Here are a few slices of life as I remember them being served up. I have been to all of these places and in all of these situations, and at one time or another I have been both of these men, the Rambler and the Fisherman. Still, in the short time that it takes this album to play, I suppose more questions are poised then are asked about what life on the road has really been like. Some of it's too tough to tell, some of it's too private to tell, and even telling what there is here, I take on the role of the Rambler to make part of it believable. There's a lot of it you really wouldn't believe, but at least this is a part of it you've never heard.
I think you can really see how some of the songs are really part of me, though. Life isn't just for living, it's for singing about. Lowliness is real, the pain of loss is real, the fulfillment of love is real, the thrill of adventure is real, and put it into the song lyrics and sing about it...after all, isn't that what a country singer-writer is suppose to do, write and sing of reality?
The other characters here are based on real people. I knew a cowgirl hitchhiker, I knew a girl named Calilou. I talked to the man on the banks of the Wabash River who was trying to fish away his blues. I remember the bars where the girls got fired if they didn't talk you into buying champagne.
Now, even though things are right with me and the lady, I suppose I'll always have the heart of the Rambler, believing in life and in people, believing in that down the road and over the hill there's something worth seeing, someone new worth knowing, a move worth making and a new road worth taking.
- JRC, 1977 -
JOHNNY CASH
THE RAMBLER
Columbia PC-34833July/1977
Produced by Charlie Bragg & Johnny Cash
Actors:The Rambler - Johnny Cash
The Fisherman - Jack Wesley Routh
The Cowgirl - Kathleen Brimm
Bargirls - Carlene Routh, Rosanne Cash
Musicians:
Bob Wooten, Jerry Hensley - el.guitar
Ray Edenton, Jack Routh - flattop guitar
Marshall Grant - bass
W.S. Holland - drums
Earl Ball - piano
Mark Morris - percussion
Michael Bacon - cello
Arrangements by Cam Mullins
Recorded:
1977, Sound Spectrum House of Cash Studio, Hendersonville
Mobile recording by Jerry Baker, Baker Cinema Production, Nashville
1.
HIT THE ROAD AND GO
(Johnny Cash)« © '77 Song Of Cash Music, ASCAP »
I woke up this afternoon and looked into your eyes
And somethin' was as wrong as if the sun forgot to rise
I picked up a roadmap and I checked a few good places that I know
And if you're no longer givin' I believe I'll hit the road and go
I just got the feelin' that the fire was burnin' out
Cause the air was turnin' colder ev'ry time you came about
And a flame won't take a fannin' if the last reserve of love is runnin' low
So since I've gotta button up I believe I'll hit the road and go
County road 6-40 state highway 45
Life out off the interstate is very much alive
There's magic in the mountains and music in the valleys down below
And my song ain't through playin' yet so I believe I'll hit the road and go
Good mornin' to you sunshine good mornin' to you rain
My windshield wiper's rhythm keeps me singin' down the pain
Today I'm gonna miss you less if I miss you at all you'll never know you'll never know
This rambler has cut all the ties and pulled up stakes to hit the road and go
This rambler has cut all the ties and pulled up stakes to hit the road and go
**********
And sometimes the only thing a man or woman can do is to go
It doesn't matter where or how far what matters is that you're goin'
When love plays out there's still somethin' in a man or woman
That cries out for more love for true love for lastin' love
And so it is with the Rambler
Leavin' the east coast he rambles his way up through Pittsburg Wheeling
Westward to Ohio Illinois Indiana
His only companion at times is a car radio
The Rambler remembers the other times good times and places along the way
And suspectin' that he won't lose her memory
Knowin' that his love for her will haunt him wherever he goes
He hopes to dull the pain with new experiences new places maybe a new face
A new adventure maybe a new friend a true friend
Near Lafayette Indiana the Rambler pulls off the Interstate
And down through the trees on the left he sees a river
The Rambler pulls into a little roadside park overlookin' the river
The Rambler walks down to the water and discovers he's not alone
[ Rambler ] Hey how you're doin' you catchin' any
[ Fisherman ] No
[ Rambler ] Uh hope I'm not disturbin' you
[ Fisherman ] Naw you're not disturbin' me
[ Rambler ] How's fishin' on this river
[ Fisherman ] Well I hear about a mile downstream that there toward Lafayette
They're catch some good catfish underneath that railroad bridg
But it's pretty crowded down there
It's a little more peaceful here you know
[ Rambler ] Well I'm not really interested in fishin' I'm just passin' through
[ Fisherman ] Where you're goin'
[ Rambler ] Ah nowhere in particular California I guess that's the way I'm headed
[ Fisherman ] That's funny I just came back from California
[ Rambler ] Really workin' out there
[ Fisherman ] No no
[ Rambler ] Your family out there
[ Fisherman ] Well my woman is
[ Rambler ] Well I'd say you're a long way from your woman aren't you
[ Fisherman ] I'll just have to try and to get her to come back home here but she wouldn't come
And that's just me and that river there
[ Rambler ] You know looks like me and you got somethin' in common
[ Fisherman ] What are you talkin' about
[ Rambler ] Women we both lost I think
You got the river but I got the highway
And I bet you the highway'll take you farther
If you want to run I've got an empty shotgun seat
[ Fisherman ] I don't know bout that
2.
IF IT WASN'T FOR THE WABASH RIVER
(Johnny Cash)« © '77 Song Of Cash Music, ASCAP »
Fish ain't bitin' but I don't really care I'm in don't hurry
Like that Wabash River there I'd be drinkin'
Or layin' dead somewhere if it wasn't for the Wabash River
If it wasn't for the Wabash River
And this willow tree and my pole and a line
I'd be goin' crazy as an Indiana cyclone
Drownin' memories of her and cryin' cryin' cryin'
If it wasn't for the Wabash River I'd be goin' out of my mind
It's so peaceful sittin' here beneath my tree Lord I need her
Like she often needed me life ain't worth it
Just as far as I can see if it wasn't for the Wabash River
If it wasn't for the Wabash River...
**********
Fifty-five miles an hour they want us to go on this Interstate
And you go fifty-five and you get run over by a truck so whata you do
[ Fisherman ] Man I must be nuts I just got back from California
All that time out there chasin' after her
[ Rambler ] Well she must be worth a round trip
[ Fisherman ] Worth it
You know there was a time I'd run naked through the snow just to touch that woman
[ Rambler ] But you wouldn't now huh
[ Fisherman ] Where we're at anyway
[ Rambler ] I don't know I believe that's the Platte River you want to go fishin' again
[ Fisherman ] I had enough fishin'
[ Rambler ] It's still a long way to California you know
[ Fisherman ] You know I just might change my mind before we get there
[ Rambler ] You sound like you got no control over whether you go or not
[ Fisherman ] That's just it what is it about a woman that makes such a dummy out of a man
She was wild even when she was lovin' me man
I knew that tomorrow it'd likely be somebody else she'd be with
But you know just that idea that the next day she could be lovin' me again
That's what kept me on her tail chasin' after her all the time
She really was poison but I guess it was good poison
Look at me here I go again hopin' for another dose of that sweet potion she had man
Did you ever have a woman like that
[ Rambler ] Yeah I guess I have
[ Fisherman ] You know what I mean
[ Rambler ] My woman's a lady
[ Fisherman ] A lady
[ Rambler ] A lady will give you the best lovin' you ever had
I don't care what you had in California but even a lady's love can burn out though
But what I mean is a good woman a kind sweet considerate understandin' woman
That likes to be treated like she treats you that's bull Man
And that ain't bull the better she gives love the more she wants to give
I know what I'm talkin' about a lady
Lovin's better if a lovin' heart's in the givin' of it and a lady loves to give
Mine did for a little while
3.
LADY
(Johnny Cash)« © '77 Song Of Cash Music, ASCAP »
Lady your arms are always warm and your bed was always ready when I came
Lady in the middle of the night
You would open up when you'd hear me call your name
And you were always there to see the turnin' of my key
And your laughin' voice to me was like a song
Lady your spirit's sweet and free it's hangin' on with me now that I'm gone
[ piano + strings ] Lady you spoke softly and kind and you never had a word to criticize
Lady you know I love you so even more than I ever let you realize
And day or night I knew that I could bring it all to you
And if I was wrong you'd never put me down
Lady there's so much I could say but I can't find the way to write it down
Can't find a way to write it down
**********
In Denver the Rambler and the Fisherman are tired of the road
And ready for whatever the city and the night have to offer
They check into a cheap hotel and go right to the bar downstairs
It's Saturday night and the city's alive
They've been in the bar four hours now and it's nearly closin' time
[ Fisherman ] Hey give me another Coors how about you Angie
[ Bargirl 1 ] I don't like beer
[ Fisherman ] Wow man I believe the little lady here wants champagne
[ Bargirl 2 ] Hey yeah could I have champagne
[ Rambler ] Do you think we're a couple of bankers here or somethin'
[ Bargirl 1 ] I like that
[ Fisherman ] Abracadabra abracadabra Coors you're no longer Coors you're champagne
[ Rambler ] Man I've had enough of this
[ Bargirl 1 ] Hey where are you goin'
[ Rambler ] Good night
[ Bargirl 1 ] Well of all the nerve
[ Bargirl 2 ] Hey you're not goin' are you you wanna buy me a drink
[ Fisherman ] Hey give me another Coors
[ Bargirl 1 ] But I don't like beer
[ Fisherman ] That ain't beer honey that's Coors
[ Bargirl 2 ] What a bummer
[ Rambler ] What a bummer's right
Beer the bar girls too much beer I must be seein' things
I saw you sittin' on a barstool lady and I looked up and you were gone
You didn't like beer either did you lady liked champagne either did you lady
Denver Colorado fancy town for a fancy lady like you
Hey maybe she's out there somewhere hey lady hahaha
Hey I ran maybe she ran maybe I did see her downstairs
Maybe she's drownin' her blues like I did
Hey maybe I did see her down there havin' a ball somewhere comin' up to me
Yeah maybe she'll be comin' yeah maybe she'll be comin'
4.
AFTER THE BALL
(Johnny Cash)« © '77 Song Of Cash Music, ASCAP »
I hear people laughin' on the corner by the square
The neon flickers on my wall and I know you're out there
I'm in your bed and listenin' for your footsteps down the hall
And I'll be waitin' for you after the ball
After the ball is over after the ball
If you cannot stand I've got a place for you to fall
The blinds are drawn and I have turned the clock face to the wall
I'll be waitin' for you after the ball
[ guitar ] Lovin' you is sweet addiction I need only you
Just as long as you come back go do what you want to
Give the night your laughter but I'll have you after all
I'll be waitin' for you after the ball
After the ball is over after the ball...
After the ball is over after the ball...
**********
Don't wish me that that headache behind my left eye is bad enough...Sunday
[ Fisherman ] Preachers man I don't need to hear no preachers this mornin'
Where do those guys come off at anyway
[ Rambler ] Well they ain't all bad
[ Fisherman ] Well they ain't all good
[ Rambler ] Some people need preachers or somebody to tell 'em right from wrong you know
[ Fisherman ] Not me man
[ Rambler ] I don't either I guess but I sure know when I was wrong like last night
Here I am sick sober and sorry again and I promise
[ Fisherman ] I ain't sorry man I ain't sorry at all
In fact I think I'm gonna have a little Bud there
A little hair of the dog that bid me last night
[ Rambler ] Hey you know I gotta...how about cleanin' the windshield off I gotta drive you know
[ Fisherman ] Well
[ Rambler ] My grandpaw was a preacher a country preacher from Carolina
[ Fisherman ] Yeah and I bet he made a lotta money too
[ Rambler ] He didn't make any money if he got anything it was earned
He did weddings funerals preached twice a week visited the sick ev'ryday
He was a boyscout master a marriage counselor
[ Fisherman ] A fighter and wild horse rider and a windmill operator
[ Rambler ] Hey don't get funny hey how can you criticize preachers
I bet you don't know one single preacher
[ Fisherman ] Come on man you know as well as I do man that they talk holy holy all the time
And ev'ryone of them's got some trash in their closet
There ain't no man that's all good
[ Rambler ] And no man is all bad either
My grandpa wasn't all talk like I said you know he served the people
He didn't ask for money because he knew them poor people out there didn't have it
He worked in the fields through the week to support himself side by side
With the people he preached to on Sunday
I guess they believed him on Sunday
Because they knew they could believe in him on Monday
5.
NO EARTHLY GOOD
(Johnny Cash)« © '77 Song Of Cash Music, ASCAP »
Come hear me good brothers come heed one and all
Don't brag about standin' or you'll surely fall
You're shinin' your light yes and shine it you should
You're so heavenly minded and you're no earthly good
No earthly good you are no earthly good
You're so heavenly minded you're no earthly good
You're shinin' your light yes and shine it you should
But you're so heavenly minded and you're no earthly good
Come here me good sisters you salt of the earth
If your salt isn't salted then what is it worth
You could give someone a cool drink if you would
But zou're so heavenly minded and you're no earthly good
No earthly good you are no earthly good
You're so heavenly minded you're no earthly good
You could give someone a cool drink if you would
But you're so heavenly minded and you're no earthly good
If you're holdin' heaven then spread it around
There are hungry hands reachin' up here from the ground
Move over and share the high ground where you've stood
So heavenly minded you're no earthly good
No earthly good you are no earthly good
You're so heavenly minded you're no earthly good
Move over and share the high ground where you've stood
So heavenly minded you're no earthly good
No earthly good you are no earthly good...
**********
[ Fisherman ] I wonder how far it is on in to Phoenix I could use some rest
[ Rambler ] Not far I don't think
[ Fisherman ] You gonna pick up that cowboy hitchhiker
[ Rambler ] Hey it's a cowgirl
[ Fisherman ] Alright hey come on in
[ Rambler ] How you doin' get in
[ Cowgirl ] Y'all goin' to Phoenix
[ Rambler ] Hmm headed that way you goin' to Phoenix
[ Cowgirl ] Aw it dudn't matter I just gotta get away
[ Fisherman ] You too
[ Cowgirl ] Hey do y'all ever play the pinball machine
[ Rambler ] Hey we got a pinball freak
[ Fisherman ] What are you talkin' about your pinball machine
[ Cowgirl ] At the truckstop back there I played the blue max for two hours and forty minutes
[ Rambler ] Hahaha really
[ Cowgirl ] The left flipper was broken but I still beat it for eighteen games
[ Fisherman ] It's gonna be a long day
[ Cowgirl ] I put two nickels in it and played it for two hours and forty minutes
[ Rambler ] Uh huh fantastic that's good honey that's good honey
[ Fisherman ] Great to hear
[ Cowgirl ] I picked the machine up real slow and set it on the end of my cowboy boots
It took them balls five minutes to run out
[ Rambler ] What does that mean what are you talkin' about
Took them balls five minutes to run out
[ Cowgirl ] Well you know if you put it on toe of your cowboy boots
Then the ball goes real slow and you get to play more games
[ Rambler ] How do you keep it from tiltin'
[ Cowgirl ] Well you just have to let it up real easy on the toe
[ Rambler ] Oh I see
[ Fisherman ] She's crazy as hell
[ Rambler ] No doubt about that
[ Cowgirl ] Hey man what kind of car is this anyway
[ Rambler ] Well it's a Wednesday car
[ Cowgirl ] It's a what
[ Rambler ] It's a Wednesday car
[ Cowgirl ] I never heard of a Wednesday car
[ Rambler ] Really it's the best kind yeah it mean it's a good one
You see I used to work in this car factory in Detroit five days a week
6.
WEDNESDAY CAR
(Johnny Cash)« © '77 Song Of Cash Music, ASCAP »
The assembly line is runnin' slow on Monday
They've been livin' it up and layin' up Saturday and Sunday
On Tuesday they're about to come around
But they still feel bad and they're kinda down
And mad cause they've got four more day before the weekend rolls around
On Wednesday they're feelin' fine again
And they're workin' like a dog and diggin' in
Tryin' to do ev'rything they should puttin' them cars together good
And I got me a car that was made on Wednesday on Wednesday
If you're gonna boy yourself a new car
You just better hope you're lucky enough to get one made on Wednesday
[ piano ] On Thursday the weekend is in sight
And they're in a hurry and they don't do nothin' right
Friday is the worst day of the week that's the day they make lemons dogs and freaks
If your car was made on Friday friend you'll soon be in the creek
Cause it's payday and the loafin' has begun
Lord them Friday cars just hope you don't get one
Monday Tuesday Thursday and Friday
Are all bad days and the only try day is Wednesday
And my car was made on Wednesday on Wednesday
If your car wadn't made on Wednesday I'd advise you not to even leave home in it
**********
[ Rambler ] So
[ Cowgirl ] He's right behind us
[ Rambler ] So what
[ Cowgirl ] Is he lookin' at us do you think he saw me
[ Rambler ] Hey relax he turned off what's all the fuss about
[ Fisherman ] What would the Phoenix police want with you anyway she's really crazy man
[ Rambler ] She may be worse than crazy
[ Fisherman ] What's with you cowgirl you steal a pinball machine or somethin'
[ Cowgirl ] Don't be funny I never stole nothin' I killed my ole man
[ Rambler ] Ah let me see now the bus station oughta be straight ahead downtown
Where you can probably get out
[ Cowgirl ] Oh please don't make get out
[ Rambler ] You say you killed somebody
[ Cowgirl ] I had to man please don't turn me in
[ Fisherman ] There's a bus station right over there boy we sure can pick 'em
[ Cowgirl ] He treated me like dirt I loved him lived with him all that time
I was true to him I tried to warn him he just laughed at me
7.
MY COWBOY'S LAST RIDE
(Johnny Cash)« © '77 Song Of Cash Music, ASCAP »
The cowboy's lady is cryin' tonight cause the cowboy's out on the range
Runnin' and ramblin' and chasin' some stray and good cowboys don't ever change
I tried to hold him in the home corral but the grasses were greener outside
So I'm gonna sit here in front of this door
And I've loaded up my cowboy's fourty-four
When the smoke clears there'll be a new brand on his hide
This is my cowboy's last ride
Oh oh oh I hate to see him go but I won't be stayin' home cryin'
I I I hate to watch him die but this is my cowboy's last ride
Cowboy remembers the ol' trails we rode and he's back in the saddle tonight
This time I'm lettin' the homefires burn out and I'm leavin' when I blow out his light
Cause I still remember good waterin' holes and the places that are open and wide
And I have decided he won't put me down a filly should be free for horsin' around
And I will no longer be hobbled and tied this is my cowboy's last ride
Oh I hate to see him go...
This is my cowboy's last ride
**********
[ Cowgirl ] Please don't turn me in
[ Rambler ] I never saw you
Man I wish I hadn't seen her
[ Fisherman ] That's two of us you know Calilou was a little crazy
[ Rambler ] Who
[ Fisherman ] Calilou she wadn't dead crazy
She might kill a man with lovin' but she would never do it with a gun
[ Rambler ] Calilou is that your California woman's name
[ Fisherman ] Yeah but I'm not sure she's in California for sure you know
She may be in Louisiana by now
[ Rambler ] Louisiana huh
[ Fisherman ] Yeah that's where the Lou in her name came from
Her folks had a really cute idea when she was born
That since her daddy came from California and her mama from Louisiana
They'd put both their names together and hang it on each other
[ Rambler ] Hahaha it's a good thing
They put California first she could've been named Local
[ Fisherman ] Come on man
[ Rambler ] Or if they came from Mississippi and Illinois she could be called Missle
[ Fisherman ] You oughta lighten up a little bit on me now
You know it really wasn't far from here
That I saw her the first time about three years ago
And she was hitchhikin' just like that cowgirl
[ Rambler ] Yeah
[ Fisherman ] You've been to Louisiana
[ Rambler ] Yeah I've been to Shreveport
[ Fisherman ] Let's pull over here a minute
[ Rambler ] Why what't the matter
[ Fisherman ] Well I'm just not really sure if I really want to go back to California
[ Rambler ] Hey listen I don't care Fisherman I told you in Indiana that I'm just ramblin'
One place is good as another with me
[ Fisherman ] You wouldn't mind then if we sorta turned around and headed towards New Orleans
[ Rambler ] Makes no difference to me till I find somebody like the lady
Or at least get the lady off of my mind one place is good as another for me
Man I saw her face in the clouds over the Rockies
I smelled her expensive perfume in that cheap bar in Denver
And I saw her face on the street in Des Moines Omaha
Till I stop seein' that face I'm ready to ramble
[ Fisherman ] Let's nake a U-turn and head back
[ Rambler ] We may be thumbin' ourselves pretty soon less you get more money than I have
[ Fisherman ] Who cares man she may be thumbin' too
8.
CALILOU
(Johnny Cash)« © '77 Song Of Cash Music, ASCAP »
Well I'm finally goin' back to Louisiana
Runnin' and thumbin' all the way
I started out way out in California
I been makin' bout five hundred miles a day
I covered all the beaches on the west coast
From Mexico Crescent City Bay
But Calilou was not in California
That's where her daddy came from by the way
And by the way her mother was a cajun
She came from New Orleans I've heard her say
And it's just like a girl to wanna see her mama
So I might find her there along the way
Calilou Calilou well they should have called you restless
Well they should have called you drifter
Yeah they should have called you trouble instead of Calilou
I recall the first time that I saw her
I picked her up near Phoenix in my car
Just another beauty seekin' fame and fortune
And I told her she should be a movie star
The next time I saw her was Tucumcari
She served my bowl of chilly with a smile
I said it's been a year since I last saw you
Wonder how'd you like to share a few good miles
Well the justice of the peace was very sleepy
I held her in my arms the whole night long
I whispered words like settle down and family
And when I woke up my Calilou was gone
Calilou Calilou...
Calilou Calilou...
**********
[ Fisherman ] Well I got plenty of time
[ Rambler ] Me too you know and it's lotta fun just seein' what the next day has to offer
And you never know what round the next bend
[ Fisherman ] Or what we're gonna find either
[ Rambler ] But do you know what I just wonder how long a man has to look before he finds himself
**********
I just got the feelin' that the fire was burnin' out
Cause the air was turnin' colder ev'ry time you came about
And a flame won't take a fannin' if the last reserve of love is runnin' low
So since I've gotta button up I believe I'll hit the road and go
Country road 6-40 state highway 45 life out off the interstate is very much alive
There's magic in the mountains and music in the valleys down below
And my song ain't through playin' yet so I believe I'll hit the road and go
**********
