Henson Cargill's biggest hit was the gritty "Skip a Rope," which struck a socially conscious pose that seemed more activist in the context of 1960s country music than it actually was. The title track from None of My Business attempted to exploit the formula anew, but apparently the country audience found the pro-family and traditional morality message of "Skip a Rope" more appealing than the paean to political involvement in "None of My Business," since the song came nowhere close, sales-wise, to "Skip a Rope." Nevertheless, "None of My Business" reached the Top Ten and was Cargill's only other major hit. The corresponding album reinforces Cargill's soon-to-be-abandoned image as a maker of message-oriented country songs, with covers of Glen Campbell's self-improvement masterpiece "Less of Me" and Roger Miller's anti-divorce lament "Husbands and Wives." The anthemic "This Generation Shall Not Pass" was a minor hit for Cargill, and one of his last attempts at explicit message-oriented music. Elsewhere, the album aims for wide appeal with "Welcome to My World" and Kenny Price's "Walking on New Grass," but the semi-political songs are ultimately the most interesting ones.
HENSON CARGILL
NONE OF MY BUSINESS
Monument SLP-18117April/1969
Produced by Don Law
Vocal accompaniment by The JordanairesRecorded:
Sept/1968 Columbia Recording Studio, Nashville (1)
Jan-Apr/1969 Columbia Recording Studio, Nashville
1.
NONE OF MY BUSINESS
(Jack Moran) « © '68 Tree Publishing, BMI »Little kids sleepin' with rats in their bed well it's none of my business
It's been a long time since they've been fed but it's none of my business
Some more bad news from Vietnam and China's playin' with a great big bomb
I better take a pill to stay dumb cause it's none of my business
People are afraid to walk their own streets but it's none of my business
Cops can even walk on their beat but it's none of my business
I read about a girl I forgot her name she was screamin' for help but nobody came
It seems like kind of a shame but it's none of my business
Ten more billion on a national debt well it's none of my business
People in the slums are a little upset that's none of my business
Kids gripin' out of school lookin' for a thrill learnin' the law's kill or be killed
I better take another pill cause it's none of my business
Now the preacher's sayin' somethin' bout good man vow well it's none of my business
He said we got troubles that we gotta have sow oh it's none of my business
Now I go to church and I meditate I don't even mind when they pass the plate
But they stuff about my fellow man's fate well 's none of my business
(They stuff about my fellow man's fate) Lord it's none of my business
**********
2.
WELCOME TO MY WORLD
(Ray Winkler - John Hathcock) « © '61 Tree Publishing, BMI »Welcome to my world won't you come on in
Miracles I guess still happen now and then
Step into my heart leave your cares behind
Welcome to my world built with you in mind
Knock and the door will open seek and you will find
Ask and you'll be given and find this world of mine
I'll be waiting here with my arms unfurled
Waiting just for you welcome to my world
(Welcome to my world)
[ guitar - piano ] Knock and the door will open...
**********
3.
I TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN WHAT I AM
(Merle Haggard) « © '68 Tree Publishing, BMI »Things I learned in hobo jungle were things they never taught me in a class room
Like where to find a hand out while bummin' through Chicago in the afternoon
Hey I'm not braggin' or complainin' I'm just talkin' to myself man to man
This ol' mental fat I'm chewin' didn't take a lotta doin'
But I take a lot of pride in what I am
I guess I grew up a loner I don't remember ever havin' folks around
But I keep thumbin' through the phone books
And lookin' for my daddy's name in every town
And I meet lots of friendly people but I'll always wind up leavin' on the lam
Hey where I've been or where I'm goin' didn't take a lotta knowin'
But I take a lot of pride in what I am
I never travel in a hurry cause I've got nobody waitin' for me anywhere
Home is anywhere I'm livin' if it's sleepin' on some vacant bench in City Square
Or if I'm working on some road gang or just living off the fat of our great land
I've never been nobody's idol but at least I've got a title
And I take a lot of pride in what I am
I've never been nobody's idol but at least I've got a title
And I take a lot of pride in what I am
I take a lot of pride in what I am
**********
4.
THIS GENERATION SHALL NOT PASS
(Dallas Frazier) « © '69 Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »A cryin' man prays for a peace in his land then raises his arm and closes his hand
To strike the face of the woman he wed children the number one prophet said
This generation shall not pass till all these things will be fulfilled and done
This generation shall not pass before that great day come
The man on the mountain said this last days would bring
Failing up hearts the downfall of kings
Hurt waits in wars and phantoms will spread children the number one prophet said
This generation shall not pass...
When the green leaves cover the big tree of life then understand that summer is nigh
Beware of the world it's blind and it's deaf children the number one prophet said
This generation shall not pass...
This generation shall not pass...
**********
5.
GREENBACK DOLLAR
(Hoyt Axton - Ken Ramsey) « © '62 Irving Music, BMI »Some people say I'm a no count others say I'm no good
But I'm just a natural born travelin' man I'm doin' what I think I should poor boy
I'm doin' what I think I should
Hey I don't give a damn about a greenback dollar spend it as fast as I can
For a wailin' song and a good guitar's the only thing that I understand poor boy
The only thing that I understand
When I was a little babe my mama she said son
Travel where you will and grow to be a man wnd sing what must be sung poor boy
Sing what must be sung
Hey I don't give a damn...
Now that I'm a grown man I've travelled everywhere
I've learned that a bottle of brandy and a song the only ones who ever cared poor boy
The only ones who ever cared
Hey I don't give a damn...
Hey I don't give a damn...
**********
6.
WALKING ON NEW GRASS
(Ray Pennington) « © '66 Tree Publishing, BMI »Hey I'm like a cloud driftin' from town to town
And each new love just helps me on my way
And no one woman's ever gonna tie me down
When one gets too close I just back up and say
I gotta be walking on new grass singing a new song
Tomorrow there's no telling where I'll be
I gotta be walking on new grass singing a new song
The next time up the road keeps calling me
[ dobro ] Now I'm warning you don't fall in love with me
Cause I don't plan on staying here too long
And you're just a leaf caught in a playfull breeze
And I'll carry you a while then I'll be moving on
I gotta be walking on new grass...
Yeah the next time up the road keeps calling me
**********
7.
HUSBANDS AND WIVES
(Roger Miller) « © '66 Tree Publishing, BMI »Two broken hearts lonely looking like houses where nobody lives
Two people each having so much pride inside neither side forgives
The angry words spoken in haste such a waste of two lives
It's my belief pride is the chief cause and a decline
In the number of husbands and wives
A woman and a man a man and a woman
Some can and some can't and some can't
[ guitar ] Two broken hearts...
**********
8.
TODAY I STARTED LOVING YOU AGAIN
(Merle Haggard - Bonnie Owens) « © '67 Tree Publishing, BMI »Today I started loving you again
And I'm right back where I've really always been
I got over you just long enough to let my heartaches mend
And today I started loving you again
What a fool I was to think I could get by
With only these few million tears I've cried
I should have known the worst was yet to come
And that crying time for me had just begun
Cause today I started loving you again...
Yes today I started loving you again
**********
9.
JOHNNY ONE TIME
(Dallas Frazier - Arthur Leo Owens) « © '68 Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »So he told you you're the dream that he's been searching for
And he told you he's never met anyone like you before
And I can hear him telling you your lips taste just like sherry wine
But did he tell you that he's known as Johnny one time
Did he tell you that your heart will soon become
Another trinket on his bracelets of broken hearts
Did he tell you that the morning sun will find you
Patching up your shattered pride and searching for the missing parts
Did he tell you that the special love you're saving
Will disappear in flames of shame like mine
And did he tell you that he's known as Johnny one time
[ dobro ] So he told you that he'd never lead your heart astray
And he told you that he'd love you forever and a day
And I can hear him telling you that he's the shy and bashful kind
But did he tell you that he's known as Johnny one time
Did he tell you that your heart...
Did he tell you that your heart...
**********
10.
HANGIN' ON
(Ira Allen - Buddy Mize) « © '67 ATV Songs, BMI »It's true you have me twisted around your finger it seems that's where I belong
You know how to hold me to thrill me and control me
Just enough to keep me hangin' on oh oh oh just enough to keep me hangin' on
My heart is like a yo-yo on a string I'm tied to you right or wrong
My love keeps a growing cause your love keeps a showing
Just enough to keep me hangin' on oh oh oh just enough to keep me hangin' on
A love as strong as mine will make me do most anything
Like hiding tears and heartaches dreaming silly dreams
You've got me where you want me you keep stringing me along
Just enough to keep me hangin' on oh oh oh just enough to keep me hangin' on
Oh oh oh just enough to keep me hangin' on
**********
10.
LESS OF ME
(Glen Campbell) « © '65 Beechwood Music, BMI »Let me be a little kinder let me be a little blinder
To the faults of those about me let me praise a little more
Let me be when I am weary just a little bit more cheery
Think a little more of others and a little less of me
[ guitar ] Let me be a little braver when temptation bits me waver
Let me strive a little harder to be all that I should be
Let me be a little meeker with the brother that is weaker
Let me think more of my neighbors and a little less of me
[ piano ] Let me be when I am weary just a little bit more cheery
Let me serve a little better those that I am striving for
Let me be a little meeker with the brother that is weaker
Think a little more of others and a little less of me
**********
