BILLY RAY CYRUS
TRAIL OF TEARS
(Mercury 532829)
August 20/1996
Produced by Terry Shelton
Michael J. Sagraves - guitar/steel//dobro/harmonica/mandolin
Terry Shelton - guitar/drums/percussion/keyboards
Don VonTress - guitar/bass/mandolin/vocals
Corky Holbrook, Jeff E. Cox, Lee Hendricks, Bob Workman - bass
Greg Fletcher - drums
Wanda Vick - fiddle
Barton Stevens - keyboards/vocals
Mark Douthit - sax
Ava Aldridge, John Griffiths - vocals
1.
TRAIL OF TEARS
(Billy Ray Cyrus)
« © '96 Billy Ray Cyrus Music, BMI / Songs Of PolyGram, BMI »
Too many broken promises too many trail of tears
Too many times you were left cold for oh so many years
Too many times you walked away and was made to feel ashamed
And though you only tried to give you were often blamed
[ mandolin ]
How can this world be so dark so unfair and so untrue
How did the cards of life fold right on top of you
[ guitar ]
God in heaven hear my prayer ff you are still above
Send the children hopes and dreams and lots and lots of love
For this I only ask of you to conquer all their fears
And let them soar like eagles across the trail of tears
**********
2.
TRUTH IS I LIED
(Carl Perkins - Don VonTress - Billy Ray Cyrus)
« © '96 Billy Ray Cyrus Music, BMI / Brick Hithouse Music, BMI /
Irving Music, BMI / Songs Of PolyGram, BMI / War Pony Music, BMI »
Scratched a heart on your door then I showed myself outside
Lashed my soul cross this twin-V horse and rode off in the night
Guess you noticed I'm gone and the low
Morning sun's cast some shadows with questions inside
So truth in this letter at dawn will shed a new light
Truth is I lied when I said I'd always be vour whippin' pet
I lied when I said I shouldn't mind the hurt I guess
When I pleaded and stated I needed you just to survive
Truth is last night when you tore my heart apart my mind began
Never thinkin' bout thinkin' like your fool again
And a freedom that filled me kept spellin' out truth as I'd write
Truth is I lied
Saw an image of you where the highway touched the sky
It was blockin' my view so I steered that thought aside
Now the morning and me ride a cold memory
Past tomorrow to some other town
Where we'll never care whether this truth was lost or found
Truth is I lied when I said I'd always be vour whippin' pet...
[ guitar ]
Truth is I lied
**********
3.
TENNTUCKY
(Billy Ray Cyrus - Mark Collie)
« © '96 Billy Ray Cyrus Music, BMI / Daniel Island Music, BMI /
Leipers Fork Music, BMI / Songs Of PolyGram, BMI »
Down in the hills of old Tenntucky
I remember the night that I got lucky
I saw you and you saw me
Where the Cumberland River meets the Tennessee
It's good to be good but I'd rather be lucky
Down in the hills of old Tenntucky
Heard the call of a whippoorwill I thought I smelled a moonshine still
Train whistle moan on down the track taknig me back
Down in the hills of old Tenntucky down in the hills of old Tenntucky
[ harmonica ]
Heard the call of a whippoorwill...
Down in the hills of old Tenntucky down in the hills of old Tenntucky
**********
4.
CALL ME DADDY
(Don VonTress - Billy Ray Cyrus - Michael J. Sagraves)
« © '96 Billy Ray Cyrus Music, BMI / Two Seats Down Music, BMI /
Songs Of PolyGram, BMI / War Pony Music, BMI »
Little boy running through the yard fell and skinned his heart
And later climbed up in a tree
As he looked into the sky he began to cry
And said daddy why'd you leave
Call me daddy I'm feeling blue
Call me daddy I need to talk to you
Call me daddy help me through
And then he bowed his head to pray call me dad
The little boy became a man found a bride and took her hand
And made a baby all their own
As he looked in that baby's eyes as the baby cried
He swore you'll never be alone
Call me daddy when you're feeling blue
Call me daddy and I'll talk to you
Call me daddy and I'll help you through
And then he bowed his head to pray call me dad
[ mandolin ]
Another life has come and gone another baby's grown
And stands alone against the world
As he looks into the sky he begins to cry
And says daddy I miss you
Call me daddy I'm feeling blue...
**********
5.
SING ME BACK HOME
(Merle Haggard)
« © '67 Tree Publishing, BMI »
Well the warden let the prisoner down the hallway to his doom
I stood up to say goodbye like all the rest
And I heard him tell the warden just before he reached my cell
Let my guitar friend playing my last request
So let's sing me back home the song I used to hear
Make my old mem'ries come alive
Take me away and turn back the years
Sing me back home fore I die
[ fiddle - guitar ]
I recall last Sunday morning a choir from off the street
Came in to sing a few old gospel songs
And I heard him tell the singers there's a song my mama sang
Could I hear it once before you move along
So let's sing me back home the song I used to hear...
Won't you sing me back home fore I die
**********
6.
THREE LITTLE WORDS
(Jimmy Collins - Wayne Perkins)
« © '96 Reigning Music, ASCAP / Songs Of Platinum, ASCAP »
Do I love you yes a thousand times and lately I been going out of my mind
I get the feeling you're pulling away it's gonna hurt me if you won't stay
Can't stand the thought of being alone you need to be there when I get home
If you could tell me just one more time it would surely ease my mind
Three little words would be fine
I love you I love you
I need to know that you're still mine
Three little words would be fine
It's gotten crazy I don't understand how can love get so out of hand
I've never been so uncertain before is there someone behind another door
I've got to know if I'm right or wrong with mixed emotions I can't go on
I've got to know that I'm not blind just lay it on the line
Three little words would be fine
I love you I love you...
[ guitar ]
Can't stand the thought of being alone...
I love you I love you...
I love you I love you I love you
**********
7.
HARPER VALLEY P.T.A.
(Tom T. Hall)
« © '67 Newkeys Music, BMI / Unichappell Music, BMI »
I wanna tell you all the story bout the Harper Valley widow wife
Who had a teenage daughter who attended Harper Valley Junior High
Well her daughter came home one afternoon and didn't even stop to play
She said mom I got a note here from the Harper Valley PTA
Well the note said Mrs Johnson you're wearin' your dresses way too high
And it's reported you've been drinkin' and a runnin' round with men and goin' wild
And we don't believe you oughta be a bringin' up your little girl this way
And it was signed by the secretary Harper Valley PTA
[ guitar ]
Well it happened that the PTA was gonna meet that very afternoon
And they were sure surprised when Mrs Johnson wore her miniskirt into the room
And as she walked up to the blackboard I can still recall the words she had to say
She said I'd like to address this meeting of the Harper Valley PTA
Well there's Bobby Taylor sittin' there and seven times he asked me for a date
And Mrs Taylor sure seems to use a lot of ice whenever he's away
And Mr Baker can you tell us why your secretary had to leave this town
And shouldn't wodow Jones be told to keep
Her window shades all pulled completely down
Well Mr Harper couldn't be here cause he stayed too long at Kelly's Bar again
And if you smell Shirley Thompson's breath you'll find she's had a little nip of gin
And when you have the nerve to tell me as a mother you think I'm not fit
Well this is just a little Payton Place and you're all Harper Valley hypocrites
No I wouldn't put you on because it really did it happened just this way
The day her mama socket it to the Harper Valley PTA
The day her mama socket it to the Harper Valley PTA
The day her mama socket it to the Harper Valley PTA
**********
8.
I AM HERE NOW
(Terry Shelton - Billy Ray Cyrus - Michael J. Sagraves)
« © '96 Billy Ray Cyrus Music, BMI / Cory Beth Music, BMI /
Screeming Woo Music, BMI / Two Seats Down Music, BMI / Songs Of PolyGram, BMI »
Though I let you down you stayed by my side
Knowing the truth each time I lied
Though I nearly left you you stayed till the end
I am here now you were there then
You were there then I am here now
You believed in forever and were here somehow
You were my lover my loyal friend
I am here now you were there then
There was a time when you should have been gone
I was so weak and you were so strong
I saw the light through the long endless nights
Thank God I found my way home
You were there then I am here now...
I am here now you were there then
I am here now you were there then
I am here now
**********
9.
NEED A LITTLE HELP
(Don VonTress - Billy Ray Cyrus)
« © '96 Billy Ray Cyrus Music, BMI / Songs Of PolyGram, BMI / War Pony Music, BMI »
I been feeling very weak I been turning pretty pale
First I'm falling to my knees then I'm hanging by my tail
Asked the doctor for some medicine he said there's nothing we can do
Preacher said it's gonna kill you son mama dropped the chicken soup
I'm gonna need a little help help help while I'm gettin' over you
I'm just a flicker of myself self self your hurt has cooled my fire into
If you could spare a little touch touch touch I might survive a week or two
I'm gonna need a little help help help while I'm gettin' over you
Ever since you made me leave can't remember wrong or right
When I'm up I wanna sleep when I'm asleep I wanna fight
Dialed the number for emergency sheriff said to tough it out
I called my psychic friend on channel three and she confirmed without a doubt
I'm gonna need a little help...
Bells are ringing in my ears wolf is howling in the yard
But the only thing I hear is the pounding of my heart
I saw my picture in the evening news I had a caption by my head
They polled the people for the public view and nearly everybody said
I'm gonna need a little help...
I'm gonna need a little help...
**********
10.
SHOULD I STAY
(Billy Ray Cyrus)
« © '96 Sly Dog Publishing, BMI / Songs Of PolyGram, BMI »
I can feel your teardrops on my shoulder
I don't know what to say or what to do
You're the one who told me it was over
You said this love affair was all but through
Well I know that there's two sides to every story
And that's what's going on inside my soul
Cause my heart is saying leave and you'll be sorry
But my mind is saying it's time for me to go
And my heart says I should stay but my mind says I should go
Should we end our love today or should we let it grow
And my heart says I should stay but my mind says I should go
Tell me if you love me let me know tell me should I stay or should I go
To think of me without you I'm so lonely
Cause you're the one who helped me for so long
All the nights we'd lay to love each other
With the radio playing our favorite song
And I remember when you told me you first loved me
With teardrops in my eyes I said I love you too
And my heart still feels the same and will forever
But my mind is telling me that we're all through
And my heart says I should stay...
Should I stay or should I go tell me please I need to know
**********
11.
CRAZY MAMA
(John J. Cale)
« © '76 Johnny Bienstock Music, BMI »
Crazy mama where you been so long crazy mama where you been so long
You been hidin' now I know that's true crazy mama I sure need you
Crazy mama where you been so long
[ guitar ]
Standing on the corner looking for you babe
Standing on the corner looking for you babe
Lordy mercy can I see crazy mama come back to me
Crazy mama where you been so long
**********