lp discography - covers & lyrics

1.

IN THEM OLD COTTONFIELDS BACK HOME

(Huddie Ledbetter - arr. Johnny Cash)
« © '61 Folkways Music, BMI »
When I was a little bitty baby my mama would rock me in my cradle
In them old cottonfields back home
When I was a little bitty baby...
Now when them cotton bolls get rotten you can't pick very much cotton
In them old cottonfields back home
It was down in Louisiana just about a mile from Texarkana
In them old cottonfields back home
[ guitar ] When I was a little bitty baby...
When I was a little bitty baby...
In them old cottonfields back home in them old cottonfields back home
**********

2.

I'M SO LONESOME I COULD CRY

(Hank Williams)
« © '49 Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
Hear that lonesome whippoorwill he sounds too blue to fly
The midnight train is whining low I'm so lonesome I could cry
I've never seen a night so long when time goes crawling by
The moon just went behind a cloud to hide its face and cry
[ steel ] Did you ever hear a robin weep when leaves began to die
That means he's lost the will to live I'm so lonesome I could cry
The silence of a falling star lights up a purple sky
And as I wonder where you are I'm so lonesome I could cry
**********

3.

FRANKIE'S MAN JOHNNY

(Johnny Cash)
« © '58 House Of Cash, BMI »
Well now Frankie and Johnny were sweethearts
They were true as a blue blue sky
He was a long-legged guitar picker with a wicked wanderin' eye
But he was her man nearly all of the time
Well Johnny he packed up to leave her but he promised he'd be back
He said he had a little pickin' to do a little farther down the track
He said I'm your man I wouldn't do you wrong
Well Frankie curled up on the sofa thinkin' about her man
Far away the couples were dancing to the music of his band
He was Frankie's man he wadn't doin' her wrong
Then in the front door walked a redhead Johnny saw her right away
She came down by the bandstand to watch him while he played
He was Frankie's man but she was far away
He sang every song to the redhead she smiled back at him
Then he came and sat at her table where the lights were low and dim
What Frankie didn't know wouldn't hurt her none
Then the redhead jumped up and slapped him she slapped him a time or two
She said I'm Frankie's sister and I was checking up on you
If you're her man you better treat her right
Well the moral of this story is be good but carry a stick
Sometimes it looks like a guitar picker just can't tell what to pick
He was Frankie's man and he still ain't done her wrong
**********

4.

IN THE JAILHOUSE NOW

(Jimmie Rodgers)
« © '28 Peer International, BMI »
I had a friend named Bill Campbell he used to rob steal and gamble
And on the side he'd beg so he mopped up
I told him he shouldn't do it and Campbell told me he knew it
So he started beggin' with a bucket instead of a cup
He's in the jailhouse now (he's in the jailhouse now)
He's in the jailhouse now (he's in the jailhouse now)
Well Campbell fluffed his dove when he wore a tuxedo to the country club
He's in the jailhouse now (he's in the jailhouse now)
[ guitar ] I met his old gal Sadie she said have you seen Billy lately
I said I don't believe that he's about
She went down to the jail she went down to take him his mail
Then she whispered sheriff please don't let him out
He's in the jailhouse now (he's in the jailhouse now)
He's in the jailhouse now (he's in the jailhouse now)
While Campbell's put away Sadie's with the sheriff everyday
He's in the jailhouse now (he's in the jailhouse now)
[ guitar ] Well I remember the last election the prohibitionists were in action
They's tryin' to elect themselves a president
Bill Canpbell and John Austin walked from New Orleans to Boston
And they've got a bottle in every settlement
They're in the jailhouse now (he's in the jailhouse now)
They're in the jailhouse now (he's in the jailhouse now)
They were down at the railroad track stealin' a train to haul it back
They're in the jailhouse now (he's in the jailhouse now)
**********

5.

MY SHOES KEEP WALKING BACK TO YOU

(Bob Wills - Lee Ross)
« © '56 Chappell & Co, ASCAP / Unichappell Music, BMI »
I may say that I don't care hold up head up in the air
Even tell my friends I'm glad that you don't call
But when the day is through my heartaches start anew
And that's when I miss you most of all
And my arms keep reaching for you my eyes keep searching for you
My lips keep calling for you and my shoes keep walking back to you
[ fiddle ] No matter how much I pretend I wish I had you back again
Cause nothing else means half as much as you
My world just seemed to die the day you left my side
And I can't forget no matter what I do
And my arms keep reaching...
**********

6.

DON'T TAKE YOUR GUNS TO TOWN

(Johnny Cash)
« © '58 Anne Rachel Music, ASCAP »
A young cowboy named Billy Joe grew restless on the farm
A boy filled with wanderlust who really meant no harm
He changed his clothes and shined his boots and combed his dark hair down
And his mother cried as he walked out
Don't take your guns to town son leave your guns at home Bill
Don't take your guns to town

He laughed and kissed his mom and said your Billy Joe's a man
I can shoot as quick and straight as anybody can
But I wouldn't shoot without a cause I'd gun nobody down
But she cried again as he rode away
Don't take your guns to town...

He sang a song as on he rode his guns hung at his hips
He rode into a cattle town a smile upon his lips
He stopped and walked into a bar and laid his money down
But his mother's words echoed again
Don't take your guns to town...

He drank his first strong liquor then to calm his shaking hand
And tried to tell himself at last he had become a man
A dusty cowpoke at his side began to laugh him down
And he heard again his mother's words
Don't take your guns to town...

Bill was raged and Billy Joe reached for his gun to draw
But the stranger drew his gun and fired it before he even saw
As Billy Joe fell to the floor the crowd all gathered round
And wondered at his final words
Don't take your guns to town...
**********

7.

GREAT SPECKLED BIRD

(Roy Carter - Guy Smith)
« © '36 Songs Of Universal, BMI »
What a beautiful thought I am thinking concerning the great speckled bird
And to know that my name is recorded on the pages of God's holy word
Desiring to lower her standards they watch every move that she makes
They long to find fault with her teaching but really she makes no mistakes
[ guitar ] I am glad I have learned of her meekness I am glad that my name is on her book
For I want to be one never fearing the face of my Saviour to look
And when he come up descending from heaven on a cloud like he said in his word
I'll be joyfully carried to meet him on the wings of the great speckled bird
**********

8.

FIVE FEET HIGH AND RISING

(Johnny Cash)
« © '59 Anne Rachel Music, ASCAP / Song Of Cash Music, ASCAP »
How high is the water mama two feet high and rising
How high is the water papa she said it's two feet high and rising
But we can make it to the road in a homemade boat
Cause that's the only thing we got left that'll float
It's already over all the wheat and oats two feet high and rising
How high is the water mama three feet high and rising
How high is the water papa she said it's three feet high and rising
Well the hives are gone I lost my bees chickens're sleepin' in the willow trees
Cows in water up past their knees three feet high and rising
How high is the water mama four feet high and rising
How high is the water papa she said it's four feet high and rising
Hey come look through the window pane
The bus is coming gonna take us to the train
Looks like we'll be blessed with a little more rain four feet high and rising
How high is the water mama five feet high and rising
How high is the water papa she said it's five feet high and rising
Well the rails are washed out north of town we gotta head for higher ground
We can't come back till the water goes down five feet high and rising
Well it's five feet high and rising
**********

9.

I FORGOT MORE THAN YOU'LL EVER KNOW

(Cecil Null)
« © '53 Unart Catalog, BMI »
You think you know the smile on her lips the thrill at the touch of her fingertips
But I forgot more than you'll ever know about her
You think you'll find a heaven of bliss in each caress and each tender kiss
But I forgot more than you'll ever know about her
You stole her love from me one day you didn't care how you've hurt me
But you can never steal away mem'ries of what used to be
You think she's yours to have and to hold
But someday you'll learn when her love grows cold
That I forgot more than you'll ever know about her
[ guitar ] You stole her love from me...
**********