ROY DRUSKY
SONGS OF THE CITIES
Mercury SR-60883
January/1964
Produced by Shelby Singleton & Jerry Kennedy
Recorded:
Sept/1963, Columbia Recording Studio, Nashville
1.
DETROIT CITY
(Mel Tillis - Danny Dill)
« © '63 Cedarwood Publishing, BMI »
Last night I went to sleep in Detroit City
And I dreamed about those cottonfields back home
I dreamed about my mother dear old papa sister and brother
And I dreamed about that girl who's waited for so long
I wanna go home I wanna go home oh Lord I wanna go home
[ guitar ]
Homefolks think I'm big in Detroit City
From the letters that I write they think I'm fine
By day I make the cars by night I make the bars
If only they could read between the lines
You know I rode the freight train north to Detroit City
And after so many years well I find that I just wasted my life here all alone
I believe I'm gonna put my foolish pride on a Southbound freight and I'm gonna ride
That's what I'm gonna do I'm gonna go back to that girl who loves me
And who's waited so long
I wanna go home I wanna go home oh Lord I wanna go home
[ guitar ]
I wanna go home I wanna go home
**********
2.
COLUMBUS STOCKADE BLUES
(Jimmie Davis - Eva Sargent)
« © '59 Peer International, BMI »
Way down in Columbus G-e-o-r-g-i-a wanna be back in Tennessee
Way down in Columbus Stockade all of my friends have turned their backs on me
Go on and leave me if you wish to and never let me cross your mind
In your heart you love another well leave me little darling I don't mind
[ guitar ]
Last night as I lay sleeping I dreamed that you were in my arms
Then I found I was mistaken I was peeping through the bars
So go on and leave me if you wish to...
Go on and leave me little darling I don't mind
Why don't youleave me little darling I don't mind
**********
3.
KANSAS CITY
(Jerry Leiber - Mike Stoller)
« © '60 Jerry Leiber Music, ASCAP / Mike Stoller Music, ASCAP »
I'm goin' to Kansas City Kansas City here I come
I'm goin' to Kansas City Kansas City here I come
They got some crazy little women and I'm a gonna get me one
Go on and stand on the corner of 12th street in line (Kansas City here I come)
I'll be standin' on the corner of 12th in line (Kansas City here I come)
With my Kansas City baby and my bottle of Kansas City wine
(Kansas City here I come)
(I might take a train I might take a plane)
But if I have to walk I'm gonna get there just the same
I'm goin' to Kansas City Kansas City here I come (Kansas City here I come)
They got some crazy little women and I'm a gonna get me one
(Kansas City here I come)
[ steel ]
I'll be standin' on the corner...
I'm goin' to Kansas City...
**********
4.
EL PASO
(Marty Robbins)
« © '59 Mariposa Music, BMI / Unichappell Music, BMI »
Out in the west Texas town of El Paso I fell in love with a Mexican girl
Night time would find me in Rosa's Cantina
Music would play and Feleena would whirl
One night a young cowboy came in wild as the west Texas wind
Dancing and daring a drink he was sharing
With wicked Feleena the girl that I loved
So in danger I challenged his right for the love of this maiden
Down went his hand for the gun that he wore
My challenege was answered in less than a heartbeat
The handsome young stranger lay dead on the floor
Just for a moment I stood there in silence shocked by the foul deed I had done
I saddled up and away I did go riding alone in the dark
Maybe tomorrow a bullet may find me
Tonight nothin's worse than this pain in my heart
And at last here I am on the hill overlooking El Paso I can see Rosa's Cantina below
My love is strong and it pushes me onward down off the hill to Feleena I go
Off to my right I see five mounted cowboys off to my left ride a dozen or more
Shouting and shooting I can't let them catch me
I have to make it to Rosa's back door
I see the white puff of smoke from the rifle I feel the bullet go deep in my chest
From out of nowhere Feleena has found me
Kissing my cheek as she kneels by my side
Cradled by two loving arms that I'll die for one little kiss and Feleena goodbye
**********
5.
ABILENE
(John D. Loudermilk)
« © '63 Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
Abilene Abilene prettiest town I've ever seen
Women there don't treat you mean in Abilene my Abilene
I sit alone most every night watch those trains pull out of sight
Don't I wish they were carryin' me back to Abilene my Abilene
Abilene Abilene...
[ guitar ]
Crowded city ain't nothing free not a thing in this old town for me
Wish to the Lord that I could be in Abilene my Abilene
Abilene Abilene...
**********
6.
BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS
(Jimmie Driftwood)
« © '57 Warden Music, BMI »
In eighteen-fourteen we took a little trip
Along with Colonel Jackson down the mighty Mississipp'
We took a little bacon and we took a little beans
We fought the bloody British in the town of New Orleans
(We fired our guns and the British kept a comin'
Wasn't night as many as there was a while ago
We fired once more and they began to runnin'
On down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico)
We looked down the river and we seed the British come
There must've been a hundred of 'em beatin' on the drums
They stepped so high and they made the bugles ring
We stood beside the cotton bails and didn't say a thing
(We fired our guns...
Old Hickory said we'd take 'em by surprise
If we didn't fire our muskets till we looked 'em in the eyes
We held our fire till we seed their faces well
Then we opened up our aquirrel guns and really gave 'em hell
(We fired our guns...
(Yeah they ran through the briars and they ran through the brambles
And they ran through the bushes where a rabbit couldn't go
They ran so fast as the hounds couldn't catch 'em
On down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico)
Well we fired our cannon till the barrel melted down
So we grabbed an alligator and we fought another round
We filled his head with cannonballs and powdered his behind
And when we took the powder off the 'gator lost his mind
(We fired our guns and the British kept a comin'...
(Yeah they ran through the briars...
We fired our guns and the British kept a comin'
On down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico)
**********
7.
TEXARKANA BABY
(Fred Rose - Cottonseed Clark)
« © '48 Milene Music, ASCAP »
She's my Texarkana baby do I love her Lowdy Law
Her pappy came from Texas her maw from Arkansaw
I'm twisted round her finger like a little piece of string
And yet I'm satisfied because she's such a precious thing
If she hauled off and slapped me I wouldn't feel the sting she's my Texarkana baby
She's my Texarkana baby do I love her Lowdy Law
Her pappy came from Texas her maw from Arkansaw
She's pretty as a picture and you ought to hear her name
It's sweet as sarghum syrup and good ol' blue ribbon cane
She gives me lots of sugar and she never spill a grain she's my Texarkana baby
[ choir ]
She's my Texarkana baby do I love her Lowdy Law
Her pappy came from Texas her maw from Arkansaw
One night I went a callin' on my pretty little maid
I must admit to you I was a little bit afraid
To offer her a diamond ring with one installment paid she's my Texarkana baby
She's my Texarkana baby do I love her Lowdy Law
Her pappy came from Texas her maw from Arkansaw
I wanted to get married but she said we ought to wait
Because she's busy breakin' hearts in almost every state
I guess we'll put it off until she's broken six or eight she's my Texarkana baby
[ choir ]
She's my Texarkana baby do I love her Lowdy Law
Her pappy came from Texas her maw from Arkansaw
She's got two eyes that twinkle like a good ol' country star
She's got a perfect figure that'll stop you wherever you are
And every time I look at her I think of my guitar she's my Texarkana baby
She's my Texarkana baby she's my Texarkana baby
**********
8.
ST. LOUIS BLUES
(W.C. Handy - Luther Henderson)
« © '14 Doctor Brass Music, BMI »
I hate to see that evening sun go down I hate to see that evening sun go down
Cause my baby she done left this town
I'm feelin' tomorrow like I feel today I'm feelin' tomorrow like I feel today
I'm gonna pack my grip and make my getaway
(St Louis woman with her diamond ring) pull that man around (by the apron strings)
Twant for powder and for that store bought hair
Well that girl I love she wouldn't have gone nowhere (nowhere)
I got the St Louis Blues just blue as I can be
That girl got a heart like a rock cast in the sea
Or else she wouldn't have gone so far from me
Or else she wouldn't have gone so far from me
**********
9.
DOWN IN THE VALLEY (BIRMINGHAM JAIL)
(Traditional)
« © '49 Unart Catalog, BMI »
Write me a letter send it by mail send it in care of the Birmingham jail
Birmingham jail Brimingham jail send it in care of the Birmingham jail
Roses love sunshine violets love dew angels in heaven know I love you
Know I love you dear know I love you angels in heaven know I love you
Down in the valley the valley so low late in the evening hear that train blow
Hear that train blow love hear that train blow late in the evening hear that train blow
**********
10.
I LEFT MY HEART IN SAN FRANCISCO
(Douglas Cross - George Cory)
« © '63 Colgems Music, ASCAP »
I left my heart in San Francisco out on a hill it calls to me
To be where little cable cars climb halfway to the stars
The morning fog may chill the air I don't care
My love waits there in San Francisco above the blue and windy sea
When I come home to you San Francisco your golden sun will shine for me
[ guitar ]
Above the blue and windy sea
When I come home to you San Francisco your golden sun will shine for me
**********
11.
CHATTANOOGA SHOESHINE BOY
(Harry Stone - Jack Stapp)
« © '50 Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
Have you ever passed the corner of 4th and Grand
Where a little ball of rhythm has a shoeshine stand
People gather round and they clap their hands he's a great big bungle of joy
(He pops a boogie woogie rag) the Chattanooga shoeshine boy
He charges you a nickel just to shine one shoe
He makes the oldest kind of leather look like new
You feel as though you wanna dance when he gets through
He's a great big bungle of joy
(He pops a boogie woogie rag) the Chattanooga shoeshine boy
Well it's a wonder that the rag don't tear the way he makes it pop
You oughta see him fan the air with his hoppity hippity hoppity hippity hop
He opens up for business when the clock strikes nine
He likes to get 'em early when they're feelin' fine
Everybody gets a little rise and shine bout this great big bungle of joy
(He pops a boogie woogie rag) the Chattanooga shoeshine boy
[ steel ]
Well it's a wonder...
**********
12.
WATERLOO
(John D. Loudermilk - Marijohn Wilkin)
« © '59 Cedarwood Publishing, BMI »
Waterloo Waterloo where will you meet your Waterloo
Everybody has his day everybody has to pay
Everybody has to meet his Waterloo
Now ol' Adam was the first in history
With an apple he was tempted and deceived
Just for spite the devil made him take a bite
And that's where ol' Adam met his Waterloo
Waterloo Waterloo...
[ guitar ]
Little General Napoleon of France
Tried to conquer all the world but lost his pants
Met defeat known as Bonaparte's reterat
And that's where Napoleon met his Waterloo
Waterloo Waterloo...
Waterloo Waterloo...
**********