HANK SNOW
THE LAST RIDE (RCA Camden CAL-782)
September/1963
Produced by Stephen H. Sholes
Hank Snow - vocal/guitar
Jack Shook, Sugarfoot Collins - guitar
Joe Talbot - steel/banjo
Ernie Newton, Charles Grean, Hillous Butrum - bass
Tommy Vaden - fiddle
Marvin Hughes - vibes
Recorded: 1949-1957
A lantern swung and the freight pulled out the engine it gathered speed
The engineer pulled the throttle wide and clucked to his fiery steed
Ten cars back in the empty box the hobo rolled a pill
The flare of the match showed his partner's face stark white and deathly still
As the train wheels clicked on the coupling joints a song for the rambler's ear
The hobo talked to the still white form his pal for many a year
For a mighty long time we've rambled Jack with the luck of men that roam
With the backdoor steps for a dining room and a boxcar for a home
We dodged the bulls on the Eastern route and the cops on the Chesapeake
We traveled the Leadville narrow gauge in the days of Cripple Creek
We drifted down through sunny Cal on the rails of the old SP
And of all you had through good and bad a half always belonged to me
You made me promise to you Jack if I lived and you cashed in
To take you back to the old churchyard and bury you there with your kin
You seemed to know I would keep my word for you said that I was right
Well I'm keepin' my promise to you pal cause I'm takin' you home tonight
I hadn't the money to send you there so I'm takin' you back on the fly
It's the decent way for a 'bo to go home to the by and by
I knew that that fever got you Jack and the doctor he just wouldn't come
He was too busy treatin' wealthy folks to doctor a worn out bum
As the train rolled over its ribbons of steel straight to the east it sped
The engineer in his highcab seat kept his eyes on the rails ahead
While ten cars back in the empty box a lonely hobo sighed
For the days of old and his pal so cold who was taking his last long ride
**********
Would you care if I kinda sorta held your hand
Would you care if I kissed you like a regular man
Yes if you should find that I'm so inclined
Would you mind would you mind would you mind
Would you think it funny if I call you honey
If I move up closer would you tell me no sir
If I hug and squeeze you tell me would it please you
How I wish I knew so I'm askin' you
Would you mind if I put my arms around you dear
Would you mind if I'm makin' you my life's career
If I brag a lot bout the prize I've got
Would you mind would you mind would you mind [ fiddle - guitar ]
Would you mind if I take you home to meet my folks
Would you mind laughin' at my daddy's same old jokes
And if ma says son you have found the one
Would you mind would you mind would you mind
Would you care if I got my camera and I took
A picture of you for my picture book
If I wanna show the guys who I idolize
Would you mind would you mind would you mind
Would you be down hearted if I up and started
with some big romancin' lots of dates and dancin'
If I kinda mention that it's my intention
To be goin' steady would you be ready
Would you mind if I tell you you're the cutest thing
Would you mind goin' shoppin' for a wedding ring
On our wedding day if I shout hooray
Would you mind would you mind would you mind [ guitar ]
Would you mind if I tell you you're the cutest thing...
**********
Now that she's gone I've no lover I look at the rain and I wonder
Where can she be will she come back to me whispering rain
Whispering rain falling where we used to stroll
The garden so green the path by the streamb whispering rain
Oh how I hate to see
You wash away the footsteps in clay we left on the scene
Whispering rain whispering rain
Now that she's gone I've no lover I look at the rain and I wonder
Where she can be, will she come back to me whispering rain
Whispering rain whispering rain
**********
My heart cries out behind these prison bars
It pleats to you for your true love to set it free
Why do you punish me is love a crime
If so I'll spend the lifetime loving serving time [ steel - guitar ]
My heart cries out...
**********
When you are lonely some day you'll learn
Just what it means to live in dreams of love that's unreturned
A love so sweet that vanished with the sunshine in the sky
Each time we meet you pass me by [ steel ]
You pass me by and now I know that my hopes are all in vain
Here am I alone on memory lane
I hope and pray that the one you love will never make you cry
Then turn away and pass me by
I keep your memory locked in my heart
Forever there to help me bear the lonely tears that start
I might have known our love was only meant to be a lie
Oh heart of stone you pass me by
**********
Act one our vows of love were spoken
Act two we were happy as could be
Act three our vow was broken
The play is ended dow the curtain drops for me [ steel - guitar ]
It's really very cruel finding out I played the fool
I thought I was the leading man for you
How could I know I'd miss that grand finale kiss
And lose you in the end to someone new
Act one our vows of love were spoken...
**********
My sweetheart grew jealous as I danced with a friend
And said that my love had grown false
Then she told me goodbye neath that old southern sky
As we danced to the Star Spangled Waltz [ fiddle - steel ]
Then a face caught my eye as the dancers passed by
It was my sweetheart who left me to pine
As she whispered my name I cuold see oh so plain
That her heart it was broken like mine
Love had one it's last fight as I kissed her that night
As I did in the days long ago
We had found new romance though we cried as we danced
To the beautiful Star Spangled Waltz
**********
I'll place them near your photograph and as the petals fall
They'll hide from you my lonely tears that shouldn't fall at all
Then they will slowly fade away and die
But I'll still love you though yellow roses say goodbye [ fiddle - guitar ]
I'll place them near your photograph...
**********
It's true no more he'll lead me as he did in days of yore
He'll never be a blind boy's pal no more
But I know that he gets lonesome sleeping in some distant land
Please won't you send my dog home Uncle Sam [ steel - fiddle ]
I gave my dog to Uncle Sam he was so strong and smart
We knew right from the start that we should do our part
They wrote he died a hero t'was in the telegram
Please won't you send my dog home Uncle Sam
He'll sleep beneath Old Glory right here on daddy's farm
I'll be close by to keep him from all harm
No one knows how much I miss him and how lonesome now I am
Please won't you send my dog home Uncle Sam
**********
But my heart is chilled and my eyes are filled
As I watch the leaves of red and brown fall sadly to the ground
You must keep your promise Willie Thomas
There'll be on spring until you bring your love again to me [ fiddle ]
I shall keep my promise Willie Thomas
I pledged my love to you beneath the whispering maple tree
So I'll keep my promise Willie Thomas
Though all the leaves might not be green when I return to Thee
Let your heart not be chilled nor your eyes be filled
Cause I love you though you say the leaves are falling slowly down
So I'll keep my promise Willie Thomas
And there'll be spring cause with the birds I'll sing my love again to you
Keep your promise Willie Thomas
**********
Between fire and water that's where you got me
I get burned every time I'm with you
Between fire and water I cry an ocean
Cause without you I'm bluer than blue
My love cannot die if you break my heart
I'll want you the rest of my days
I try to forget that each time I start
I'm still but a slave to your way
Between fire and water... [ guitar ]
Between fire and water...
**********
