lp discography - covers & lyrics

1.

RAVISHING RUBY

(Tom T. Hall) « © '73 Hallnote Music, BMI / Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
Ravishing Ruby she'd been around for a while
Ravishing Ruby she was a truckstop child
Born in the back of a rig somewhere near LA
Ravishing Ruby you poured a lotta hot coffee in your day

Ravishing Ruby believed anything you say
Just like her daddy said said he'd be back some day
She was just fourteen she grew up wild and free
And all the time she's been waitin' on him she's been waitin' on you and me

Ravishing Ruby she sleeps in the bunk out back
Her days and nights're filled with dreams of a man named Smiling Jack
That was her daddy's name and that's all she ever knew
Ravishing Ruby ain't got time for guys like me and you

Ravishing Ruby a beautiful young girl now
Ravishing Ruby she made a solemn vow
Waitin' on Smiling Jack he'll come rolling by
And she wants to see him she wants to touch him either way dead or alive

Ravishing Ruby she sleeps in the bunk out back...
**********

2.

DON'T FORGET THE COFFEE BILLY JOE

(Tom T. Hall) « © '73 Hallnote Music, BMI / Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
It snowed the night before and it had frozen on the ground
We didn't have a car and we lived seven miles from town
And I can hear my daddy's voice so many years ago
Saying don't forget the coffee Billy Joe

Mama needs her medicine she's got that real bad cough
We'll get our check on Monday tell ol' Sam we'll pay him all
And you can get catch a ride when you get to the blacktop road
Don't forget the coffee Billy Joe

Me and Quentin went back on the hill and we cut some woods
Burnin' in that old warm mornin' stove it sure smelled good
Daddy couldn't get work then and I was just a child
And God was on vacation for a while

Well if you see Fred you tell him I'll come help him kill them hogs
And ask him if he'd still be interested in my dog
Don't hang around that poolroom all day we might get more snow
And don't forget the coffee Billy Joe

Well they wonder why there ain't no rabbits left this day and time
To tell the truth I guess we ate 'em all in '49
Was that yesterday or was it over twenty years ago
Don't forget the coffee Billy Joe

Mama needs her medicine she's got that real bad cough...
Now pay attention son don't forget the coffee Billy Joe
**********

3.

SPOKANE MOTEL BLUES

(Tom T. Hall) « © '73 Hallnote Music, BMI / Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
I don't know what I'm doing here I could be someplace else
Like in Atlanta drinking wine wine wine
I don't know what I'm doing here I should be someplace else
Like in Kentucky drinking shine shine shine

The dogs're running down in Memphis and them nags are running in LA
I'm stuck in Spokane in a motel room and there ain't no way to get away
Willie Nelson's picking out in Austin and Waylon's hanging out in Mexico
I'm stuck in Spokane in a motel room and Kris is makin' moving picture show

Hey I don't know what I'm doing here...

Well I know they're dancing in New Orleans and old Chicago's bright as day
I'm stuck in Spokane in a motel room Lord I wish I had a Dolly Parton tape
Well Hill and Bare and Billy Joe they're gambling
And old TP's fryin' croppie all night long
They're down at Tootsie's eatin' chilly I'm stuck in Spokane a writin' songs

Hey I don't know what I'm doing here I could be someplace else
Like in Atlanta drinking wine wine wine
I don't know what I'm doing here I should be someplace else
Like in Kentucky drinking clear moonshine
**********

4.

LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN

(Tom T. Hall) « © '73 Hallnote Music, BMI / Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
Looking forward to seeing you again
I'm looking forward to seeing you again

Well it seems like only yesterday that I was living here
And I'm surprised that hasn't change thru'out these many years
That old tree ain't grown much more than six or seven feet
Lord I sometimes wish that I lived on this street

Looking forward to seeing you again
I'm looking forward to seeing you again

It's silly but in all my little hometown kinda dreams
I thought of you and sunny skies and pies banana cream
I think of coffee conversation about the local folks
And how things were when I was just a joke

And I'm looking forward to seeing you again
Oh I'm looking forward to seeing you again

I know I'm foolish when I think that life here never ends
The never changing smile of all my old familiar friends
But I suppose that death is just as real in Olive Hill
As it is in some big city by a mill

I'm looking forward to seeing you again
Oh I'm looking forward to seeing you again

Remember all the times I had to borrow fifteen bucks
How could I be so optimistic so down on my luck
You never mentioned that I had so many things to learn
And you never said it when my back was turned

And I'm looking forward to seeing you again my friend
I'm looking forward to seeing you again

Well here I am a few miles from your friendly coffee pot
I meant to call and tell you I was here but I forgot
I guess we never change much from the things that we have been
But I'm looking forward to seeing you again

I'm Looking forward to seeing you again
Oh I'm looking forward to seeing you again

There ain't too many cities like this pretty town today
And I can hear an old dog barkin' somewhere far away
Perhaps the great great grandson of a dog that I once knew
Barking at somewhere with whom I went to school

Looking forward to seeing you again
Oh I'm looking forward to seeing you again
Looking forward to seeing you again my friend
I'm looking forward to seeing you again
Looking forward to seeing you again
Oh I'm looking forward to seeing you again
**********

5.

I FLEW OVER OUR HOUSE LAST NIGHT

(Tom T. Hall) « © '73 Hallnote Music, BMI / Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
That old Kentucky moon was shining bright as day
The stars were twinkling in the Milky Way
The pilot said if you look close there's Frankfort on the right
I flew over our house last night

Thirty thousand feet below me you were fast asleep
And thirty thousand feet above I almost stopped to weep
So close and yet so far away so wrong and yet so right
I flew over our house last night

For just one second I thought I was back in town
The man your friends all say has only brought you down
The airline hostess asked me sir are you sure that you're alright
I flew over our house last night

Thirty thousand feet below me you were fast asleep
Thirty thousand feet above I almost stopped to weep
I wonder did you toss and turn as I roared out of sight
I flew over our house last night
**********

6.

ANOTHER TOWN

(Tom T. Hall) « © '73 Hallnote Music, BMI / Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
Loving you was just a storybook affair
I've decided there ain't no real life anywhere
Soon I'll be a faded picture in the book of your mind
Another town is somewhere down the line

Another town another grocery store
Another town another set of swinging doors
And somehow I'm a little bit suspecious in my mind
It's another town that don't need my kind

Tell your mama she was sure a dandy cook
Tell your papa that I understood his looks
If I put it all together you're a piece that wouldn't fit
There's another town a comin' up I guess

Another town another grocery store...

As I leave you let me leave you with this thought
Time is candy and we ate all that we bought
Them teardrops they're just wrappers on the ground
That a ill wind blows into another town

Another town another grocery store..
Another town another grocery store...
**********

7.

TOO MANY DO-GOODS

(Tom T. Hall) « © '73 Hallnote Music, BMI / Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
We got too many do goods and not enough hard working men
We got too many hands out and not enough lendin' a hand
We got too many thinkers looking for the answer in the wind
Hey we got too many do goods and not enough hard working men

We got poets and prophets and some folks are readin' the stars
If we'd look a little closer to home we might find who we are
We got all kinds of sermons and booklets and pamphlets on sin
Hey we got too many do goods and not enough hard working men

We got too many do goods...

We got clubs and committees who know all about wrong and right
Oh but I've seen some children who starved plumb to death on advice
I appreciate your sympathy and I believe in missionary work
But a little bit of bendin' down and pickin' up your brother wouldn't hurt

We got too many do goods...
**********

8.

SONG FOR UNCLE CURT

(Tom T. Hall) « © '73 Hallnote Music, BMI / Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
I hate to write this song I never wanted to
But after all Curt writin' songs is what I do
Right now the paper's staring at me cold and blank
Defying me to even try express my thanks

But this song is for you uncle Curt
You never were my uncle ain't that strange
This song is for you uncle Curt
A name is just a name is just a name is just a name

They called and said that you had bought your final shroud
You gave me hell right to the end and I was proud
I know some friends had wanted you to beg for life
But I knew you'd live long enough to learn to die

This song is for you uncle Curt...

I'm living down in Nashville now and writin' tunes
The neighborhood is full of trees and good saloons
I just got back from California on a plane
Everything is different but it's just the same

And this song is for you uncle Curt...
Is just a name is just a name is just a name
**********

9.

MAN WHO HATED FRECKLES

(Tom T. Hall) « © '73 Hallnote Music, BMI / Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
If I live forever I will not forget
The man who hated freckles that I met
He was absolute about it and his hate intensified
He said I hate them folks with freckles on their hides

I can't stand them folks with freckles he would say
They're tearing down the good old USA
I've never met a one who couldn't dance
And they'll steal your watermelons if they ever get a chance

Oh he hated every freckle that he saw
He said they should be shot down by the law
They oughta send them all back where they're from
And he said would you let your daughter marry one

He said I hate them folks with freckles in my sleep
They're on welfare and their houses ain't too neat
They moved in near some fair complected friends
And them freckled folks are running down the neighborhood we're in

Well he'd see a kid with freckles and he cuss
Said because of them my children have to bus
We wouldn't have the trouble we have seen
If it wasn't for that Martin Luther Queen

But the man who hated freckles had some friends
And they organized a band of freckle's clan
The man who hated freckles may be sick
But as far as I'm concerned he was a stupid son of a
**********

10.

CANDY IN THE WINDOW

(Tom T. Hall) « © '73 Hallnote Music, BMI / Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
Don't kiss my lips and say goodbye it makes me want you more
Anyway I knew somebody like you once before
I know that love is waiting for you further down the line
Candy in the window of my mind

You're candy in the window and I'm that ragged child
That came to town to stare into the window for a while
I wish you every happiness you'll ever hope to find
Sweet candy in the window of my mind
[ guitar ] Remember me for I'm the one who never will forget
You know the way life is you may decide you want me yet
Take care sweethear and keep in touch if you can spare the time
Candy in the window of my mind

You're candy in the window I'm that ragged child...
Sweet candy in the window of my mind
**********

11.

OLD FIVE AND DIMERS LIKE ME

(Billy Joe Shaver) « © '72 ATV Songs, BMI »
I've spent a lifetime making up my mind to be
More than the measure of what I thought others could see
Good luck and fast bucks they're too few and too far between
There's cadillac buyers and old five and dimers like me

She stood beside me letting me know she would be
Something to lean on when everything ran out on me
Well fenced yards ain't hold cards and like as not never will be
The reason for rhymers and old five and dimers like me
[ harmonica ] Well it's taking me so long now that I know I believe
All that I do or say is all I ever will be
Too far and too high and too deep ain't too much to see
Too much ain't enough for old five and dimers like me
An old five and dimer is all I intended to be

You know country people don't shine their boots very often
And they don't shine other folks' boots either
Thank you
**********