lp discography - covers & lyrics

1.

TAKE AN OLD COLD TATER (AND WAIT)

(E.M. Bartlett)
« © '49 Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
When I was a little boy around the table at home
I remember very well when company would come
I would have to be right still until the whole crowd ate
My mama always said to me Jim take a tater and wait
Now taters never did taste good with chicken on a plate
But I had to eat 'em just the same
That is why I look so bad and have these puny ways
Because I always had to take an old cold tater and wait
[ harmonica ] And then the preachers they would come to stay awhile with us
I would have to slip around and raise a little fuss
In fear that I will spill the beans or break a china plate
My mama always said to me Jim take a tater and wait
Now taters never did taste good...
[ guitar ] Well I thought that I'd starve to death before my time would come
All that chicken they would eat and just leave me the bun
The feet and neck were all that's left upon the china plate
It makes you pretty darn weak to take an old cold tater and wait
Well taters never did taste good...
**********

2.

COUNTRY BOY

(Boudleaux Bryant - Felice Bryant)
« © '49 House Of Bryant, BMI »
Now I'm just a simple guy but there's one thing sure as shootin'
I hate those folks that think that they're so doggone high fa lutin
I'd be the same in Hollywood or right in my own kitchen
I believe in fussin' when you're mad and scratchin' when you're itchin'

I'm a plain old country boy a corn bread lovin' country boy
I raise cain on Saturday but I go to church on Sunday
I'm a plain old country boy a corn bread lovin' country boy
I'll be lookin' over that old grey mule when the sun comes up on Monday

Where I come from opportunities, they never were too good
We never had much money, but we done the best we could
Ma doctored me from youngin-hood with Epson salts and Iodine
Made my diapers out of old feed sacks my 'spenders out of plow lines

I'm a plain old country boy...

Every time the preacher called Ma always fixed a chicken
If I'd reach for a drumstick I was sure to get a lickin'
She always saved two parts for me but I had to shut my mouth
T'was the gizzard and the north end of a chicken flyin' south

I'm a plain old country boy...
**********

3.

I CAN'T HELP IT (IF I'M STILL IN LOVE WITH YOU)

(Hank Williams)
« © '51 Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
Today I passed you on the street and my heart fell at your feet
I can't help it if I'm still in love with you
Somebody else stood by your side and he looked so satisfied
I can't help it if I'm still in love with you

A picture from the past came slowly stealing
As I brushed your arm and walked so close to you
Then suddenly I got that old time feeling
I can't help it if I'm still in love with you
[ harmonica ] Today I passed you on the street...
It's hard to know another's lips will kiss you
And hold you just the way I used to do
Oh heaven only knows how much I miss you
I can't help it if I'm still in love with you
**********

4.

I'M LITTLE BUT I'M LOUD

(Boudleaux Bryant - Jimmy Dickens)
« © '57 Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
A lots of folks have told me I was poor for I got right
A winter apple picked up in the fall
But even as a young'n I was not the bashful type
Cause I could yell up loud to stop them all
I'm little but I'm loud I'm poor but I'm proud
I'm countrified and I don't care who knows it
I'm like a Banty Rooster in a big red rooster crowd
I'm puny short and little but I'm loud
[ guitar ] I learned to do my singin' walkin' long behind a plow
The singing teacher always passed me by
And so I had to sing the only way I know
How just rear back open up and let her fly
I'm little but I'm loud...
[ fiddle ] I sang a special solo song in church one Sunday morn
And I was plumbin' barest to my skin
I hit a high and looked around and as sure as I was born
Two cows and fourteen herses come walkin' in
I'm little but I'm loud...
**********

5.

WE COULD

(Felice Bryant)
« © '55 House Of Bryant, BMI »
If anyone could find the joy that true love brings a girl and boy
We could we could you and I
If anyone could ever say that their true love was here to stay
We could we could you and I
When you're in my arms I know you're happy to be there
And just as long as I'm with you I'm happy anywhere
If anyone could pray each night to thank the Lord that all is right
We could we could you and I
[ guitar - steel ] When you're in my arms...
**********

6.

RAISIN' THE DICKENS

(Buddyy Emmons)
« © '56 Cedarwood Publishing, BMI »
[ instrumental ] **********

7.

A-SLEEPIN' AT THE FOOT OF THE BED

(Happy Wilson - Luther Patrick)
« © '49 Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
Did you ever sleep at the foot of the bed when the weather was whizzin' cold
When wind was whistlin' around the house and the moon was yeller as gold
You give your good warm mattress up to Aunt Lizzie and Uncle Fred
Too many kinfolks on a bad night and you went to the foot of the bed
I could always wait till the old folks ate and eat the leavin's with grace
The teacher could keep me after school I'd still have a smile on my face
I could wear the big boys' wornout clothes or let sister have my sled
But it always did get my nanny goat to sleep at the foot of the bed
[ guitar - fiddle ] It was fine enough when kinfolks come and the kid brought brand new games
You could see how fat all the old folks was and learn all the babies' names
Had biscuits and custard and chicken pie we all got Sunday fed
But I know darn well when my time come I was headed for the foot of the bed
They say some folks don't know what it is havin' company all over the place
To rassle for cover on a winter night with a big foot settin' in your face
Or cold toenails a scratchin' your back and the footboard scrubbin' your head
I'll tell the world you ain't lost a thing never sleepin' at the foot of the bed
[ guitar - fiddle ] I've done it over and over again in this land of the brave and the free
And in this all fired battle of life it's left its mark on me
For I'm always a strugglin' around at the foot instead of forgin' ahead
And I don't think it's caused from a doggone thing
But sleepin' at the foot of the bed
**********

8.

JAMBALAYA (ON THE BAYOU)

(Hank Williams)
« © '52 Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
Goodbye Joe me gotta go me oh my oh
Me gotta go pole the pirogue down the bayou
My Yvonne the sweetest one me oh my oh
Son of a gun we'll have big fun on the bayou

Jambalaya and a crawfish pie and a fillet gumbo
Hey tonight I'm gonna see my ma cher amio
Pick guitar fill fruit jar and be gay-o
Son of a gun we'll have big fun on the bayou
[ piano ] Settle down far from town get me a pirogue
I'm a gonna catch all the fish in the bayou
Swap my mon to buy Yvonne what she need-o
Son of a gun we'll have big fun on the bayou

Jambalaya and a crawfish pie...
[ guitar ] Jambalaya and a crawfish pie...
**********

9.

OUT BEHIND THE BARN

(Boudleaux Bryant)
« © '54 Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
My pappy used to tan my hide out behind the barn
He taught me to be dignified out behind the barn
When he took his strap to me and turned me down across his knee
He sure did hurt my dignity out behind the barn
I smoked my first cigarette out behind the barn
And that's one day I won't forget out behind the barn
I got so sick you should have seen how that tobacco turned me green
I almost died from nicotine out behind the barn
I got my education out behind the barn and I ain't a foolin' no siree
Passed each examination out behind the barn
But it almost made a wreck out of me
[ piano - guitar ] I met a pretty girl one day out behind the barn
She wanted me to stay and play out behind the barn
She taught me to kiss and pet that's a game I can't forget
Cause we still play the same game yet out behind the barn
I wish that I could go again out behind the barn
And do some things that I did then out behind the barn
Now you may think it ain't no fun to be a poor old farmer's son
You just don't know what all I've done out behind the barn
I got my education...
**********

10.

WABASH CANNONBALL

(A.P. Carter)
« © '46 Peer International, BMI »
From the great Atlantic ocean to the wide Pacific shore
She climbs a flowery mountains oe'r the hills and by the shore
Although she's mighty tall and handsome she's known quite well by all
She's a regular combination of the Wabash Cannonball
Eastern states're dandy all the western people say
Chicago or Rock Island and St Louis by the way
To the lakes of Minnesotta where the wrippling waters fall
No changes can be taken on the Wabash Cannonball
Listen to the jingle the rumble and the roar
She glides along the woodland through the hills and by the shore
Hear the mighty rush of the engine hear that lonesome hoboe call
Trav'ling through the jungle on the Wabash Cannonball
[ harmonica - guitar ] She came down to Birmingham one cold December day
As she rolled into the station you could hear all the people say
There's a gal from Tennessee she's long and she's tall
She came down to Birmingham on the Wabash Cannonball
Here's to daddy Claxton may his name forever stand
He'll always be remembered in the ports throughout the land
His earthly race is over and the curtains round him fall
We'll carry him home to Dixie on the Wabash Cannonball
Listen to the jingle...
**********

11.

TRAMP ON THE STREET

(Hazel Cole - Grady Cole)
« © '47 Dixie Music, BMI »
Only a tramp twas last reset fate he who laid down at the rich man's gate
He begged for the crumbs from the rich man to eat
He was only a tramp found dead on the street
He was some mother's darling he was some mother's son
Once he was fair and once he was young
Some mother rocked him her darling to sleep
But they left him to die like a tramp on the street
Jesus who died on Calvary's tree shed his life's blood for you and for me
They fixed his sides his hands and his feet
Then they left him to die like a tramp on the street
[ harmonica ] If Jesus should come and knock at your door
For a place to come in or crumbs from your floor
Would you welcome him in or turn him away
Oh God would reward you on that great judgement day
He was Mary's own darling he was God's chosen son
Once he was fair and once he was young
Mary she rocked him her darling to sleep
Then they left him to die like a tramp on the street
**********

12.

RED WING

(F.A. Mills - Thurland Chattaway)
« © '54 Shawnee Press, ASCAP »
[ instrumental ] **********