lp discography - covers & lyrics

1.

RUBY DON'T TAKE YOUR LOVE TO TOWN

(Mel Tillis) « © '66 Cedarwood Publishing, BMI »
You have painted up your lips and rolled and curled your tinted hair
Ruby are you contemplating going out somewhere
The shadows on the wall tell me the sun is goin' down
Oh Ruby don't take your love to town

It's hard to love a man whose legs are bent and paralized
And the wants and the needs of a woman your age Ruby I realize
But it won't be long I've heard them say until I'm not around
Oh Ruby don't take your love to town

For it wasn't me that started that old crazy Asian war
But I was proud to go and do my patriotic chores
Oh I know Ruby that I'm not the man I used to be
But Ruby I still need your company

And she's leaving now cause I've just heard the slamming of the door
The way I know I've heard it slam one hundred times before
If I could move I get my gun and put her in the ground
Oh Ruby don't take your love to town don't take your love to town
**********

2.

SON OF HICKORY HOLLER'S TRAMP

(Dallas Frazier) « © '67 Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
The corn was dry and the weeds were high when daddy took to drinking
Then him and Lucy Walker they took up and ran away
Mama cried a tear and then she promised fourteen children
I swear you'll never see a hungry day

Oh the path was deep and wide from footsteps leading to our cabin
Above the door there burned the scarlet lamp
And late at night a hand would knock and there would stand a stranger
Yes I'm the son of Hickory Holler's tramp

When mama sacrificed her pride the neighbors started talkin'
But I was much too young to understand the things they said
The things that mattered most of all was mama's chicken dumplings
And the goodnight kiss before we went to bed

Oh the path was deep and wide...

When daddy left then destitution came upon our family
Not one neighbor volunteered to give a helping hand
So let 'em gossip all they want she loved us and she raised us
The proof is standing here a full grown man

Last summer mama passed away and left the ones who loved her
Each and every one of us were more than grateful for our birth
Now every Sunday she receives a fresh bouquet of fourteen roses
With a card that says to the greatest mom on earth

Oh the path was deep and wide...
Yes I'm the son of Hickory Holler's tramp
**********

3.

LAW IS FOR PROTECTION OF THE PEOPLE

(Kris Kristofferson) « © '69 Careers Music, BMI »
Billy Dalton staggered on the sidewalk
Someone said he stumbled and he fell
Six squad cars came screamin' to the rescue
Hauled old Billy Dalton off to jail
Cause the law is for protection of the people
Rules're rules and any fool can see
We don't need no tramps like Billy Dalton
Scaring decent folks like you and me no siree

Charlie Watson wandered like a stranger
Showin' he had no means of support
Policeman took a look at Charlie's pants cuffs
Hustled Charlie Watson off to court
Cause the law is for protection of the people
Rules're rules and any fool can see
We don't need no bums like Charlie Watson
Scaring decent folks like you and me no siree

Homer Lee was nothing but a hippie
Walking through this world without a care
Then one day six strapping brave policemen
Held down Homer Lee and cut his hair
Cause the law is for protection of the people
Rules're rules and any fool can see
We don't need no hairy headed hippie
Scaring decent folks like you and me no siree

So thank your lucky stars you've got protection
Walk the line and never mind the cost
And don't wonder who them lawmen were protecting
When they nailed the Saviour to the cross
Cause the law is for protection of the people
Rules're rules and any fool can see
We don't need no little sneaking prophets
Scaring decent folks like you and me no siree
**********

4.

CINCINNATI JAIL

(Mel Tillis) « © '69 Cedarwood Publishing, BMI »
It's cold as a well in Cincinnati jail
I ain't got nobody I ain't got nobody

Shouldn't have drunk that wine it messed up my country mind
But I didn't know that pretty gal wasn't free not free
And someone called the law and I had a southern drawl
The first one they locked up you're right was me

Now it's cold as a well in Cincinnati jail...

I heard a lot about that great mid western town
So I thought I'd better go and look around look around
Couldn't find me no job and my kind just don't rob
But they don't want no southern bums around

And it's cold as well in Cincinnati jail...

Lord an Appalachian boy ain't never known much joy
But I was better off in my Blueridge Mountain home sweet home
I could see the light of day I could while the time away
On the mornin' the government gave me to live on

Oh it's cold as well in Cincinnati jail...
**********

5.

WATCHING THE TRAINS GO BY

(Dan Penn - Spooner Oldham) « © '69 Screen Gems Music, BMI »
Down at the railroad station my suitcase settin' by my side
Got no high hopes of leaving I'm just watching the trains go by
Watching the trains go by

Lawyer Jabob's wife she is expecting and he wonders why in blazes
How his wife could come to blame now they tried so many times before
Walking back down this dusty farmroad my thirsty mind is high and dry
One more day down at the station watching the trains go by

Down at the railroad station...

Papa's working at the coal mines mama's lying sick in bed
They'd be better off without me one less mouth to be fed
Younger brother John is in the jailhouse down on the woodfarm chopping wood
I stayed around and tried to change him don't look like I done no good

Down at the railroad station...
Down at the railroad station...
**********

6.

BIG BEN COLSON

(Tompall Glaser) « © '69 Ensign Music, BMI »
She was young and she was pretty a victim of a rich man's whim
When she met a wealthy gentleman Big Ben Colson and she had a child by him

Well he promised her a wedding that would give their child a name
But she waited at the altar till the sunset but her Big Ben never came

But she's not a bad girl didn't mean no wrong
She just loved the wrong man much too strong

Now he sits with the dignitaries and the wealthy ladies all love his charms
While she sits in a lonely shack in Alabama with his baby in her arms

But she's not a bad girl...
**********

7.

(MARGIE'S AT) THE LINCOLN PARK INN

(Tom T. Hall) « © '69 Newkeys Music, BMI / Unichappell Music, BMI »
My name's in the paper where I took the boy scouts to hike
My hands're all dirty from working on my little boy's bike
The preacher came by and I talked for a minute with him
My wife's in the kitchen and Margie's at the Lincoln Park Inn

And I know why she's there I've been there before
But I made her a promise that I wouldn't cheat anymore
I tried to ignore it but I know she's in there my friend
My mind's on a number and Margie's at the Lincoln Park Inn

Next Sunday it's my turn to speak to the young people's class
They expect answers to all of the questions they ask
What would they say if I spoke of the modern day sins
And all of the Margies at all of the Lincoln Park Inns

The bike is all fixed and my little boy's in bed asleep
His little old puppy is curled in a ball at my feet
My wife's baking cookies to feed to the Bridge Club again
I'm almost out of cigarettes and Margie's at the Lincoln Park Inn
And I know why she's there
**********

8.

IF THERE'S NOT A HELL (THERE OUGHT TO BE)

(David Turner) « © '69 ATV Songs, BMI »
Farmer Jones ran short on seeds so he borrowed from his neigbor Sam
The fall brought Jones a flourishin' crop while his neighbor's all burned brown
Sam had a wife and thirteen kids he worked to feed each day
With hungry pride he begged for help and he was turned away
He was forced to sell his farm for half its worth
To this man he thought a friend to be
If there's not a hell there ought to be

Mary Ann was sweet sixteen never had been around
A child as pure as a mountain stream that ran through her hometown
Then happened by the slick Tom Shark in his hand she was clay
She got caught and faced the shame and he laughed and went his way
Now no one knows where she's at her folks sent her away
If there's not a hell there ought to be

Widow Brown worked since Joe died and tried to save her pay
To give nine children beans and bread and pretty ties on Sunday
She got sick and slipped behind the rent she had to meet
They told her they were sorry and they kicked her out in the street
And that same day they came and took her kids away
If there's not a hell there ought to be

Young Billy Brown he took a trip to keep his country free
We're all proud of what he done for the good old USA
But somewhere there's a mighty big man who kept this a goin' on
The personal game wealth and fame they did their league all wrong
All wrapped up in the stars and stripes Bill came home one day
If there's not a hell there ought to be
If there's not a hell there ought to be
**********

9.

SKIP A ROPE

(Jack Moran - Glenn D. Tubb) « © '67 Tree Publishing, BMI »
Skip a rope skip a rope
Oh listen to the children while they play
Now ain't it kinda funny what the children say
Skip a rope skip a rope

Daddy hates mommy mommy hates dad
Last night you should've heard the big fight they had
It gave little sister another bad dream
She woke us all up with a terrible scream

Skip a rope skip a rope...

Cheat on your taxes don't be a fool
Now what was that they said about the golden rule
Never mind the rule just play to win
And hate your neighbor for the shade of his skin

Skip a rope skip a rope...

Stab 'em in the back that's the name of the game
And mommy and daddy are who's to blame
Skip a rope skip a rope listen to the children while they play
Now it's not very funny what the children say
Skip a rope skip a rope skip a rope
**********

10.

WILD AS THE WIND

(Bobby Bare) « © '69 ATV Songs, BMI »
On that first day of March the day that she was born
Wild as the wind was on the Friday morn
They all say that she looked evil even then
When her daddy smiled and said that she looked wild as the wind

The fourteen summers passed and she blossomed like a flower
Wild as the wind she grew prettier by the hour
Then one day she found out she could break the minds of men
She became a woman child wild as the wind

Lips as sweet as honey and so eager to please
She comes and she goes just like a summer breeze
I've been beneath her magic spell I know I'll go again
Gotta have that woman child wild as the wind
Gotta have that woman child wild as the wind
Gotta have that woman child wild as the wind
**********

11.

DRINK UP AND GO HOME

(Johnny Bond - Joe Maphis) « © '57 Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
You sit there a crying cry in your beer
You think you got troubles well my friend listen here
Don't tell me your troubles I got enough of my own
Be thankful you're living drink up and go home

I'm fresh out of prison six years in the pen
Lost my wife and fam'ly no one to call friend
Don't tell me your troubles I got enough of my own
Be thankful you're living drink up and go home

Now there stands a blind man a man who can't see
Yet he's not complaining why should you or me
If you'd look around you I'm sure you would find
There's folks who got troubles worst that yours and mine

I'm fresh out of prison...
Be thankful you're living drink up and go home
**********

12.

RAINY DAY IN RICHMOND

(Jerry McBee - Dan Lomax - Billy Large) « © '69 ATV Songs, BMI »
It was a rainy day in Richmond when I've found out what she had done
She walked right out of my life in her hour of fun
They thought I'd gone to Baltimore and never suspected a thing
They didn't know I was following them right down to their shame
A shower of tears fell from my eyes hurt in every one
I couldn't believe what I had seen and what my woman had done
Oh I never thought my baby could ever give me room for doubt
It was a rainy day in Richmond the day that I found out
I followed close behind them to the love nest they had found
Then the pain came down so hard I stopped and turned around
I'd seen enough to tell me there wasn't any doubt
It was a rainy day in Richmond the day that I found out
Oh rainy day in Richmond the day that I found out
**********