lp discography - covers & lyrics

1.

P. T. 109

(Marijohn Wilkin - Fred Burch)
« © '62 Cedarwood Publishing, BMI »
In '43 they put to sea thirteen men and Kennedy
Aboard the PT 109 to fight the brazen enemy
And off the isle of Olasana in the straight beyond Naru
A Jap destroyer in the night cut the 109 in two

Smoke and fire upon the sea everywhere they looked was the enmy
The heaten gods of old Japan yeah they had the best of a mighty good men

And on the coast of Kolobangara looking through this telescope
Australian Evans saw the battle for the crew had little hope
Two were dead and some were wounded all were clinging to the bow
Fightin' fire and flightin' water tryin' to save themselves somehow

Smoke and fire upon the sea...

McMahon the Irishman was burned so badly he couldn't swim
Leave me here go on he said cause if you don't we'll all be dead
The PT skipper couldn't leave him a man to die alone at sea
And with a strap between his teets he towed the Irishman through to sea

Smoke and fire upon the sea...

He led his men through waters dark rocky reefs and hungry sharks
He braved the enemy's bayonets a thirty eight hung round his neck
Four more days and four more nights a rescue boat pulled into sight
The PT 109 was gone but Kennedy and his crew lived on

Now who could guess who could possibly know that same man named Kennedy
Would be the leader of the nation be the one to take command
The PT 109 was gone but Kennedy lived to fight again

Smoke and fire upon the sea everywhere they looked was the enemy
But JFK and his crew lived on
Which proves it's hard to get the best of a man named John
(Big John Big John Big John Big John Big John Big John)
**********

2.

BASIN STREET BLUES

(Spencer Williams)
« © '29 Edwin H Morris Co, ASCAP »
Won'tcha come along with me (come along with me)
Down to the Mississippi (down to the Mississippi)
We'll take the boat to the land of dreams
Steamin' down that river down to the New Orleans

Now the band's gonna meet us (band's gonna meet us)
Lotsa old friends to greed us (old friends to greed us)
Now that's with a high and a low brown beat
With heaven on earth they call the Basin Street yeah

Basin Street now that's that street where the elite always meet
New Orleans that land of dreams well you'll never know how nice it seems
Or just how it really means oh I'm glad to be oh yes siree
Where these folks say kinda how you do me and I can lose my Basin Street blues

(In that night the piano player woke up ha ha ha)
[ piano ] Yeah I'm glad to be oh yes siree
Where these folks they kinda how they do me
Amd I can lose my Basin Street blues
(And I even slept on the Bourbon Street after awhile)
**********

3.

PLEASE PASS THE BISCUITS

(Gene Sullivan)
« © '62 Sully Music, BMI »
(Just picture a lad between mom and dad it's Sunday the table is set
There's uncles there's aunts and cousins galore but plenty of food to be ete
The blessing is said they reach for the bread it's a feast a king would afford
There's platter there's chatter but something's the matter
There's someone who's being ignored)

Uh would you pass the biscuits please would you please pass the biscuits
It's the same thing every Sunday since I can't remember when
Kinfolks all around the table and the biscuits way up at the other end
I got a plate of chicken and taters and a lot of stuff like that
All I need's a biscuit but foot look where they're at
I guess I could reach across the table but that's ill mannered maw always said
Shore wish I had a biscuit I just can't eat without bread
Would you pass the biscuits excuse me would you please pass the biscuits
All I want's a biscuit nobody seems to care
If they wouldn't talk so doggone loud they might be able to hear
By doggies their half finished eatin' and I ain't even begun
I wish you'd look at them biscuits disappear I'll be lucky if I get a one
Same thing ever Sunday always company to be fed
They talk like they're wound up sure wish I had a piece of bread
Hey would you please pass the biscuits pass the biscuits please
It looks like somebody would notice that I ain't started eatin' yet
Shore be glad when they get their fill and just go out in the parlor and sit
Then by golly I won't have to use my manners I'll just get a biscuit myself
Well I'll be a monkey's uncle they ain't a biscuit left
The only day of the week that we all get Sunday fed
And they ete up all the biscuits and well I just can't eat without bread

(There's something the matter no bread on the platter
And he just can't eat without bread)
**********

4.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN LONELY

(George Brown - Peter DeRose - Billy Hill)
« © '33 Shapiro-Bernstein Co, ASCAP »
Have you ever been lonely have you ever been blue
Have you ever loved someone just as I love you
Can't you see that I'm sorry for each mistake I've made
Can't you see I've changed dear can't you see I've paid
Be a little forgiving take me back in your heart
How can I go on living now that we're apart

If you knew what I've been through then you'd know why I ask you
Have you ever been lonely have you ever been blue

If you knew what I've been through...
**********

5.

NOBODY

(A. Rodgers - B. Williams)
« © '62 BMG Songs, ASCAP »
When life seems full of clouds and rain and I am filled with not but pain
Who soothes my thumpin' bumpin' brain nobody
When winter comes with snow and sleet me with hunger and cold feet
Who says here's too bit more to eat nobody

I ain't never done nothin' to nobody
And I ain't never got nothin' from nobody no time
And until I get some from somebody sometime
I don't intend to do nothin' for nobody no time

Well I'm tyrin' hard and schemin' a plan to do the very best I can
Who says look at that handsome man nobody
Well all day long things go a mess and I go home to find some bliss
Who's waitin' there with a lovin' kiss nobody

I ain't never done nothin'...
Nobody no time
**********

6.

I WAS JUST WALKIN' OUT THE DOOR

(Cindy Walker)
« © '60 Golden West Melodies, BMI »
I was just walkin' out the door it's too bad you didn't come before
I waited so long so long so long I won't have to wait anymore

How I cried for you day and night wanted letters that you didn't write
But now it's alright alright alright you won't have to write anymore

Not so long ago you will never know what this day to me would have been
It's all over now but darling anyhow it was so nice to see you again

Well it's almost a quarter of four sorry I can't stay anymore
I must be on my way you see it's my weddin' day
And I was just walkin' out the door
I was just walkin' out the door
**********

7.

STEEL MEN

(David Martin)
« © '62 Southside Music, BMI »
(Steel men hey workin' on a bridge of steel
Workin' on a bridge of steel)

Out on the rocky western coast up Vancouver by the sea
At a place that's known as Second Narrow they were buildin' a bridge of steel
Well they hammered and they cut and they riveted
And the weldin' torches were bright
Makin' a strap on a river's back sweat a pourin' from day til night

Steel men hey workin' on a bridge to cross (that water)
Steel men ho workin' on a bridge of steel

Well it happened on the eighteenth of the day of June back in 1950 plus eight
People were fishin' from the shore the day was gettin' late
Now the wind was tuggin' at the maple trees but a steel man knows no fear
If somebody wanted to bridge the Pacific well a steel man would be there

Steel men hey workin' on a bridge to cross (that water)
Steel men ho workin' on a bridge of steel

Well all of a sudden now the wind picked up and it blew as hard as it could
And that steel bridge swayed like a leaf in the breeze
And it snapped like a stick of wood
Now the girders buckled and the rivets broke and the water heard the cry
And that steel bridge shook off the workin' men like a hound dog shakes off flies

Steel men hey workin' on a bridge to cross (that water)
Steel men ho workin' on a bridge of steel

Eighteen men just as hard as nails and as eager as a brand new bride
And as the clock on the tower said a quarter of four all eighteen had died

Steel men hey workin' on a bridge to cross (that water)
Steel men ho workin' on a bridge of steel

Steel men hey ain't goin' back to wife and daughter
Steel men hey livin' and dyin' by steel livin' and dyin' by steel
**********

8.

DARKTOWN POKER CLUB

(Jean Havez - Bert Williams - William H. Vodery)
« © '62 WB Music, ASCAP »
Bill Jackson was a poor old dub who joined the Darktown Poker Club
And he cursed the day and he said he'd join
His money used to go like it had wings if he yelled queens someone had kings
And each night he would contribute all his coin
He said I'll play 'em tight tonight no bobtail flushes gonna make me bite
When I go in buddy my hand will be a peach
And he played them tight but he lost his pile and ol' Bill got peevish after a while
So he rose looked all around and made this speech

He said you all see this brand new razor I had it sharpened just today
And I'm gonna tell you there's brand new rules
That you gonna follow when you play
Keep your hands above the table when you dealing please
Don't be stickin' none of them aces down there between your knees
Don't go makin' them funny signs like you tryin' to tip off your hand
You just keen talkin' in American sonny boy so Bill can understand
Don't be dealin' the bottom of the deck ooh boy that's rough
And remember them poker friends you get five that's enough
When you bet put up them chips cause I don't like it when you shy
When you broke oh then get some I'm gonna be here by and by
You pass them cards to ol' Bill but everytime before you deal
Then if anything's wrong I'm gonna see
Now you ain't gonna play this game accordin' to Mr Hoyle
You all play this game accordin' to me

Now sittin' right there in that there clan there chance to be a one-eyed man
And Bill kept watchin' him out the corner of his eye
This one-eye man'd deal and then he'd lose ol' Bill another five or ten
And Bill got up looked all around him with a sigh
He said Lord this is an awful shame there's someone cheatin' in this here game
It ain't no do for me to name the guy
So I'll refrain from mentioning the party's name
If I catch him cheatin' just once again
I'm gonna take my fist and close that other eye

You see this brand new razor I had it sharpened just today
Now I'm gonna pass some brand new rules you follow when you play
Keep them bony fingers on the table when you're dealin' please
Don't be stickin' none of them aces down there tween your knees
Don't be makin' none of them funny signs
Like you're tryin' to tip off your hand
You just keep talkin' in American big AAA that I'll understand
Don't be dealin' off the bottom of the deck friend cause that's rough
And remember friend five cards hole that's enough
When you bet put up them chips I don't like it when you shy
When you broke oh then get some I'm gonna be here by and by
You pass them cards to ol' Bill but everytime before you deal
Then if anything's wrong good neighbor I'm gonna see
Now you ain't gonna play this game accordin' to Mr Hoyle
You all play this game accordin' to me
Lloyd if you break the seal on that new deck of bicycles
We'll go on from there
**********

9.

YOU'RE NOBODY TILL SOMEBODY LOVES YOU

(Russ Morgan - Larry Stock - James Cavanaugh)
« © '44 Shapiro-Bernstein Co, ASCAP / Southern Music, ASCAP / Larry Stock Music, ASCAP »
You're nobody till somebody loves you
Now you're nobody till somebody cares
Now you may be king all you might posses is world and all its gold
But that gold won't buy you happiness when you're growing old
Cause this old world is still the same you're not gonna change it
As long as the stars shine above
Oh you're nobody till somebody loves you
So find yourself somebody to love
[ organ ] Oh you're nobody till somebody cares
[ organ ] But that gold won't buy you happiness when you're growing old
This old world it's still the same you're not gonna change it
Just as long as the stars shine above
Well you're nobody till somebody loves you
So find yourself somebody you better find yourself somebody
Find yourself somebody to love
**********

10.

KENTUCKY MEANS PARADISE

(Merle Travis)
« © '61 Unichappell Music, BMI »
Now a lot of words have spelled the same with a different meanin' you see
But here's a brand new way to spell heaven and accordin' to me
You take a K and an E and an N and a T and U C K Y
That spells Kentucky but it means paradise
You take a chicken and you kill it
And you throw it in the skillet and you fry up a golden brown
That's southern cookin' taste mighty fine

It don't cover a lot when you look on a map
But I once studied geography when I was sattin' on my mama's lap
You take K E N T U C K Y that spells Kentucky but it means paradise
[ harmonica - guitar ] It don't cover a lot...
Yes that spells Kentucky but it means paradise
**********

11.

LITTLE BLACK BOOK

(Jimmy Dean)
« © '62 Plainview Diner Music, BMI »
**********

12.

OLD PAPPY'S NEW BANJO

(Stuart Hamblen)
« © '56 Anne Rachel Music, ASCAP »
The funeral was over the folks started home was on a few that were there
A lonely little fella on an ole wagon seat his heartache to heavy to bear
Turned to his father who drove the ole mule his face plainly showed the deep hurt
Why did they put grandpappy in that old wooden box then cover him over with dirt

The man searched for an answer as the ole mule walked along
Through his tears he gazed down the road
As he held the little boy close to his old ragged shirt
And tried awful hard to lighten his load
Why pappy wadn't in that box boy the Lord took him out
He came and got pappy last night while you's asleep
That ole coffin that's all they buried today boy
That's the truth honey baby don't you weep
You remember how ole pappy always say think you need a new banjo
Well the Lord knowd that and he come and got pappy
He found him a dreamin' and a rockin' in that ole rockin' chair
And take him up to heaven and he show him a big beautiful garden
And say pappy if you workin' you not only get a new banjo
But you'll get a new mule a good mule
And a plow that's got a golden plowshare
That's what he say to pappy
Yeah pappy's gone away boy but he's got a new banjo a brand new'en
And he's just settin' up there a rockin' and a plankin' on them golden stairs
And I'll tell you something else boy
Pappy's got a new mule a good mule this time
And ole pappy's workin' in a big beautiful garden
And he's plowin' with that golden plowshare
That's the truth honey baby that's the truth
**********