lp discography - covers & lyrics

1.

WEEK IN A COUNTRY JAIL

(Tom T. Hall) « © '69 Newkeys Music, BMI / Unichappell Music, BMI »
Too doop too too doo too

One time I spent a week inside a little country jail
And I don't guess I'll ever live it down
I was sittin' at red light when these two men came and got me
And said that I was speedin' through their town

Well they said tomorrow morning you can see the judge then go
They let me call one person on the phone
I thought I'd be there over night so I just called my boss
To tell him I'd be off but not for long

They motioned me inside a cell with seven other guys
One little barred-up window in the rear
My cellmate said if they had let me bring some money in
We ought to send the jailer for some beer

Well I had to pay him double cause he was the man in charge
And the jailer's job was not the best in town
Later on his wife brought hot bologna eggs and gravy
The first day I was there I turned it down

Next morning they just let us sleep but I was up real early
Wondering when I get my release
Later on we got more hot bologna eggs and gravy
And by now I wasn't quite so hard to please

Two days later when I thought that I had been forgotten
The sheriff came in chewing on a straw
He said where is the guy who thinks that this is Indianapolis
I'd like to talk to him about the law

Well I told him who I was and told him I was working steady
And I really should be gettin' on my way
That part about me being who I was did not impress him
He said the judge will be here any day

The jailer had a wife and let me tell you she was awful
But she brought that hot bologna every day
And after seven days she got to looking so much better
I asked her if she'd like to run away

The next morning that old judge took every nickel that I have
And he said son let this teach you not to race
The jailer's wife was smiling from the window as I left
In thirty minutes I was out of state
Too doo too too doo hoo
**********

2.

STRAWBERRY FARMS

(Tom T. Hall) « © '69 Newkeys Music, BMI / Unichappell Music, BMI »
Summer comes laughing to Strawberry Farms
Have you ever been there where the wind never blows
Summer comes early to strawberry farms
Oh the sun always shines but an orphan can't go

My mother is dead she doesn't care where I go
My father left a long long time ago
I had me a frog he never whined or cried
I kept him in my pocket and he died
Summer comes laughing to Strawberry Farms

Bobby had a brother he got killed in the war
I asked him but he didn't know what for
My mother was pretty she had long black hair
Once she promised me a Teddy Bear

Summer comes laughing to Strawberry Farms
Have you ever been there where the wind never blows
Summer comes early to Strawberry Farms
Oh the sun always shines and things don't die
**********

3.

SHOESHINE MAN

(Tom T. Hall) « © '69 Newkeys Music, BMI / Unichappell Music, BMI »
Well I met a man in Montgomery Alabama
I was waitin' on a bus and he was shinin' shoes and I heard him say

I'm a shoeshine man number one in the land
A shoeshine man make you shine where you stand
Leave me a tip if you can I'm a shoeshine man

Well I can sing I can dance I can play the harmonica too
I got a brand new thing on the South Side Montgomery Blues
You better stick around and watch me cause I'm an entertainin' fool

I'm a shoeshine man number one in the land...

Well I learned my trade from that rag-poppin' daddy o'mine
He shined twelve alligators made a hundred dollar bill one time
And when the meat gets scarce I shine two or three pairs for a dime

I'm a shoeshine man number one in the land...
[ harmonica ] I had a girl that helped me she had a lotta hoochy coochy ways
She was bumping and grinding paid that girl a dollar a day
But she was shy on age and the law come and took her away

I'm a shoeshine man number one in the land...
**********

4.

KENTUCKY IN THE MORNING

(Tom T. Hall) « © '69 Newkeys Music, BMI / Unichappell Music, BMI »
I will sing of a place that you may have seen
In the eastern half of our land so green
Where the sun is warm and the sky is blue
And the love of a girl is true

Kentucky in the morning trimmed in green and blue
Kentucky in the morning I was only passing through

There's a bird that sings something sweet and pure
That tune goes on while the beat sounds sure
Oh if I could hum that old song today
I could chase my blues away

Kentucky in the morning...
[ harmonica ] Oh I can't recall how I came to go
By Kentucky shores on the Ohio
As I crossed that bridge I looked back to say
I will sing you a song someday

Kentucky in the morning...
**********

5.

NASHVILLE IS A GROOVY LITTLE TOWN

(Tom T. Hall) « © '69 Newkeys Music, BMI / Unichappell Music, BMI »
"Groovy was a popular word at the time. I just wrote that song to say that Nashville was groovy.
It's about a songwriter."

My plane sat down in Nashville at a quarter after two
A little while and I'd be on my way back home to you
While I was waitin' for my flight got out and looked around
Nashville is a groovy little town

I met some entertainers and they had an extra girl
I told them I was just a tourist out see the world
From one place to another yes we really made the rounds
Nashville is a groovy little town

Next day they all took me in just like they did before
I guess I'm tryin' to tell you I won't be home anymore
Now this may sound poetic but I'm happy as a clown
Nashville is a groovy little town

Remember how I used to sit and drink and play guitar
And I'd get up and sing for all those folks at Jody's Bar
Well I found out it ain't too bad the way I pick and sound
Nashville is a groovy little town

You know that nest egg that we buried in the bank awhile
Take it out and spend it darling dress yourself in style
You have always been a swinger and now I won't be around
Nashville is a groovy little town

I've got myself a little shack out on old Hickory Lake
And now and then I get a gig and buy myself a steak
You know they published one of my old songs they're showin' it around
Nashville is a groovy little town

You remember all those tranquilisers that I used to take
Well I'm not on those anymore I'm on old Hickory Lake
So when you start crying here's the best one-liner I have found
What else you got yes Nashville is a groovy little town
**********

6.

(MARGIE'S AT) THE LINCOLN PARK INN

(Tom T. Hall) « © '69 Newkeys Music, BMI / Unichappell Music, BMI »
My name's in the paper where I took the Boy Scouts to hike
My hands're all dirty from working on my little boy's bike
The preacher came by and I talked for a minute with him
My wife's in the kitchen and Margie's at the Lincoln Park Inn

And I know why she's there cause I've been there before
But I made her a promise that I wouldn't cheat anymore
I tried to ignore it but I know she's in there my friend
My mind's on a number and Margie's at the Lincoln Park Inn
[ guitar ] Next Sunday it's my turn to speak to the young people's class
They expect answers to all of the questions they ask
What would they say if I spoke on a modern day sin
And all of the Margies at all of the Lincoln Park Inns

The bike is all fixed and my little boy's in bed asleep
His little old puppy is curled in a ball at my feet
My wife's baking cookies to feed to the Bridge Club again
I'm almost out of cigarettes and Margie's at the Lincoln Park Inn
And I know why she's there
**********

7.

HOMECOMING

(Tom T. Hall) « © '69 Newkeys Music, BMI / Unichappell Music, BMI »
"This song is biographical. I would come home and try to explain to my father in his later years what I was doing.
I didn't know what I was doing, so how could I explain it to him? Nobody had ever done it before the way I was doing it."

I guess I should have written Dad to let you know that I was coming home
I've been gone so many years I didn't realize you had a phone
I saw your cattle comin' in boy they're looking mighty fat and sleek
I saw Fred at the service station he told me that his wife was awfuly sick

You heard my record on the radio oh well it's just another song
But I've got a hit recorded it'll be out on the market 'fore too long
I got this ring in Mexico you know it didn't cost me quite a bunch
When you're in the business that I'm in the people call it puttin' up a front

I know I've lost a little weight and I guess I am looking kinda pale
If you didn't know me better Dad you'd think that I've just gotten out of jail
No we don't ever call 'em beer joints night clubs are the places where I work
You meet a lotta people there but no there ain't much chance of gettin' hurt

I'm sorry that I couldn't be here with you all when Mama passed away
I was on the road and when they came and told me it was just too late
I drove by the grave to see her boy that really is a pretty stone
I'm glad that Fred and Jan are here it's better than you being here alone

Well I knew you's gonna ask me who the lady is that's sleepin' in the car
That's just the girl that works for me and man she plays a pretty mean guitar
We worked in San Antone last night she didn't even have the time to dress
She drove me down from Nashville and to tell the truth I guess she needs the rest

Well Dad I gotta go we got a dance to work in Cartersville tonight
Let me take your number down I'll call you and I promise you I'll write
Now you be good and don't be chasin' all those pretty women that you know
And by the way if you see Barbara Walker tell her that I said hello
**********

8.

CARTER BOYS

(Tom T. Hall) « © '69 Newkeys Music, BMI / Unichappell Music, BMI »
"It's a song about my brothers. We lived in Carter County, so we were called the Carter Boys.
There were five of us and we just raised hell all the time."

The Carter boys were born one and after another
In a little old country place
I was the last and the death of my mother
And I know it was a pretty bad trace
We'd get to drinking I'd do the singing
And they taught me to chase girls and cuss
We played poker I'd do the dealing
I was the only one we could trust

And there were six of us all together
And that's how we stood all the time
Six of us all together
The Carter boys were brothers of mine

We had an old car that we kept tied together
With pieces of baling wire and hope
Well they knew when we got there and they knew when we left
They could tell by the noise and the smoke
Anytime the sheriff had nothing to do
He'd get out and chase us around
The old women prayed the old men laughed
And the middle aged people all frowned

There were six of us all together...

Daddy was a preacher and the Lord knows he tried
Gave us everything he could afford
We lost a lotta battles but daddy always said
The only thing we feared was the Lord
Well as I look back through the long lean years
I wonder how we ever survived
All of that hard work all of those women
And all of those pistols and knives

There were six of us all together...
There were six of us all together...
**********

9.

FLAT-FOOTIN' IT

(Tom T. Hall) « © '69 Newkeys Music, BMI / Unichappell Music, BMI »
"It was the rage on campus in Roanoke when I was going to college. It's kind of a buck dance.
There was a folk movement going on at the time and these kids got into flat-footin' it.
It's a beautiful dance when you see the young people doing it."

It started in Roanoke a little while ago
A brand new dance that you ought to know
They call it Flat-footin'-it and it sure looks fine
Right now it's flat-footin'-it time
And you'll be flat-footin'-it flat-gittin'-it
And you don't know just how good you did
Till you hear that guitar pickin'-it-pickin'
[ guitar ] Just let your arms hang right where they are
And then you start flat-footin'-it eight to the bar
Turn yourself loose and the law will allow
And you'll be doin' that flat-footin'-it now

You'll be flat-footin'-it flat-gittin'-it
You don't know just how good you did
Till you hear that drummer pickin'-it-pickin'
[ drums ] It started in Roanoke and came a long way
And now it's a flat-footin'-it USA
Good for your spirits and good for your health
Girl try a little flat-footin'-it yourself

And you'll be flat-footin'-it flat-gittin'-it
You don't know just how good you did
Till you hear that bass still a-pickin'-it-pickin'
[ bass ] Well all of the students at the university
Shocked and amazed the existin' faculty
Some dropped biology and some cut their math
To enroll in a flat-footin' class

Flat-footin'-it flat-gittin'-it
You don't know just how good you did
Till you hear that band a-pickin'-it-pickin'
**********

10.

GEORGE (AND THE NORTH WOODS)

(Tom T. Hall) « © '69 Newkeys Music, BMI / Unichappell Music, BMI »
You know George I was just layin' here thinking
About me being blind and all alone
Old timer if you weren't here to guide me
I'd be lost and they'd never find my bones

I just came here to the North Woods for some thinking
And you know a man just get to rest once in a while
And I'm really glad you came along to guide me
It seems to me we walked a hundred miles

You know how much I've always liked this cabin
It's quiet and I get a chance to think
I just can't figure things out in the city
The bars are there and you know how I drink

You know George I made a fortune in the big town
Why my name was on the city limit sign
And then fate laid her heavy hands upon me
And brought the accident that left me blind
[ piano ] Old buddy you know how that woman did me
I guess you knew her better than I did
George I guess you knew how much it hurt me
The day that old judge gave her both my kids

But she said she wouldn't care if I's to drop dead
With all that insurance I don't guess she would
Most people think the wilderness is quiet
Would you listen to the wolves out in the woods

Well tomorrow when I'll leave here I'll be a changed man
I'm gonna ride those trains when they yell all aboard
You spent a lotta time here in the big woods
I'm really glad you're goin' with me George

George George George are you there
Hey man you're not puttin' me on are you George
**********

11.

I MISS A LOT OF TRAINS

(Tom T. Hall) « © '69 Newkeys Music, BMI / Unichappell Music, BMI »
When the train pulls in the station you'll be waiting by the track
You're having trouble sleepin' nights you want me to come back
But that old train will roll on by you'll know I never came
Cause I sleep good and miss a lot of trains

I sleep good and I miss a lot of trains
That oneway track to no man's luck I'll never ride again
I used to lie awake like you calling out your name
Now I sleep good and I miss a lot of trains

You're standing in the station I can see you in my mind
You think that I'll forgive again but you're so wrong this time
Your sleepless eyes and selfish heart are waiting there in vain
While I sleep good and miss a lot of trains

I sleep good and I miss a lot of trains...
**********