me while I've gone
I wonder if they pray for their boy who went away
And left his mom and papa all alone

You could see the catlle lowin' in the lane
You could see the fields of blue grass where I've grown
You could almost hear them cry as they kissed their boy goodbye
I wonder how the old folks are at home

Just the village and the homestead on the farm
And the mother's love there to keep you from all harm
There's the mother's love so true and the sweetheart who loves you too
I wonder how the old folks are at home

You could hear the catlle lowin' in the lane...
I wonder how the old folks are at home
**********

3.

LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT MARY

(Bobby Bare) « © '63 Central Songs, BMI »
Won't you let me tell you bout Mary
I promise it won't take me very long
Cause all I have to say about Mary
Is I'm afraid my Mary's gone wrong

The day I went away and left Mary
She promised she would wait eternally for me
But I came back today heard my Mary
Say yes she don't want any part of me

So now won't you let me tell you bout Mary...
[ strings ] I came back and went by to see Mary
But she couldn't even look me in the eye
Then when I asked her what happened
I stood there and watched my Mary cry

So won't you let me tell you bout Mary...
Oh I'm afraid my Mary's goin' wrong
**********

4.

ABILENE

(John D. Loudermilk) « © '63 Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
Abilene Abilene prettiest town I've ever seen
Women there don't treat you mean in Abilene my Abilene

Crowded cities ain't nothing free nothing in this town for me
How I wish that I could be In Abilene my Abilene

Abilene Abilene...
[ guitar ] I sit alone most every night watch those trains pull out of sight
How I wish they were carryin' me back to Abilene sweet Abilene

Abilene Abilene...
Women there don't treat you mean in Abilene my Abilene
**********

5.

GOTTA TRAVEL ON

(Paul Clayton) « © '60 Sanga Music, BMI »
I've laid around and played around this old town too long
Summer's almost gone winter's comin' on
I've laid around and played around this old town too long
And I feel like I've gotta travel on

High sheriff and police are ridin' after me
Ridin' after me oh they're ridin' after me
High sheriff and police are ridin' after me
And I feel like I've gotta travel on

Papa writes to Johnny Johnny can't come home
No Johnny can't come home ahah Johnny can't come home
Papa writes to Johnny but Johnny can't come home
Cause he's been on that chain gang too long

Gotta see my baby gotta see her bad
Gotta see her bad oh I gotta see her bad
Gotta see my baby gotta see her bad
She's the best friend this poor boy ever had

I've laid around and played around...
Oh I feel like I've gotta travel on
Oh I feel like I've gotta travel on
**********

6.

LYNCHIN' PARTY

(Harlan Howard) « © '60 Fort Knox Music, BMI / Trio Music, BMI »
The Lynch mob gathered in the square across from the jail
Young Billy watched them from his cell and felt his courage fail
Bill swore he wasn't guilty but the evidence was plain
Tomorrow he would go on trial for killing Mary Jane

They shouted beat the prisoner hardy
We're gonna have a Lynchin' party
Gonna hang him high watch him die for killing Mary Jane

The mob is closer to the jail excitement all around
The deputies kept moving back afraid to hold their ground
Then the young girl cried you cowards but the Lynch mob searched ahead
Dragged young Billy from that jail and soon the kid was dead

They shouted beat the prisoner hardy...

The weeks went by and no one spoke about it anymore
Or seemed to see the wreath Bill's mother hung upon the door
Then one night they dragged a ragged hobo from a train
And he confessed he was the one who killed young Mary Jane

They shouted beat the prisoner hardy...
Gonna hang him high watch him die for killing Mary Jane
**********

7.

WORRIED MAN BLUES

(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

I went across the river laid me down to sleep
I went across the river laid me down to sleep
I went across the river laid me down to sleep
When I woke up I had shackles on my feet

Don't you know it takes a worried man...

I asked that judge what's gonna be my fine
I asked that judge what's gonna be my fine
I asked that judge what's gonna be my fine
Twenty one years on the Rocky Mountain Line

Oh it takes a worried man...

Well the train I ride it's twenty one coaches long
The train I ride is twenty one coaches long
The train I ride is twenty one coaches long
The woman I love she's on that train and gone

Oh it takes a worried man...
I'm worried now but I won't be worried long
**********

8.

I WONDER WHERE YOU ARE TONIGHT

(Johnny Bond) « © '41 Red River Songs, BMI »
Tonight I'm sad my heart is weary
I'm wondering if I'm wrong or right
To dream about you though you left me
I wonder where you are tonight

That old rain is cold and slowly falling
Upon my window pane tonight
And though your heart was even colder
I wonder where you are tonight
[ rh.guitar ] Then came the dawn the day you left me
I tried to smile with all my might
But you could see the pain within me
That lingers in my heart tonight

That old rain is cold and slowly falling...
**********

9.

NOAH'S ARK

(Dorsey Burnette - Barry DeVorzon) « © '63 Ring A Ding Music, BMI »
The Lord looked down and all he saw was sin
So he said I'm gonna start this world all over again

Well the skies turned black and the rain came down
And it rained rained rained
The thunder roared with the terrible sound
And it rained rained rained
So he said to Noah build that ark build it strong and true
Then take two of everything upon this ark with you

So Noah and his sons built the mighty ark
And it rained rained rained
They worked by day and they worked by dark
And it rained rained rained
The people laughed at Noah's ark not knowing of their fate
And when they finally realized by then it was too late

On came the animals two by two
And it rained rained rained
People cried Noah let us come with you
And it rained rained rained
But Noah said people you've lived in sin paid the Lord no mind
Now there is no room for you upon this ark of mine

Oh well the earth became one mighty sea
And it rained rained rained
What was said had come to be
And it rained rained rained
Gone was mountain gone was land neath the waters deep
Only Noah's ark was saved upon this mighty sea

Now that you've heard this story my friend
Don't think for minute this can't happen again
**********

10.

SAILOR MAN

(Harlan Howard) « © '61 Tree Publishing, BMI »
In a pub Britanny I had me a drink or three
I can vaguely recall a pretty girl was standin' there
Ran her hand through my hair took me off for some air
I hope we had a good time for I woke without even a dime

I'm a sailor that's all that I am I've been in many a land
Had a million girls but never have the urge to stay
I was born to be on the rollin' sea
That's where I'll be a livin' and I'll be a dyin' someday

Well I copped me a ship once more that was bound for Singapore
I got in a card game that lasted for thirty some days
I made my shipmates sad I took all they had
I taught those rosy cheek lads they don't be underratin' ol' Dad

I'm a sailor that's all that I am...

Three more days and we'll be in port we'll have twenty-four hours of sport
We'll spend our hard earned money as fast as we can
Lift the glasses high and tell the pretty girls lies
And then we'll run for the harbor that's the life of a sailor man

I'm a sailor that's all that I am...
**********

11.

WHAT KIND OF BIRD IS THAT

(Hank Cochran) « © '63 Tree Publishing, BMI »
What kind of bird is that the one with the bright red breast
I know it can't just can't be the robin cause my love is not back yet

The one I love and wanted to marry had to leave before she became my bride
But she said she'd return before the robin would return
And with together we'd spend our lives
And she said she'd return along before the robin return
And together we'd watch the leaves turn green
She showed me then just how much she love me
And she and I and the robin can spend the spring

So what kind of bird is that...

So who could be playin' tricks on me
By the time I'm plantin' lilacs and countin' leaves
That can't be a spring yeah surely that can't be
Cause the one I love she's not with me

Oh what kind of bird is that...
**********

12.

JEANNIE'S LAST KISS

(Bobby Bare - Charlie Williams) « © '63 Central Songs, BMI »
(Come give Jeannie one last kiss)

The moon hid its light and the midnight was still
And they had their last quarrel on top of the hill
And she said to him please as they stood in the mist
If we must part this way come give Jeannie one last kiss

But in anger he turned with no kiss and no care
There she stood on the cliff with the wind in her hair
The next mornin' they learned that his Jeannie was dead
Girl climbin' and slipped all the newspapers said

Then night after night when the moon hides its light
The wind's in the mist
Seem to cry out his name and call him again
Come give Jeannie one last kiss

Years have gone by and they talk of him still
And the voice that was callin' from the top of the hill
And they tell of the night that he ran from his door
How he ran toward the cliff then was heard from no more

Now night after night when the moon hides its light
And the wind's in the mist
All the old people swear that he's out there somewhere
To give Jeannie one last kiss
Come give Jeannie one last kiss
**********