lp discography - covers & lyrics

1.

FASTER HORSES (COWBOY AND THE POET)

(Tom T. Hall) « © '75 Hallnote Music, BMI / Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
He was an old time cowboy don't you understand
His eyes were sharp as razor blades his face was leather tent
His toes were pointed inward from a hangin' on a horse
He was an old philosopher of course

He was so thin I swear you could have used him for a whip
He had to drink the beer to keep his breeches on his hips
I knew I had to ask him about the mysteries of life
He spat between his boots and he replied
It's faster horses younger women older whiskey more money
[ trumpet ] He smiled and his teets were covered with tabacco stains
He said it don't do man no good to pray for peace and rain
Peace and rain is just a way to say prosperity
And buffalo chips is all that means to me

I told him I was a poet I was lookin' for the truth
I do not care for horses whiskey women or other loot
I said I was a writer my soul was all on fire
He looked at me and he said you are a liar
Son it's faster horses younger women older whiskey more money
[ trumpet ] Well I was disillusioned if I say the least
I grabbed him by the collar and I jerked him to his feet
There was somethin' cold and shiny laying in my head
So I started to believe the things he said

Well my poet days're over and I'm back to bein' me
As I enjoy the peace and comfort of reality
If my boy ever asks me what it is that I have learned
I think that I will readilly affirm
Son it's faster horses younger women older whiskey more money

Faster horses younger women older whiskey more money
Faster horses younger women older whiskey more money
It's aster horses younger women older whiskey more money
**********

2.

IT'S GOT TO BE KENTUCKY FOR ME

(Tom T. Hall) « © '75 Hallnote Music, BMI / Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
Georgia I love your big magnolia trees
Texas I love to feel the prairie breeze
Tennessee you made me what I am today
But it's got to be Kentucky for me

She loves me and she knows where I am
Kentucky you are my motherland
Say hello to the rivers and the trees
Oh it's got to be Kentucky for me
[ guitar ] New York that's a fine place to go
Colorado my it's pretty covered with the snow
California sunshine just brings me to my knees
Oh but it's got to be Kentucky for me

My flesh and my blood is burried there
I believe that Jesus blessed the briar
Big world I have seen your majesty
But it's got to be Kentucky for me
Oh it's got to be Kentucky for me
**********

3.

BIG MOTEL ON THE MOUNTAIN

(Jim Kelly) « © '75 Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
This song is for you big motel on the mountain
Just in thought to pass the time
And for the people who had loved and some have been loved
And some were wanted inside your walls
And for the 22 year old college girl
Who made that last semester with her smile along your halls
And for the trav'ling salesman
And the Friday night time dinner out time crowd
Some were seeking stimulation
In the laugh or noise and brings the music loud
This song is for you big motel on the mountain
Just in thought to pass the time
[ piano ] And for the Wednesday night or Saturday
That meet inside you banquet room at nine
For the women's club and the social leads
And the regular attendants every time
For the lost depended child
By your northside entrance left alone to die
For the long haired wide eyed boy
Selling dope and looking for a place to hide
This song is for you big motel on the mountain
Just in thought to pass the time
[ piano ] For the middle aged exaltiver
Who thought he'd seen enough to slash his wrist in No 10
And for the thirty-two year old housewife
Who got caught with the best friend's husband she ain't around to try again
For the seven year old girl
Swinging slight on the westside near the pool
Saying why couldn't dad come home with us mama
Why you got to put me in that school
This song is for you big motel on the mountain
Just in thought to pass the time
**********

4.

NO NEW FRIENDS PLEASE

(Tom T. Hall) « © '75 Hallnote Music, BMI / Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
I'd like to be your friend but think of all the friends I've bent
I never thought there'd come a day I never thought I'd hear me say
I'd disappoint you in the end no new friends please no new friends for me

Memories of all acquaintance keep on coming back
Some I met at the garden parties some lives by a railroad track

I'd like to be your friend...

What we are is self appointed there's nothing we can do
We'd lose touch with one another and that ain't fair to me or you

I'd like to be your friend...
**********

5.

LITTLE BROWN SUITCASE

(Tom T. Hall) « © '75 Hallnote Music, BMI / Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
A little brown suitcase at the top of the stairs
Not much to start with and worse for to wear
Mama said Virgil let's thow that away
He said no it might come in handy some day

Well first there was Billy Joe then there was Jack
They took that old suitcase but all brought it back
Now some went a ridin' and some had to walk
But Lord if that little brown suitcase could talk

Well my brother Quentin the one with a smile
He took that old suitcase and he went to Ohio
And he brought it back on Christmas full of toys and things
And some Bill Monroe records that I soon learned to sing

Well that was the year of 57 and the month of July
When I took that old suitcase and I joined the GI
I followed the pattern set down by the rest
On the inside of the cover I wrote my address

Well my folks are passed on now I don't know where it's at
You know Betty might know cause she keeps things like that
And when dad gets to heaven mom won't be alarmed
If he got that old suitcase tucked under his arms
**********

6.

I'M A COWBOY TOO

(Tom T. Hall) « © '75 Hallnote Music, BMI / Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
I'm a cowboy too I got to wear local shoes
I have to wear a tie and when I wear my hat it makes the baby cry
I'm a station wagon champ I'm a king of summer camps
I love what I do but I'm a cowboy too

I can't go out at night get in the barroom fights
If I ever lost my clue they'd make me tell it all in the Sunday school
Well my horse would't feel at home my neighborhood is zone
Some say it ain't true but I'm a cowboy too

I'm a cowboy too hey you ouhta taste my barbecue
If you ever heard me pickin' guitar well you would explain he oughta be a star
I'm in love with my wife I'm in love with my life
I sometimes get the blues cause I'm a cowboy too

I could drive a pickup truck if I had six thousand bucks
I had cowboy boots before but they left marks on the kitchen floor
I'm gettin' trouble wearin' a hat and the beer just makes me fat
Well my kids are buckaroos and I'm a cowboy too

I'm a country music fan I buy every tape I can
The man down where I work said the beer and the hair make me look like a jerk
Well my wife don't understand she's a Willie and Waylon fan
I got some people fooled oh but I'm a cowboy too
**********

7.

NEGATORY ROMANCE

(Tom T. Hall) « © '75 Hallnote Music, BMI / Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
He's wantin' her more than he's wantin' his wife
Buddy that's a good way to screw up your life
He sneaks off to see her when he gets a chance
That's a perfect example of a negatory romance

Sneakin' in the back door that ain't no tempo
It's a negatory romance
It's a real break of breaker when your heart is a taker
It's a negatory romance

Now girl don't go chasin' a man who ain't free
You know there are plenty of fish in the sea
So girl don't go chasin' whatever wears pants
That's another example of a negatory romance

Sneakin' in the back door...

Slippin' around on the back streets of life
Changin' your handle for one cheatin' night
Slidin' off your gold band just so you can dance
That's another example of a negatory romance

Sneakin' in the back door...
**********

8.

IT FEELS BETTER NOW

(Tom T. Hall) « © '75 Hallnote Music, BMI / Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
It feels better now I got time out of the way
It feels better now you said it would someday
Like miles behind a runner I watch the passing summers
Take the hurt away oh it's good to say it feels better now

It feels better now my friends forgot your name
It feels better now they think I've done the same
Circumstance protects us from things that will not let us
Get a goodnight sleep I seldom weep it feels better now

It feels better now I learned to smile again
It feels better now I've got some super friends
The ticks and tocks of passing time that were like hammers in my mind
Had built a wall that hides it all it feels better now
**********

9.

BEER DRINKER'S WALTZ

(Tom T. Hall) « © '75 Hallnote Music, BMI / Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
The band played and everyone talked
To the plain old beer drinker's waltz

Well they sweated and swore and they spat on the floor
Where the cigarette's butts were all thrown
They wrote on the wall and hid out from the law
And the whole gang were drunk drivin' home

The band played and everyone talked...

Some little snot ween who was barely sixteen
Played an out of tune Yamaha guitar
And old boy named Wink that brought his own drinks
Had his fiddles stoled out of his car

The band played and everyone talked...
[ fiddle ] The man tendin' bar told a boy on guitar
He was a drinkin' a little too much
They announced on the mike that they left on the lights
In a dark blue Chevrolet truck

The band played and everyone talked...

Well somewhere in the heavens there's the 7-0-7
And they're servin' champagne in first class
Somewhere upstairs a child said its prayer
Over downstairs they're having a blast

The band played and everyone talked...
**********

10.

SONGWRITER

(Tom T. Hall) « © '75 Hallnote Music, BMI / Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
He sits with the guitar on his knee thinking of love that he's had
If it makes a sound he writes it down he's the songwriter

He's trying to paint little pictures of mountains
Turn little teardrops into mighty fountains he's the songwriter

He smiles at the good lines frown at the bad lines
Cries with the sad parts rewrites the bad parts he's the songwriter

He looks through the window of life some people think he's a joke
But who can tell the thing might sell he's the songwriter

He's trying to paint little pictures of mountains...

Thank you for hearing my tune now I'll get out of your room
It's late you know I've got to go I'm a songwriter mhm mhm
**********

11.

I'M FORTY NOW

(Tom T. Hall) « © '75 Hallnote Music, BMI / Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
There were barefoot dreams of catching outlaws
There were school dreams of catching footballs
There were young dreams of finding great romance
There were army and I took the chance
There were avenues of glory and some deep despair
That put subtle shapes of silver in my hair

Well I'm forty now and I'm a man
But I can't resist the urge to put dreams in my plans
So many hopeless dreams and I broke some vows
Maybe life begins for me I'm forty now

There were summer nights and there were good days
Life was water and I made way
Oh I was crazy then so I made some breaks
Maybe God can look the other way
Either good outweighs the bad or we fotget the bad
I'm thankful for a few friends that I've had

Cause I'm forty now and I'm a man...
Well I'm forty now
**********