MOST OF ALL
(Capitol T-1360) '60
Produced by Ken Nelson
Merle Travis, Billy Gray - guitar
Pee Wee Whitewing, Bobbie White - steel
Billy Stewart, Pete Burke - bass
Paul McGhee, Jack Greenback, Gwin Nichols - drums
Amos Hedrick, Bob White, Billy Peters, Curly Lewis - fiddle
Gil Baca, Donald McDaniel, Joe Losciuto - piano
Dubert Dobson - trumpet
Recorded:
Nov 11/1951, Capitol Records Studio, Hollywood (2)
June 8/1953, Capitol Records Studio, Hollywood (4,12)
March 22/1954, Capitol Records Studio, Hollywood (9,10)
March 24/1954, Capitol Records Studio, Hollywood (1)
Dec 13/1954, Capitol Records Studio, Hollywood (11)
Jan 4/1956, Capitol Records Studio, Hollywood (5)
Dec 10/1956, Capitol Records Studio, Hollywood (6,8)
Dec 12/1956, Capitol Records Studio, Hollywood (7)
Apr 17/1958, Capitol Records Studio, Hollywood (3)
1.
NEW GREEN LIGHT
(Hank Thompson)
« © '54 Songs Of PolyGram, BMI »
I turn your hole card upside down
I caught you cheatin' and runnin' around
There's a smile upon your face while another takes my place
And now at last dear the truth I'd found
Babe there's the green light you're free to go
You'll take a high road I'll take the low
Here's your coat and shoes and don't forget your blues
You're on canoe now you'll have to row
[ fiddle - guitar ]
Babe there's the green light shift your gear
I know you fooled me for all these years
I'll hold my head up high and forget you by and by
And there'll be laughter instead of tears
[ steel ]
Babe there's the green light kick up your heels
There'll come a day you know how it feels
To have your aces trump and be taken for a chump
Now there's the green light so spin your wheels
**********
2.
WAITING IN THE LOBBY OF YOUR HEART
(Hank Thompson - Billy Gray)
« © '51 Songs Of PolyGram, BMI »
I didn't have to be thrown in a dungeon
Or left in a chamber cold and dark
For such loneliness I'm sure is the same that I endure
While I'm waiting in the lobby of your heart
And now I'm waiting waiting in the lobby of your heart
I'm on the doorstep yet we're so far apart
Many times I tried you wouldn't let me come inside
Now I'm waiting waiting in the lobby of your heart
You could have had me thrown into a prison
Or bound and tied with shackles on my feet
Instead of this sad taint to sit alone and wait
In the lobby of a heart that's cold as sleet
And now I'm waiting...
**********
3.
SQUAWS ALONG THE YUKON
(Cam Smith)
« © '36 Unichappell Music, BMI »
There's a salmon-colored girl who sets my heart awhirl
Who lives along the Yukon far away
Where the Northern Lights they shine she rubs her nose to mine
She cuddles close and I can hear her say
Ooga ooga mooska which means that I love you
If you'll be my baby I'll ooga ooga mooska you
Then I take her hand in mine and set her on my knee
The squaws along the Yukon are good enough for me
She makes her underwear from hides of grizzly bear
And bathes in ice cold water every day
Her skin I love to touch but I just can't touch it much
Because her fur lined parka's in the way
Ooga ooga mooska...
[ guitar ]
She has the Air Corps down the Sourdoughs hang around
Chechakos try to date her night and day
With a landing gear that's fine and a fuselage divine
And a smile that you can see a mile away
Ooga ooga mooska...
Carry me back to old Alaska
The squaws along the Yukon are good enough for me
**********
4.
WAKE UP IRENE
(Johnny Hatchcock - Weldon Allard)
« © '53 Songs Of PolyGram, BMI »
**********
5.
BLACKBOARD OF MY HEART
(Hank Thompson - Lyle Gaston)
« © '56 Songs Of PolyGram, BMI »
When I was younG and I went to school they taught me how to write
To take the chalk and make a mark and hope it turns out right
Well that's the way it is with love and what you did to me
I wrote it so you'd know that I was yours eternally
But my tears have washed I love you from the blackboard of my heart
It's too late to clean the slate and make another start
I'm satisfied the way things are although we're far apart
My tears have washed I love you from the blackboard of my heart
[ fiddle ]
If you'd been true the way you should and not have gone astray
Those tears would not have fallen down and washed the words away
No need to talk for if the chalk should write those words again
It will be for someone else not things that might have been
But my tears have washed...
**********
6.
ROCKIN' IN THE CONGO
(Orville Proctor)
« © '56 Songs Of PolyGram, BMI »
**********
7.
GIRL IN THE NIGHT
(Hank Thompson)
« © '56 Songs Of PolyGram, BMI »
She lives her life in honky tonks and crowded backstreet bars
The world of make believe that knows no sun or moon or stars
Just a glitter of a great white way and glare of city lights
Where music's loud she's in the crowd a girl of the night
I wonder if she's thinking of dreams that didn't last
I wonder if she's haunted by heartaches from the past
Perhaps there is a story of a love that wasn't right
Now shadows hide her empty pride a girl of the night
She's sitting there so lonely as she lights a cigarette
The smoke rings rise and in her eyes there's scenes to be regret
Is she there to tempt the lover in a dress that hughs her tight
A glass of wine to pass the time a girl of the night
I wonder if she's thinking...
**********
8.
I WAS THE FIRST ONE
(Orville Proctor)
« © '56 Songs Of PolyGram, BMI »
I was the first to chose her to make her mine
I was the first to lose her be left behind
I was the first she cried to harsh words I spoke
I was the first she lied to first heart she broke
If she seems so warm and tender the way she kisses now
Then you might remember I was the one who taught her how
I was the first to show her those stars above
I was the first to know her to know her love
[ fiddle ]
If she seems so warm and tender...
**********
9.
TEARS ARE ONLY RAIN
(Johnny Hatchcock - Weldon Allard)
« © '54 Songs Of PolyGram, BMI »
When your lover cries hold her close and whisper low
That tears are only rain to make love grow
Kiss her tenderly tell her that you love her so
For tears are only rain to make love grow
Anyone can plant a seed but everybody knows
It needs both sun and rain before it blooms into a rose
When your lover cries hold her close and whisper low
That tears are only rain to make love grow
[ fiddle ]
(Tears are only rain to make love grow)
When your lover smiles let her set your heart aglow
But don't forsake her when she's feeling low
Hold her to your heart dry her eyes and let her know
That tears are only rain to make love grow
She may smile because she knows your love is deep and true
But when she sheds a tears it may be cause of you
When your lover cries tell her that you love her so
For tears are only rain to make love grow
**********
10.
WE'VE GONE TOO FAR
(Hank Thompson - Billy Gray)
« © '54 Songs Of PolyGram, BMI »
Our first affair was just too dared to tempt our patience greed
I slipped around with you and found the kind of love I need
Now on the sly both you and I are deep in love somehow
These things they are we've gone too far to ever turn back now
We've gone too far to tell our hearts that our love was reckless fun
If we'd made a bad mistake I'm not sorry it was done
Though you belong to someone else and another has you now
Yet here we are we've gone too far to ever turn back now
[ steel - fiddle ]
We've gone too far when I can't sleep because I always think of you
I breathe your name and see your face in everything I do
So never leave let's make believe that it's all right somehow
For you must know I love you so and we can't turn back now
**********
11.
MOST OF ALL
(Hank Thompson)
« © '54 Songs Of PolyGram, BMI »
Lots of things in life have never mattered
I never cared if winter followed fall
But the dreams I hoped for now have shattered
Cause it was you that I wanted most of all
Most of all I've wanted you to love me
And live again those moments I recall
But I've had to give you up to make you happy
To give you up was the hardest most of all
[ fiddle ]
It seems we lead our life in quest up treasure
A phantom that delude us one and all
The road of life without you has no measure
Cause it was you that I wanted most of all
Most of all I've wanted...
**********
12.
BREAKIN' THE RULES
(Hank Thompson - Billy Gray - Al Blasingame)
« © '53 Songs Of PolyGram, BMI »
Breakin' the rules every time I hug and kiss you darling
While you wear another's name
If you're breakin' the rules in any kind of game you're playing reckless
And taking chances just the same
Can it be a sin to love you like I do
And we'd just be called a pair of fools
If it's so wrong to want to be with you my darling
Then I guess I'll go on breakin' rules
[ steel - fiddle ]
Can it be a sin...
**********