lp discography - covers & lyrics

1.

IT HAPPENED JUST THAT WAY

(Roger Miller) « © '65 Tree Publishing, BMI »
Well I was born in the boomer's shack
Bout that far from the railroad track
Choo-choo ratled my window pane
And the sheet iron roof told me evertime it rained

Yea yea yea yea yea yea yea yea
Yea yea yea yea it happened just that way
[ dobro ] Well I went to a one room school
I walked to and from this school
I carried my lunch in a paper sack
It was one mile over two miles back

Yea yea yea yea yea yea yea yea...
[ dobro ] And my brother worked hard in the grain
My papa drove a choo-choo train
One sister was a righteous girl
But the other was a woman of the world

Yea yea yea yea yea yea yea yea...
Yea yea yea yea yea yea yea yea...
Yea yea yea yea yea yea yea yea...
**********

2.

GREAT RIVER ROAD MYSTERY

(Justin Tubb) « © '68 Tree Publishing, BMI »
Well it's still talked about today and it's been seven years
Since the death of pretty Shirley Jones
They found her out on River Road a belt around her neck
And they called it murder by persens unknown

Now Shirley's reputation left a lot to be dsired
She used to dance and drink a lot back then
The sheriff said some drifter likely picked her up that night
And took her out to River Road and done her in

Well several people saw her at the Cross Roads Inn that night
They said she seemed so happy and so gay
But they all said that she left early and she was alone
And that's why it's still a mystery to this day

She picked me up just as we planned out where the river skirts the edge of town
Then we drove down on River Road and parked about a mile below the dam
And we were in each other's arms when I felt that cold steel behind my head
And a strange voice whispered do exactly as I say or you are dead

I never saw his face cause I fell back and closed my eyes in mortal fright
But then when I heard her scream I jumped up and ran off into the night
And stumbled blindly through the woods with Shirley's screams are ringing in my ears
And sometimes in my dreams at night I still can hear her after all these years

And to this day I curse myself but if I hadn't run
Is there a chance I might have changed her fate
And shamefully I still remember gettin' home that night
And telling my wife sorry I'm so late

Well it's still talked about today and it's been seven years
And every time I drive back out that way
I hear the sheriff say some drifter prob'ly done her in
And that's why it's still a mystery to this day
That's why it's still a mystery to this day
**********

3.

MAW'S KIDS

(Ronnie Wilkins - John Hurley) « © '69 Tree Publishing, BMI »
We were such a rowdy bunch and we never thought too much
Of pickin' on the neighbor boy till he cried
He'd run home and tell his paw and his paw would tell my maw
That if he caught us one more time he'd tan our hide

But Maw's kids were God's kids
And the children couldn't do no wrong in her eyes
She'd say don't stay out tonight but if you do I'll leave a light
And I'll be prayin' for my babies until I die

Being bad was easy then trouble and temptation came
To tempt us and they'd teach us how to lie
Growing up with all our might right was wrong and wrong was
What we always were till we were home where we'd belong

Back where Maw's kids were God's kids...

Now sister's house is big and tall even though her family's small
And brother's seat in congress's secure
But me I live from day to day with trouble just a step away
How did I go wrong when I was oh so sure

That Maw's kids were God's kids...
Yes I'll be prayin' for my babies until I die
**********

4.

JODY AND THE KID

(Kris Kristofferson) « © '68 Careers Music, BMI »
She would meet me in the morning on my way down to the river
Waitin' patient by the chinaberry tree
With her feet already dusty from the pathway to the levee
And her little blue jeans rolled up to her knees
And I'd paid her no attention as she tagged along beside me
Trying hard to copy everything I did
But I couldn't keep from smiling when I'd hear somebody saying
Looky yonder there goes Jody and the kid

Even after we grew older we could still be seen together
As we walked along the levee holding hands
For as surely as the seasons she was changing to a woman
And I'd lived enough to call myself a man
And she often lay beside me in the coolness of the evening
Till the morning sun was shining on my bed
And at times when she was sleeping I would smile when I'd remember
How they used to call us Jody and the kid

Now the world's a little older and the years have changed the river
Cause there's houses where they didn't used to be
And on Sundays I go walking down the pathway to the river
With another little girl who follows me
And it makes the folks all smile to see her tag along beside me
Doing little things the way her mama did
But it gets a little lonesome when I hear somebody saying
Looky yonder there goes Jody and the kid
Looky yonder there goes Jody and the kid
**********

5.

LOVE OF THE COMMON PEOPLE

(Ronnie Wilkins - John Hurley) « © '67 Tree Publishing, BMI »
Livin' on free food tickets
And there's water in the milk from the hole in the roof
Where the rain came through what can you do hmm
Tears from little sister
Crying cause she doesn't have a dress without a patch
For the party to go oh but you know she'll get by

Cause she is livin' in the love of the common people
Smiles from the heart of the family man
Daddy's gonna buy her a dream to cling to
Mama's gonna love her just as much as she can and she can

It's a good thing you don't have a bus fare
It would fall through the hole in your pocket
And you'd lose it on the snow on the ground
A walking to town to find a job
Trying to keep your hands warm
But the hole in your shoe lets the snow come through
And it chills you to the bone you'd better go home where it's warm

For you can live in the love of the common people
Smiles from the heart of the family man
Daddy's gonna buy you a dream to cling to
Mama's gonna love you just as much as she can and she can

Livin' on dreams ain't easy
But the closer the knit the tighter the fit and the chills stay away
You take 'em in stride a family pride
You know that faith is your salvation
And with a whole lotta love and a warm conversation and plenty of prayers
A makin' you strong where you belong

For you can live in the love of the common people...
Livin' in the love of the common people...
**********

6.

BIG BLIZZARD

(Don Wayne) « © '64 Tree Publishing, BMI »
It was in the dead of winter oh how well I can remember
That day of howling wind and blinding snow
A neighbor came and as we listened he said two small boys were missin'
And they'd surely die if lost out in the snow

Papa tried to organize a searching party folks all said it would be fool-hardly
To look for them until the storm died down
Papa left me and my mama cryin' and went out alone to find them
On the day the big blizzard hit our town

Next day when the storm was over the search party soon discovered
Papa's frozen body lying in the snow
They picked him up and there beneath him were the frightened hungry children
Wrapped up safe and tight in papa's overcoat

The youngsters told how papa found them how he wrapped his coat around them
And he rubbed their bodies till they felt all warm
Then he said boys lie here beneath me
And if I should go to sleep just stay away and you'll be safe here from the storm

Papa tried to organize a searching party...
**********

7.

THINGS I STILL REMEMBER VERY WELL

(Don Wayne) « © '69 Tree Publishing, BMI »
**********

8.

FAMILY WAY

(Don Wayne) « © '69 Tree Publishing, BMI »
I cried my bitter teardrops all the way to Doc Johnson's home
He said I won't come you have to go and get the midwife
So I ran barefooted through ankle deep snow to fetch aunt Ellie Mae Jones
And I thought Lord how come a human has to live such a dog's life

Aunt Ellie Mae came to the door but I couldn't talk for my teeth have shattered
She said land safe young and get over there by the fireside
Her skin was black but her soul was white and to me that was all that mattered
For she held me close and soothed my tears when I cried

Well brother's in jail for makin' whiskey and my mama's in the family way
And my Daddy's been dead one year ago today
Yeah my Daddy's been dead one year ago today

Then she went to the kitchen and brought me
A cup of coffee and some sidemeat'n bacon
And she said be quick about eatin' boy we'd better hurry
So we left right quick and got back to my house as daylight was a breakin'
And she said heat me up some water boy and don't you worry

Well your brother's in jail for makin' whiskey and your mama's in the family way
And your Daddy's been dead one year ago today
Yeah your Daddy's been dead one year ago today

Well two hours later my mama gave birth to a nameless baby brother
I walked the floor and prayed to the Lord that I could die
Aunt Ellie Mae said now don't you be harbourin' bad thoughts towards your mother
Cause a human is a human and a saint's mighty hard to come by

So go tell the jailer to fetch your brother cause your mama just passed away
I just don't know why things have to happen this way
But the good Lord's gonna straighten everything out someday
Yes the good Lord's gonna straighten everything out someday
**********

9.

BALLAD OF FORTY DOLLARS

(Tom T. Hall) « © '68 New Keys Music, BMI / Unichappell Music, BMI »
The man who preached the funeral said it really was a simple way to die
He just laied down to rest one afternoon and never opened up his eyes
They hired me and Fred and Joe to dig the grave and carry up some chairs
It took us seven hours and I guess we must have drunk a case of beer

Well I really I oughta go and watch them put him down but I don't own the suit
And anyway when they start talking bout the fire and hell well I get spooked
So I'll just sit here in my truck and act like I don't know him when they pass
Anyhow when they're all through I've got to go to work and mow the grass

Well here they come and who's that ridin' in that big ol' shiny limousine
Hmm look at all that chrome I do believe that that's the sharpest thing I've seen
Well that must belong to his great Uncle someone said he owned a big ol' farm
When they get parked I'll mosey down and look it over that can't do no harm

Well that must be the widow in the car would you take a look at that
Boy that sure is a pretty dress you know some women do look good in black
Why he's not even in the ground and I hear that his track is up for sale
They say she took it pretty hard but you can't tell too much behind a veil

Well listen ain't that pretty when the bugler plays the military taps
I think that when you's in the war they always hired and played a song like that
Well here I am and there they go and I guess you could call it my bad luck
I hope he'll rest in peace but trouble is that fellow owes me forty bucks
I hope he'll rest in peace but trouble is that fellow owes me forty bucks
**********

10.

BIG HARLAN TAYLOR

(Roger Miller) « © '59 Tree Publishing, BMI »
I once had a sweetheart the fairest of maidens
She upshined all others that I've known by far
I had me a friend named Big Harlan Taylor
Harlan had a rubber tied new shiny car

All the ways of the world and the wants of a woman
If I figured them all up it could take many years

By the wants of a woman she fell for Big Harlan
I tried but in vain for to take my own life
Suddenly I had lost all my will to keep livin'
She'd lost her desire to become my young wife

All the ways of the world and the wants of a woman...

I wanted revenge and we laid for Big Harlan
Then I started wondering what good would it do
If a rubber tied new shiny car's her ambition
Then she can just had it and Big Harlan too

All the ways of the world and the wants of a woman...
**********

11.

HOME

(Roger Miller) « © '59 Tree Publishing, BMI »
Home where the river runs cold
The water tastes good the winters ain't cold
Home where trees grow tall
The homefires burn and the whippoorwills call

Well I've been a traveler most of my life
I never took a home I never took a wife
I ran away young and decided to roam
But now I wanna see my mama and my daddy back home

Home where the river runs cold
The water tastes good the winters ain't cold
Home where trees grow tall
The homefires burn and the whippoorwills call

Well I remember stories that my pappa used to tell
My eyes get big and my chest begin to swell
I could sit for hours and listen with glee
As he'd tell of how he lived when he's a boy like me

Home where the river runs cold...

Mama dear mama do you still love your boy
After all my roamin' can I still bring you joy
Mama sent a letter got it not long ago
And it said come home I'm a missing you so

Home where the river runs cold...
Home where the river runs cold...
**********

12.

BLACKJACK COUNTY CHAIN

(Red Lane) « © '67 Tree Publishing, BMI »
I was sittin' beside the road in Blackjack County
Not knowing that the sheriff paid a bounty
For men like me who didn't have a penny on their names
So he locked my leg to thirty-five pounds of Blackjack County chain

And all we had to eat was bread and water
And each day we had to build that road a mile and a quarter
And black sneak whip would cut our backs when some poor fool complained
But we couldn't fight back wearing thirty-five pounds of Blackjack County chain

And then one night while the sheriff was a sleepin'
We all gathered round him slowly creepin'
And heaven help me to forget that night in the cold cold rain
When we beat him to death with thirty-five pounds of Blackjack County chain

Now the whip marks have all healed and I am thankful
But that there's nothing but a scar around my ankle
But most of all I'm glad no man will be a slave again
To a black sneak whip and thirty-five pounds of Blackjack County chain
To a black sneak whip and thirty-five pounds of Blackjack County chain
**********