Twelve long miserable years have passed since I was introduced to Johnny Cash.
Then and there I decided that this long-legged, hungry-looking vacuum-cleaner salesman would be better off selling eggs than selling records.
He couldn't tune or even play his worn out, busted, German guitar-but along with guitarist Luther Perkins (no relative of mine, thank God!) and bass player Marshall Grant, a couple of self-made mechanics, he cut his first horrible record.
Then you, you unsuspecting record buyers outran motorcycles, even roadrunners, to get to record shops to lay down those mangy dollars for it. And you ain't stopped running yet!!! That's what makes me sick. I hope you're satisfied now that you've made John Cash the biggest damn thing in Country music.
And then!!-Poor little Miss-June Carter, a sweet lady who, after many weeks of watching Gash go on stage wearing streaked, spotted, striped and wrinkled shirts and baggy pants, persuaded him to buy himself a suit with the coat and pants the same color. Recently she personally bought him three suits with matching coat and pants.
The Tennessee Three and myself insisted that she send him the bill for them.
June is affectionately known as "Brindl," and poor little Brindl has had a tough time these last few years. She has fought a battle to tame a man with a wild streak-trying and succeeding most times in eliminating the streak.
She has used horrible tactics for doing this, such as cooking ham on a shaky stove while enroute to High Point, N.C., in a beat-up Dodge Motor Home, pressing suits, haircuts, hot biscuits and all. Pickin' up and singing when she got the notion was too much for John and the babies (W. S. Marshall, Luther and me), so old John joined in to protect his ears. The duet didn't come out near so badly as we thought it would. They sang an old song called Jackson, then there was the Long-legged Guitar Pickin' Man and finally this album.
Now they're singing together, and though we tried to drown them out, the Tennessee Three and myself, I suppose, damn it, you'll hear them CARRYIN' ON inthis album.
- Carl Perkins, 1967 -
JOHNNY CASH & JUNE CARTER
CARRYIN' ON
Columbia CS-9528August/1968
Produced by Don Law
Luther Perkins, Carl Perkins, Bob Johnson - guitarNorman Blake - guitar/dobro
Marshall Grant - bass
W.S. Holland - drums
Charlie McCoy - harmonica
Bill McElhiney, Karl Garvin - trumpet
Vocals:
Phil Balsey, Jan Howard, The Carter Family
Recorded:
Jan 11/1967, Columbia Recording Studio, Nashville (5,7)
March 1/1967, Columbia Recording Studio, Nashville (1)
Apr 14/1967, Columbia Recording Studio, Nashville (4,9)
May 18/1967, Columbia Recording Studio, Nashville (6)
May 22/1967, Columbia Recording Studio, Nashville (2,3,8,10,11)
1.
LONG LEGGED GUITAR PICKIN' MAN
(Marshall Grant)« © '67 Perkins And Simpson Publishing, BMI »
Well I'm gonna start out walkin' just you wait and see
Uh-huh guitar picker you ain't leavin' without me
Oh you big mouth woman you long legged guitar pickin' man
But we can work this out uh huh yes ma'm I think we can
Well I stole the Hope diamond hopin' I could shut your mouth
But how am I gonna wear it if I got to hide it out
Well you big mouth woman...
[ guitar ] Well I bought you a first class ticket for a luxury liner cruise
I got out in that ocean looked around and there was you
Oh you big mouth woman...
I bought you a big long limousine but I don't want no car
I gave my love and everything but you're still what you are
You're just a big mouth woman...
Oh honey I love that big sweet mouth you a long legged guitar pickin' man
Ha ha I'm gonna pick it for you now you a nice guitar pickin' man
**********
2.
SHANTYTOWN
(Johnny Cash - June Carter)« © '67 Anne Rachel Music, ASCAP / Song Of Cash Music, ASCAP »
(I live down in Shantytown where chicken's twenty cents a pound)
And if you live on such solid ground whatcha doin' down in Shantytown
Whatcha doin' down in Shantytown
Well I'm back on your side of the tracks
Have come back for me to take you back
Back to your high society to your coctails and your teas
I'll look up but don't look down cause we got pride in Shantytown
(I live down in Shantytown...
[ guitar ] Behind the walls of your shackled heart beats pure
While the rich have a love to endure
Well is the gold in your crown turning black
Is there something here in Shantytown that keeps you coming back
I live down in Shantytown...
**********
3.
IT AIN'T ME BABE
(Bob Dylan)« © '64 Special Rider Music, SESAC »
Go away from my window leave at your own chosen speed
I'm not the one you want babe I'm not the one you need
You say you're looking for someone who's never weak but always strong
To protect you and defend you whether you are right or wrong
Someone to open each and every door but it ain't me babe no no no
It ain't me babe it ain't me you're looking for babe
[ harmonica ] Go lightly from the ledge babe go lightly on the ground
I'm not the one you want babe I'll only let you down
You say you're looking for someone who'll promise never to part
Someone to close his eyes for you someone to close his heart
Someone to die for you and more but it ain't me babe no no no
It ain't me babe it ain't me you're looking for babe
[ trumpet ] You say you're looking for someone to pick you up each time you fall
To gather flowers constantly and to come each time you call
And will love you for your life and nothing more but it ain't me babe no no no
It ain't me babe it ain't me babe it ain't me you're looking for babe
**********
4.
FAST BOAT TO SYDNEY
(Helen Carter - Anita Carter)« © '67 Copper Creek Music, BMI »
Oh I am a cheat and I'm a liar oh but you're a lovin' ball of fire
I'll leave you like a bum without a penny
And while I'm home with the blues I'll be hopin' like a cangaroo
When I get off of that fast boat to Sydney
I said listen to me babe I gave up the lovin' trade
I'm tired of all this runnin' jumpin' playin'
But you're like it down under the world with the Australian girls
And there's not a word of truth in what you're sayin'
Oh I am a cheat and I'm a liar...
[ guitar ] This is my greatest act I've come boom a rangin' back
Grinnin' like a Rudolf Valentino
But then you grab your travel load like a swingin' grimmin' dog
And hopped on that fast boat to Sydney
Cause I'm a cheat and I'm a liar...
**********
5.
PACK UP YOUR SORROWS
(Richard Farina - Pauline Marden)« © '67 Songs Of PolyGram, BMI »
Oh but if somehow you could pack up your sorrows and give them all to me
You would lose them I know how to use them give them all to me
No use crying talking to a stranger naming the sorrows you see
Cause there's too many bad times too many sad times
And nobody knows what you mean
Oh but if somehow you could...
No use rambling walkin' in the shadows trailin' a wandering star
No one beside you no one to guide you and nobody knows where you are
Oh but if somehow you could...
No use roaming walking by that roadside seeking a satisfied mind
There's too many highways too many byways and nobody walking behind
Oh but if somehow you could...
You would lose them I know how to use them give them all to me
**********
6.
I GOT A WOMAN
(Ray Charles)« © '56 Unichappell Music, BMI »
I got a woman way cross town she's good to me oh yeah
I got a woman way cross town she's good to me oh yeah
Well she's my baby when I'm in need oh she's a real too friend indeed
I got a woman way cross town she's good to me oh yeah
I save my loving early in the morning just for you oh yeah
I save my loving early in the morning just for you oh yeah
You're my big man don't you understand
And I love you you're my loving big big man
I got a woman way cross town she's good to me oh yeah
[ guitar ] He's there to love me both day and night
Never grumbles and fusses just treats me right
Never walking in the streets leave me alone
She knows the woman places right there out in our home
I got a woman way cross town she's good to me oh yeah
I got a woman way cross town good to me oh yeah
Well she's my baby don't you understand and I'm her loving man
I got a woman way cross town she's good to me oh yeah
Got me a big man way cross town he's good to me oh yeah
Got me a big man way cross town he's good to me oh yeah
He's my baby don't you understand he's my loving big big man
I got a woman way across town she's good to me oh yeah
**********
7.
JACKSON
(Billy Ed Wheeler - Gaby Rogers)« © '65 Bexhill Music, ASCAP »
We got married in a fever hotter than a pepper sprout
We've been talkin' bout Jackson ever since the fire went out
I'm goin' to Jackson I'm gonna mess around
Yeah I'm goin' to Jackson look out Jackson town
Well go on down to Jackson go ahead and wreck your health
Go play your hand you big talkin' man make a big fool of yourself
Yeah go to Jackson go comb your hair
And I'm gonna snowball Jackson see if I care
When I breeze into that city people gonna stoop and bow
All them women gonna make me teach 'em what they don't know how
I'm goin' to Jackson you turn loose my coat
Cause I'm goin' to Jackson goodbye that's all she wrote
When they laugh at you in Jackson and I'll be dancin' on the pony keg
When I'll lead you round town like a scalded hound
With your tail tucked between your legs
Yeah I'll go to Jackson you big talkin' man
And I'll be waitin' in Jackson behind my Japan fan
Well now we got married in a fever hotter than a pepper sprout
We've been talkin' bout Jackson ever since the fire went out
I'm goin' to Jackson and that's a fact
Yeah we're goin' to Jackson ain't never coming back
Mhm we got married in a fever hotter than a pepper sprout
Honey we've been talkin' bout Jackson ever since the fire went out
**********
8.
OH WHAT A GOOD THING WE HAD
(Johnny Cash - June Carter)« © '67 Anne Rachel Music, ASCAP / Song Of Cash Music, ASCAP »
Sunshine and showers and everything comin' up daisies
Oh what a good thing we had gone bad oh what a good thing we had
Driveins and picnics end every day was Saturday
Oh what a good thing we had gone bad oh what a good thing we had
The whole wide world was jealous we wouldn't hear a thing they'd tell us
Never did need any money everything was milk and honey
Oh long walks by the river talkin' bout living together
Oh what a good thing we had gone bad oh what a good thing we had
[ piano - guitar ] Long weeks of waitin' and livin' for the day we marry
Oh what a good thing we had gone bad oh what a good thing we had
Happiness and laughter we found everything we were after
Oh what a good thing we had gone bad oh what a good thing we had
The whole wide world was jealous...
Oh what a good thing we had gone bad oh what a good thing we had
**********
9.
YOU'LL BE ALL RIGHT
(Johnny Cash - June Carter)« © '67 Anne Rachel Music, ASCAP / Song Of Cash Music, ASCAP »
Well I see you've lost your honey bee I know how you must be feeling now
You feel sad sad but boy it ain't that bad
You cry just a little bit and die just a little bit and then you'll be all right
[ piano ] Well you know it wasn't long ago your honey bee was queen of my bee tree
But then away she flew and took my honey to you
You cry just a little bit and die just a little bit and then you'll be all right
[ piano ] I pity you I know what you're going through
You watched your queen bee fly your honeycomb went dry
But if you keep pushin' on you won't care if she's gone
You cry just a little bit and die just a little bit and then you'll be all right
You cry just a little bit and die just a little bit and then you'll be all right
**********
10.
NO NO NO
(Johnny Cash)« © '67 Anne Rachel Music, ASCAP / Song Of Cash Music, ASCAP »
I'm a poor boy from the farm land your father is a wealthy sailing man
If I asked you for your hand would you tell me no oh no no no
You're a poor boy from the farm land my daddy is a wealthy sailing man
He told me if you asked my hand I'd better tell you no oh no no no
Your daddy brings you silk to sew from the finest shop in Tokyo
He told you to turn me down I know but don't say no oh no no no
Yes daddy owns a clipper ship and he brings me pearls on every trip
And pink champagne for me to sip and you're the poorest boy I know oh so no no no
I can't give you anything I can't afford a wedding ring
A presents that I'd like to bring but oh I love you so oh don't say no
My daddy's three days out to sea and he would turn me across his knee
If he knew you were kissin' me but I can't let you go oh no no no oh no no no
**********
11.
WHAT'D I SAY
(Ray Charles)« © '59 Unichappell Music, BMI »
Come on honey don't you treat me wrong
Come and love your daddy all night long
Hey hey all right hey hey baby what'd I say
See that girl with a diamond ring I know where she got that thing
Hey hey all right hey hey baby what'd I say
[ guitar - piano ] Oh yeah honey you're so fine baby you're so fine
Honey you're so fine honey you're so fine
Oh you're so fine hey hey all right hey hey baby what's I say
See the gal with the rich dress on she can do that all night long
Hey hey all right hey hey baby what'd I say
When you see me in misery come on baby and stand by me
Hey hey all right hey hey baby what'd I say
Baby what'd I say right now what'd I say right now honey you're so fine
**********
