lp discography - covers & lyrics

1.

LITTLE THINGS

(Willie Nelson - Shirley Nelson)
« © '67 Tree Publishing, BMI »
I hope I won't disturb you with this call
But I'm just in town for such a little while
And I thought perhaps you'd like to hear the news
Jeannie's grades were the highest in the school

Billy sure does look a lot like you
I understand your other son does too
Billy said tell mom I miss her so
These were some little things that I thought you'd like to know

If you remember Sam and Peg who lived next door
With them it seemed we always laughed so much
Well Sam and Peg don't live there anymore
I understand they broke up just like us

The house we lived in now has been torn down
Of all the things it was the last to go
The freeway now runs through that part of town
These were some little things I thought you'd like to know
These were some little things I thought you'd like to know
**********

2.

OLD RIVERS

(Cliff Crofford)
« © '65 Warner-Tamerlane Publishing, BMI »
How old was I when I first saw Old Rivers
I can't remember when he wandered around
That old fellow did a heap of work
He spent his whole life walkin' plowed ground
He had the one roomed shack not far from us
Well we's about as poor as him
He had one old mule he used to call Midnight
I'd tread along after then

He used to plow them rows straight and deep
And I'd come along behind
Bustin' up plows with my own bare feet
Old Rivers he was a friend of mine
The sun had get high and that old mule he'd work
Old Rivers he'd finally say whoa
He'd wipe his brow and he'd laid back on them reins
He'd talk about that place he's wanna go

He'd say one of these days I'm gonna climb that mountain
I'm gonna walk up there among them plows
Where the cotton's high and the corns're growin'
And there ain't no fields to plow

I got a letter today from the folks back home
They're all doin' fine that crop's a little dry
Mom said down it nearly ended you heard Old Rivers died
Sittin' here now on this new plowed earth just tryin' find a little shade
Well sun's beatin' down cross them fields
Now I can see that mule Old Rivers and me

I hear 'em sayin' one of these days...
With the sun beaitin' down cross them fields (I see)
That mule Old Rivers and me
**********

3.

BIG RAILROAD MAN

(Curtis Leach - Neal Jones)
« © '68 Saran Music, BMI »
The birthday party was over toys were scattered here and there
Seven candles lay by the last piece of cake in front of an empty chair
A mother said son I know you're disappointed but please try to understand
Your daddy's been awfuly busy because you see he's a very big railroad man

So you go on to sleep now she kissed him turned out the light
But moments later a window opened and this little boy slipped out into the night
He was on his way to the depot the express wasn't due till ten
But who knows it might run a special if daddy's comin' in

That mighty scream of the 9:15 wripped through the winter night
And the whirl of the wheels and the clang of the steel
Seemed that jarred the country side
It was a southbound freight and it was runnin' late tryin' hard to make up time
When a great big man with a sack in his hand bound off that train like a lion

He hit the road like an old pro then he got up off the ground
Brushed the snow from off his grimy clothes
And he said hey kid what's the name of this town
The frightened boy said Grandville sir and the man said well what do you know
I used to live in this little ol' one horse town bout six or seven years ago

I told my wife when I left here that I was coming back in style
Oh well anyway I'm back I guess I might as well visit for awhile
So if you'll be so kind as to point the way to the Joneses
Well I'll go now and leave you be
And the young boy said the only Joneses that live around here sir
Are my mama and my daddy and me

Of course dad's been gone for a long time now
Course now he don't want to be you understand
It's just that my daddy's got lotta important things to do
You see sir he's a very big railroad man
Oh he sends me birthday presents and mama reads me what he writes
In his last letter dad promised that he was gonna try and make it home tonight

The man scratched the side of his head and said
Grandville Grandville oh I thought you said Denville
Oh well it's a kinda natural mistake
Now if you'll just point the way to the depot
I'm gonna be checkin' in on the fast freight
I'll tell you what you do oh boy you run on home now
You tell your mom to go ahead and fix up your daddy's room
Cause I've got the strangest feeling
That your dad just might become home pretty soon
**********

4.

SHORTY'S LAST RIDE

(Jimmy Dean)
« © '68 Plainview Diner Music, BMI »
His aging hands were gnarled by the tuggin' of a rope
And he walked with a limp but he stood erect And his eyes were keen with hope
The stands were full at the rodeo as he walked behind the chutes
And he said he wanted just one more ride as he plopped down his entry loot

Now there's a time that old Shorty was right at the top of the heap
But years took their toll and he made few shows and the ones he made were cheap
But like all of us from time to time he got a feelin' in his bones
He'd ride once more and stand tall again and pay off past due loans

The bull he drew was a spinner big and tough and fast
And he smiled at me as he rasened his glove and said if I ride him it'll be my last
Well the bull he spun but old Shorty stayed like he'd been glued or tied
And the chute boss said boys that's the way it's done just look at that old man ride

Buzzer sounded and old Shorty stepped down with a grin you could see a mile
And we all knew then that we'd seen a ride like we wadn't gonna see for awhile
As he started to leave the crowd went wild how well he knew that sound
But ten feet in the chutes he grabbed his chest and he crumpled to the ground

Though his spirit was strong his heart was weak and there in that dirt he died
But those who saw it ain't gonna soon forget when Old Shorty took his last ride
**********

5.

MY OWN PECULIAR WAY

(Willie Nelson)
« © '65 Tree Publishing, BMI »
It would be a comfort to know you'd never doubt me
Even though I give you cause most every day
Sometimes I think that you'd be better off without me
Although I love you in my own peculiar way

Though I may not always be the way you'd have me be
Though my faults may grow in number day by day
Let no one ever say I ever been untrue
I'll always love you in my own peculiar way

Don't doubt my love if sometimes my mind should wonder
To a suddenly remembered yesterday
My thoughts could never stay too long away from you
Because I love you in my own peculiar way

Though I may not always be...
I'll always love you in my own peculiar way
**********

6.

BIG MAN

(Jimmy Dean - Grady Martin)
« © '68 Plainview Diner Music, BMI »
Hey punk yeah you come here and sit down
I don't know who you are but I know why you're here
I knew it the minute you walked through them doors over there
New forty five slung way down on your hip
You come all the way down here to get me didn't ya you want the Big man
oh I have seen a lot of em like you boy
You think you're pretty good with them things don'tcha
Sure you do if you didn't you wouldn't be here in the first place
I'm gonna tell you something boy
I don't care if you're slower than molasseses
And you couldn't hit the inside of a barn
You're gonna win you're gonna get the big man
Why the puzzled look boy it's all very simple
I'm tired tired of fightin' tired of death just just tired boy
So when you go for that hog leg I'm gonna make you look real good
Then you know what boy you're gonna be the big man
That's what you want ain't it boy you wanna be the big man
And have people shakin' in their boots and speakin' your name real soft like
Well that's exactly what you're gonna get
But there's a few other things that go
With this little inheritance that I think you oughta know about
First of all you're gonna have a full head of gray hair just like mine fore you ever see
You 30th birthday if you ever see your 30th birthday
Why the gray hair a lot of reasons might sound
A little funny comin' from me the big man
But the main reason boy is fear that's right just plain old fear
Things you never even noticed before boy
Are gonna have you slappin' that leather 20 or 30 times a day
You better like travel boy cause that's the one thing you gonna get plenty of
You're gonna spend the rest of your life runnin' runnin' and hidin'
But there's some good things too boy
Like your sight and your hearing they're gonna improve considerably
You're gonna hear more creakin' floorboards and snappin' twigs and horseshooves
And you're gonna see more dark alleys and shadows and hatred in peoples eyes
then you ever thought existed kid let's see did I leave out anything
I guess that's about it
Oh cept this seven dollars I got in my pocket here take it it's yours
As I recall the day that I did what you're about to do
I had four dollars and fifty cents in my pocket
The way I figure it that's eh two dollars and fifty cents profit
That ain't much is it boy it's about that time young fella
You ready what's the matter
Little beads of sweat poppin' out on your head your hand's shakin'
Look I told ya you're gonna win kid
But you're not sure are you you're not real sure
Guess you'd better let me do the countin' boy
You might have a little trouble talkin' right about now
Oh I know that feelin' too
That horrible empty feelin' in your gut and a lump
In your throat feels like you'd swallowed a saddle
If you're ready you young fool stand up one two three
**********

7.

MAMA SANG A SONG

(Bill Anderson)
« © '61 Tree Publishing, BMI »
(God put a song in the heart of an angel and softly she sang it to me)

I get to thinkin' lotta times about when I was a lad
Of the old homeplace where I grew up of the days both good and bad
My overalls were hand-me-downs shoes full of holes
I used to walk four miles to school every day through the rain the sleet and the cold
I've seen the nights when my daddy would cry
For the things that his family would need
But all he ever got was a badland farm and seven hungry mouths to feed
And yet and somehow our homefire never flickered once
Cause when all the things went wrong
Mama took the hymn book down and mama sang a song

(What a friend we have in Jesus)

I've been rocked to sleep many a night to the tune of What a Friend
Morning come Rock of Ages it gently wake me once again
Then daddy'd reach up and take the Bible down and he'd read it
Read it loud and strong
And I always felt that maybe our home was blessed
When daddy'd say mama sing a song
Sister left home first I guess then Bob and Tommy and then Dan
By then dad's hair was turning grey and I had to be mama's little man
But it seemed that when dad grew weak mom's faith grew strong
And I think those were the greatest days of all when mama sang a song

(Rock of ages cleft for me let me hide myself in Thee)

I guess the old house is still standin' I don't go back much anymore
No voice is left to fill those halls and no steps to grace the floor
For you see mama sings in heaven now around God's golden throne
But I'll always believe that this old world is a whole lot better place
Because one time my mama sang a song

(Precious mem'ries flood my soul)
**********

8.

ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE

(Red Lane)
« © '68 Tree Publishing, BMI »
If you really believe ask and you shall receive
Lord this old land of mine has got so bad and so dry
That it blows away everytime the wind gets high
Seems like half of my farm has moved into town
But I think if we could just get a little shower
That it might settle the whole thing down
Just this mornin' when I went out to water my stock
What used to be my tank is just a bare old rock
And them cows I got that's all that's mine
So Lord would you let it rain just one time
Lord it's not to difficult to see
That you've gotta be runnin' this farm
It sure ain't me
Course I'll admit that it would be a might chore
If you weren't around to help me no more
Now I've got that cotton that's about two inches high
But if we don't get some rain Lord well it's gonna die
And that means that the kids 'll go without again
And so Lord could you let it rain
Ah my cotton that's comin along just fine
I don't mean to whimper or whine
But I'm just a little bit worried about my grain
So Lord could you let it rain
Ah goodness it's been a mighty fine year
Harvest time's almost here and thanks be only to you
We're gonna have plenty of work to do
But Lord eh them clouds they're they're headin' this way
And my fields is covered with new mown hay
Now comin' from me this is gonnna be quite a change
But please Lord don't let it rain
If you really believe ask and you shall receive
**********

9.

LAST GOODBYE

(Dick Miles - Kelso Herston - Bob Prather)
« © '68 Johnny Bienstock Music, BMI »
We'd finished dinner and I'd gone into the den I turned on the TV when she walked in
Kissed me on the cheek like a million times before
She said I know it's late but if you don't mind my shopping's got a little behind
And I think I'll drive downtown to the grocery store
I didn't look up I just nodded okay and asked her to hand me an ashtray
And she did
I reached over and squeezed her hand
And then she left and I shuddered a minute
And thought of my world without her in it
And reassuringly sought the touch of my wedding band
I must have been dozin' cause I didn't hear the door
And I thought strange I've never done that before
But I looked up and she was standing by my chair
Huh kind of snuck up on me I said and she smiled and nodded her head
And I told her that she looked just like an angel standing there
For a long moment she didn't say a thing and then she caressed her gold wedding ring
And I thought I saw a teardrop in her eye
You'll never know how much I love you she said
And then I thought of the many years that we've been wed
As I told her no one could be as happy as I
Then the strangest feeling filled that room not one of happiness but one of gloom
And for the first time in my life I saw sadness in her face
I reached out to touch her but she drew away
And told me again that ours was a love that time could never erase
Then I thought I heard a thousand voices singing
And I realized that was the telephone ringing
That's when I saw the halo surround her golden hair
I turned trembling to the receiver and heard a cold voice say
That there'd been a wreck out on the highway
And I knew that when I looked back she wouldn't be there
Because (this was an angels way of saying goodbye)
**********

10.

LITTLE BILL JONES

(Jimmy Dean - Ruth Roberts)
« © '68 Plainview Diner Music, BMI »
Little Bill Jones Little Bill Jones they call him little Bill Jones
In size he was the smallest but in courage he was tallest
This fella called little Bill Jones

They passed out the uniforms in Little League today
With shouts of glee the fellas put 'em on
But the first to dress completely was a little bitty lad
That we later found was little Bill Jones
Shirt too big baggy pants hat down round his ears
On his freckled face a smile so brightly shone
The coach walked over to him and said sonny what's your name
He said they call me little Bill Jones
Little Bill Jones Little Bill Jones they call him little Bill Jones
In size he was the smallest but in courage he was tallest
This fella called little Bill Jones
He didn't make the first team but he rooted all the time
From down there in the dug-out where he sat
Till the big game of the season the score was tied and in the ninth
And the coach said Little Bill get up to bat
Bill waited out that pitcher and he swung on three and two
Like he had a home run feelin in his bones
He only hit a blooper and the crowd knew he was through
But they didn't count on Little Bill Jones
He ran as fast to first base as them baggy pants 'ed go
With a do or die expression on his face
And the pitcher dropped the ball and kinda messed up his throw
And old Bill was headed in for second base
His hat flew off at second but he never broke his stride
He just went on around in third to beat the band
When the throw came into home old Bill gave a mighty slide
And quickly disappeared beneath the sand
You had to see it to believe it I tell you it was great
The crowd stood up and cheered in lusty tones
Cause hangin' on for dear life and safe at home plate
Was a big man named Little Bill Jones

Little Bill Jones Little Bill Jones they call him little Bill Jones
In size he was the smallest but in courage he was tallest
This fella called little Bill Jones
**********

11.

SAME OLD YOU

(Ruth Roberts)
« © '68 Goldenrod Music, ASCAP »
In my arms there's someone new I give my goodnight kisses to
But it's still the same old you in my heart
No other lips no other touch gets to me baby half as much
Cause it's still the same old you in my heart

I thought that I would find a newer truer love
But I might as well stop before I start
Although I try oh how I try to kiss your memory goodbye
It's still the same old you in my heart

I thought that I would find a newer truer love...
Yes it's still the same old you in my heart
**********