lp discography - covers & lyrics

1.

BUSTED

(Harlan Howard) « © '62 Tree Publishing, BMI »
The bills are all due and the babies need shoes but I'm busted
Cotton is down to a quarter a pound but I'm busted
Got a cow that's gone dry and a hen that won't lay
A big stack of bills that gets bigger each day
The county's gonna haul my belongings away I'm busted

I called brother Bill and I asked for a loan I was busted
Lord I hate to beg like a dog for a bone but I'm busted
But Bill said there ain't a thing I can do
My wife and the kids they're all down with the flu
And I was just thinking of callin' on you I'm busted
[ guitar ] Now Lord I'm no thief but a man can go wrong when he's busted
The food that we canned last summer is gone and we're busted
The fields are all bare and the cotton won't grow
Me and my family's gotta pack up and go
Where I'll make a living the Lord only knows I'm busted
**********

2.

HEARTACHES BY THE NUMBER

(Harlan Howard) « © '59 Tree Publishing, BMI »
Heartache number one was when you left me
I never knew that I could hurt this way
And heartache number two was when you came back again
You came back and never meant to stay

Now I've got heartaches by the number troubles by the score
Every day you love me less each day I love you more
Yes I've got heartaches by the number a love that I can't win
But the day that I stop countin' that's the day my world will end
[ steel - guitar ] Heartache number three was when you called me
And you said that you would come in home to stay
With hopeful heart I waited for your knock on my door
I waited but you must have lost your way

Now I've got heartaches...
**********

3.

TOO MANY RIVERS

(Harlan Howard) « © '64 Combine Music, BMI »
I wish I could come back to you dear
Cause I know that you want me to
But too much waters run under that old bridge
There's too many rivers between me and you

There's too many rivers to cross dear
And too many dreams have been lost
And there's too many long nights that I've turned and tossed
There's just too many rivers to cross
[ steel ] Now don't think for moments I blame only you
We both killed the fruit on the vine
And when you try to put love back together
There's always a few little pieces you can't find

There's too many rivers...
**********

4.

I DON'T BELIEVE I'LL FALL IN LOVE TODAY

(Harlan Howard) « © '61 Central Songs, BMI »
I don't believe I'll fall in love today
For if I did I know I couldn't stay
You'd come between us like you always do
Somehow she'd never measure up to you

Each night I pray I'll wake at dawn and find
Another in my heart and on my mind
And I'll wake and hear my poor heart say
I don't believe I'll fall in love today
[ guitar - steel ] I don't believe I'll fall in love today
Old memories of you stand in your way
And I just can't make my heart find someone new
It's always much too busy missing you

Now each night I pray...
**********

5.

ABOVE AND BEYOND (THE CALL OF LOVE)

(Harlan Howard) « © '60 Tree Publishing, BMI / Jat Music, BMI »
Well a poor boy's chances for a pretty girl's glances are sometimes very few
No I've got no money but if you'll be my honey here's what I'll offer you

I'll give you love that's above and beyond the call of love
And I'll never ever make you cry
Yes I'll give you love that's above and beyond the call of love
And love honey money can't buy

Well now we met by chance and I knew at a glance that I'd found my destiny
Well honey I wanna carry you off and marry you if you'll just agree

And I'll give you love...
**********

6.

I'VE GOT A TIGER BY THE TAIL

(Harlan Howard - Buck Owens) « © '64 Tree Publishing, BMI »
I've got a tiger by the tail it's plain to see
And I won't be much when you get through with me
I'm losing weight and turning mighty pale
And it looks like I've got a tiger by the tail

Now I've thought the day I met you you were meek as a lamb
Just the kind to fit my dreams and plans
But now the pace we're living takes the wind from the sails
And it looks like I've got a tiger by the tail

I've got a tiger by the tail...
[ guitar ] Now every night you drag me where the bright lights are found
There ain't no way to slow you down
And I'm about as helpless as a leaf in a gale
And it looks like I've got a tiger by the tail

I've got a tiger by the tail...
It looks like I've got a tiger by the tail
**********

7.

EVERGLADES

(Harlan Howard) « © '60 Fort Knox Music, BMI / Trio Music, BMI »
He was born and raised around Jacksonville
A nice young man not the kind to kill
But the jealous fight and the flashing blade
Sent him on the run through the Everglades
Runnin' like the dog through the Everglades

Well the Possy went in and he came back out
And said he'll die and there ain't no doubt
It's an eye for a nice so the death is fate
He won't last long in the Everglades
A man can't live in the Everglades

Where a man can hide and never be found
And have no fear of the baying hound
But he better keep movin' and don't stand still
If the skeeters don't get him then the gators will
If the skeeters don't get him then the gators will

Now the years went by and his girl was wed
His family gave him up for dead
But now and then the natives would say
They'd seen him runnin' through the Everglades
Runnin' like the dog through the Everglades

He'd never heard the news on the radio
He was deep in the glades and he'll never know
He's runnin' and hidin' doesn't make much sense
The jury had ruled it was self defence
The jury had ruled it was self defence

Now a man can hide and never be found...
**********

8.

MARY ANN REGRETS

(Harlan Howard) « © '63 Tree Publishing, BMI »
I saved up my money to buy my sweetheart some flowers
For Saturday's date and I restlessly counted the hours
And today in the mail I recieved a short little note
And I'd broke down inside at the message that her mother's wrote

Mary Ann regrets she's unable to see you again
We're leaving for Europe next week she'll be busy till then
They knew that she loved me but poor boys don't fit in her plans
Goodbye true love goodbye my sweet Mary Ann
[ ac.guitar ] The weeks have gone by not a word have I heard since then
In the papers I read of the far away places she's been
I can't eat I can't sleep for over and over again
My mind reads that letter and I cry for my Mary Ann

Mary Ann regrets...
[ ac.guitar ] My Mary Ann died they said she just wasted away
If I'd've seen her I know she'd be living today
For we loved each other and if they'd have left us alone
Today she'd be wearing my ring not a blanket of stone

Mary Ann regrets...
**********

9.

PICK ME UP ON YOUR WAY DOWN

(Harlan Howard) « © '58 Tree Publishing, BMI »
You were mine for just a while now you're puttin' on the style
And you've never once looked back at your home across the track
You're the gossip of the town but my heart can still be found
Where you tossed it on the ground pick me up on your way down

Pick me up on your way down when you're blue and all alone
When their glamour starts to bore you come on back where you belong
You may be their pride and joy but they'll find another toy
Then they'll take away your crown pick me up on your way down
[ guitar - steel ] Now they've changed your attitude made you haughty and so rude
Your new friends can take the blame underneath you're still the same
When you'll find these things are true I'll be waiting here for you
As you tumble to the ground pick me up on your way down

Pick me up on your way down...
**********

10.

CALL ME MR. IN-BETWEEN

(Harlan Howard) « © '62 Tree Publishing, BMI »
(Mr In-between Mr In-between better leave the scene Mr In-between)

Well I'm too old for girls and I'm too young for women
I've looked all around and my hopes are a dimmin'
I feel like a fish not allowed any swimmin' and it makes a fellow mean
To feel he's a part of the lost generation
I feel like a choo choo that can't find a station
I work like a dog with no recreation and they call me Mr In-between
(Mr In-between Mr In-between makes a fellow mean Mr In-between)

I got a hot rod Chevy with the twin carburators
And I know a gal that's a real sharp tomater
And she'd got a daddy with a Caddy that'll date her you see what I mean
The sweet little thing's just sets me a droolin'
But I'm too big for sodas I'm too old for schoolin'
I'm too young for lovin' but I'm too old for foolin' they call me Mr In-between
(Mr In-between Mr In-between tries to live so clean Mr In-between)

Lord I feel like a sailboat kept in a bottle
I feel like an engineer that can't find the throttle
I'm too small to walk but I'm too big to toddle and Lawdy I'm turning green
To see all them men makin' time with the ladies
The high school kids at the shows with their babies
While I run around like a dog with the rabies and they call me Mr In-between
(Mr In-between Mr In-between better leave the scene Mr In-between)
**********

11.

I FALL TO PIECES

(Harlan Howard - Hank Cochran) « © '60 Tree Publishing, BMI »
I fall to pieces each time I see you again
I fall to pieces how can I be just your friend
You want me to act like we've never kissed
You want me to forget pretend we've never met
And I've tried and I've tried but I haven't yet
You walk by and I fall to pieces
[ steel ] I fall to pieces each time someone speaks your name
I fall to pieces time only adds to the flame
You want me to find someone else to love
Someone who'll love me too the way you used to do
But each time I go out with someone new
You walk by and I fall to pieces
You walk by and I fall to pieces
**********

12.

BLIZZARD

(Harlan Howard) « © '60 Red River Songs, BMI / Tree Publishing, BMI »
There's a blizzard comin' on and I'm wishin' I was home
For my pony's lame and he can't hardly stand
Lord my hands feel like they're froze and there's a numbness in my toes
But it's only seven miles to Mary Anne it's only seven miles to Mary Anne

You can bet we're on her mind for it's nearly suppertime
And I bet there's hot biscuits in the pan
Listen to that northern sigh if we don't get home we'll die
But it's only five more miles to Mary Anne it's only five more miles to Mary Anne

That wind's howlin' and it seems mighty like a woman's screams
And we'd best be movin' faster if we can
Dan just think about that barn with that hay so soft and warm
It's only three more miles to Mary Anne it's only three more miles to Mary Anne

Dan get up your ornery cuss or you'll be the death of us
I'm so weary but I'll help you if I can
All right Dan perhaps it's best we'll just stop awhile and rest
It's still another mile to Mary Anne it's still another mile to Mary Anne

Late that night the storm was gone and they found him there at dawn
He'd've made it but he just couldn't leave ol' Dan
Yes they found him out there on the plains his hands froze to the reins
He was just a hundred yards from Mary Anne
He was just a hundred yards from Mary Anne
**********