Given George Jones' love for novelty songs, it isn't surprising that he recorded a tribute album to the king of country novelties, Little Jimmy Dickens. What is surprising is his approach. On George Jones Sings Like the Dickens! Jones bypasses all of Dickens' biggest hits, choosing to concentrate on personal favorites, which happen to be songs that Dickens interpreted, not ones that he wrote (only two of the 12 songs were co-written by Dickens). Jones realizes that although Dickens was famous for his novelties, he was a first-rate balladeer and he patterns his own album according to his idol's strengths. Jones gives a fine performance, but it's a bit too laid-back to make a lasting impression. There are a handful of gems (particularly "We Could," "It Scares Me Half to Death," "Making the Rounds," and "I've Just Got to See You Once More") scattered throughout Sings Like the Dickens! and the album is never anything less than enjoyable, even though nothing on the record approaches the transcendent. ["It Scares Me Half to Death" and "Take Me as I Am (Or Let Me Go)" also appear on The Race Is On.]
GEORGE JONES
SINGS LIKE THE DICKENS (United Artists UAS-6364)
August/1964
Produced by Pappy Daily
Recorded:
June/1964, Columbia Recording Studio, Nashville
You told me that our love was cold and then you said goodbye
But I can't love another I'd be living a lie
It scares me half to death to think I had forgotten
The vows we made to stay together come what may
And while I'm holding you my darling I'm holding my breath
Cause just the thought of losing you scares me half to death [ dobro - steel ]
It scares me half to death to think I had forgotten...
**********
I went to a wedding one bright summer day
The bride was a beauty and the people were gay
Alone in a corner I stood till the end
For the girl was my sweetheart and the boy my best friend
When the service was over there beside the church door
I picked up a rose that laid on the floor
Alone and neglected as I was that day
Was my sweet little rose from the bride's bouquet
It was only a rose from the bride's bouquet
Once filled with love perfume now faded and grey
Like the love that she gave me it faded away
This sweet little rose from the bride's bouquet
Each petal reminds me of a mament of bliss
A sweet little love word a lingering kiss
I waited in teardrops then hide it away
My sweet little rose from the bride's bouquet
**********
I look around and see things marked with his and hers
Litlle things like this just make things that much worse
That's how it is since I live my life alone
That's how it is since my house is not a home [ dobro - steel ]
Is there a way out for a soul so torn as mine
Each day I live I'm like a prisoner passing time
That's how it is ask anyone who lives alone
That's how it is when your house is not a home
That's how it is when your house is not a home
**********
You could call me up and tell me that you're blue
I could make believe you're not the someone new
You could give my heart the will to fight this thing
I'm just blue enough to do most anything
When you're in my arms I know you're happy to be there
And just as long as I'm with you I'm happy anywhere
If anyone could pray each night and thank the Lord that all is right
We could we could you and I [ piano - steel ]
When you're in my arms I know...
**********
Why must you always try to make me over
Take me as I am or let me go
White lilies never grow on stalks of clover
Take me as I am or let me go
You're trying to reshape me in a mold love
In the image of someone you used to know
But I won't be a standing for an old love
Take me as I am or let me go
(Take me as I am or let me go)
You've tried to change me ever since you met me
Take me as I am or let me go
If you can't overlook my faults forget me
Take me as I am or let me go
I discovered the sunshine in a woman's loving smile
Like a fool I thought the sun had come to stay
Then she fell for another and the sun went out of style
And the springtime vanished when I went away
Where did the sunshine go...
Now there's mothing but heartaches in the whole wide lonely earth
Anyway my blue world looks that way to me
Gone is all of the sunshine and the smile that gave it birth
Leaving nothingbut a cold cold misery
I never go home till the lost long hidaway place has closed its door
There's too much at home to remind me that we're through
I'll laugh and pretend that I'm not wishing for a bygone day
Where we were in love and I was making the rounds with you [ steel ]
I never go home...
**********
You look so lovely in your wedding gown
It will only hurt me all the more
When the groom kisses you my poor heart will break in two
And I've just got to see you once more
He's such a lucky guy to have you for his own
Funny I couldn't see that before
My broken heart won't mend and I'll never love again
And I've just got to see you once more
After the wedding then I'll go back home
And I'll cry as I never cried before
When the groom kisses you my poor heart will break in two
But I've just got to see you once more
**********
Loving lies that I believed and now how I grieve
You didn't mean them from the start
But you told me loving lies and broke my heart [ steel ]
You say I'll soon forget you and find somebody new
But darling oh how wrong you are
I've only had one love dear and it was for you
And from that love my heart will bear a scar
I cried I cried I prayed and I tried to forget you and never call your name
What a shame what a shame you're the one who was to blame
You're the one who proved untrue just when I needed you [ harmonica ]
You said it's best we part and never love again
And though it broke my heart I won't complain
You know I love you still and dear I always will
Although you proved untrue just when I needed you
I cried I cried I prayed and I tried...
**********
We have faced the years together sharing all our joy and sorrow
She has been my pride along the way
Through it all she has to guide me never one time has she fell
Since I picked her for my heart's bouquet
She's my heart's bouquet my heart's bouquet
I picked her from a field of love one day
I loved her then and I love her still cross my heart I always will
She's my darling she's heart's bouquet
Whe nold age has crept the pose and the years show in our face
When her golden hair has turned to grey
She'll still be my precious darling and I'll love her more than else
Just the same she'll be my heart's bouquet
