Mel Tillis' recording of the classic Harlan Howard composition "Life Turned Her That Way" barely missed the country Top Ten and bubbled under the pop charts, becoming one of his most successful singles during his late-'60s term on Kapp. The album Life's That Way contains that song and several notable originals by Tillis, including his version of "Ruby (Don't Take Your Love to Town)," which is excellent except for the audible residue of a reference vocal or scrapped vocal take. That song became a hit for Johnny Darrell, and "Unmitigated Gall," which is presented here in a driving, bass-heavy performance, was a hit for Faron Young. Tillis may have repaid Faron Young for recording his song by covering the 1958 hit "Alone With You" (which Young co-wrote) for this album. Tillis didn't usually devote much space on his LPs to covers of recent hits, but he picked two good ones on Life's That Way with Kenny Price's "Walking on New Grass" and Nat Stuckey's "Sweet Thang." "That's Where My Money Goes" is practically a sequel to Tillis' hit "Sawmill." Life's That Way is a typical Mel Tillis album in that it features a respectable percentage of originals and maintains an above-average level of quality while showing everyone that even when his own records weren't selling a million, his songs were definitely going places.
MEL TILLIS
LIFE TURNED HER THAT WAY
Kapp KS-3514January/1967
Produced by Paul Cohen
Recorded:
Sept/1966, Columbia Studio, Nashville
1.
LIFE TURNED HER THAT WAY
(Harlan Howard) « © '64 Tree Publishing, BMI »If she seems cold and bitter I beg of you
Just stop and consider all she's gone through
Don't be quick to condemn her for things she might say
Just remember life turned her that way
She's been stepped on and walked on so many times
And I hate to admit it but that last footprint's mine
She was cryin' when I met her she cries harder today
So don't blame her life turned her that way
[ piano ] She's been stepped on and walked on...
**********
2.
IF I COULD ONLY START OVER
(Faye Bradshaw) « © '66 Sawgrass Music, BMI »Now if I could only start over
And have a new life to begin
I wouldn't live like a rover
And drift like a leaf in the wind
Cause I'm dreamin' tonight of old sweethearts
And believe me I've had quite a few
But I never dream of old sweethearts
The way that I dream about you
[ fiddle - dobro ] Yes I let you slip through my fingers
While foolishly searching around
But if I could only start over
I know you could settle me down
Cause I'm dreaming tonight of old sweethearts...
But I never dreamed of old sweethearts
The way that I dream about you
**********
3.
WORLD (WHAT HAVE I DONE)
(Mel Tillis) « © '66 Cedarwood Publishing, BMI »World what have I done
To make you frown on me to cast me endlessly
Into your firey sea what have I done what have I done
World what have I done
To numb my brain with wine to lose all track of time
To know no peace of mind what have I done what have I done
I can't get my head above the water
I can't get my head above the water
World what have I done
To no one be of worth to never have no mirth
To live this hell on earth what have I've done what have I've done
World what have I done
To walk these lonely streets wherever returns defeat
Too hungry to eat what have I done what have I done
I can't get my head above the water
**********
4.
WALKING ON NEW GRASS
(Ray Pennington) « © '66 Tree Publishing, BMI »I'm like a cloud driftin' from town to town
And each new love just helps me on my way
No one woman's ever gonna tie me down
When one gets too close I just back up and say
Well I gotta be walkin' on new grass singin' a new song
Tomorrow there's no telling where I'll be
But I'll be walkin' on new grass singin' a new song
The next town up the road keeps a calling me
I'm warning you don't fall in love with me
I don't plan on a being here too long
You're just a leaf caught in a playfull breeze
I'll carry you a while then be movin' on
Cause I gotta be walkin' on...
[ horns ] I won't take roots I never stay that long
And a bad seed just won't grow anyway
This rolling stone don't want to gather no moss
So when the grass starts to grow then I'll be on my way
Cause I gotta be walkin' on...
The next town up the road keeps callin' me
**********
5.
RUBY DON'T TAKE YOUR LOVE TO TOWN
(Mel Tillis) « © '66 Cedarwood Publishing, BMI »You've painted up your lips and rolled and curled your tinted hair
Ruby are you contemplating going out somewhere
The shadows on the wall tells me the sun is going down
Aw Ruby don't take your love to town
It wasn't me that started that old crazy Asian war
But I was proud to go and do my patriotic chores
And yes it's true I'm not the man that I used to be
Oh but Ruby I still need some company
It's hard to love a man whose legs are bent and paralized
And the wants and the needs of a woman your age Ruby I realize
But it won't be long I've heard them say until I'm not around
Oh Ruby don't take your love to town
She's leaving now cause I just heard the slamming of the door
The way I know I've heard it slam one hundred times before
And if I could move I'd get my gun and put her in the ground
Oh Ruby don't take your love to town
Ruby for God sake's turn around
**********
6.
SWEET THANG
(Nat Stuckey) « © '66 Tree Publishing, BMI / Su-Ma Publishing, BMI »I slipped out of the house about sundown
While mama was a washing her hair
And you can bet your bottom dollar she'll come looking for me
When she finds that I'm not there
And if she catches her sweet thang a runnin' around
I know there'll be the devil to pay
She'll come blowing like a cyclone through that door
And I can hear exactly what she'll say
Well has anybody here seen sweet thang
I got a notion he'll be headed this way
Cause when my sweet thang's out tomcattin' around
He finds a sandbox like this to play
I wanna tell all you barroom hosses if my sweet thang does happen by
You'd better take my advice and if you'll blink more than twice
You'd better have something in your eye
[ guitar ] I give my baby all my money on payday
Except a little that she don't know that I got
Cause there's a cute little waitress at that corner cafe
And she likes ol' sugar boy quite a lot
Well we were sittin' in this back booth a havin' a talk
And she was believin' every word that I said
When the door blew open and mama walked in
Yelling loud enough to wake the dead
Well has anybody here seen sweet thang...
**********
7.
I COULD NEVER BE ASHAMED OF YOU
(Hank Williams) « © '52 Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »Ev'rybody says you let me down
I should be ashamed to take you round
Makes no difference what you used to do
Darling I could never be ashamed of you
Maybe you were reckless yesterday
But together we can find a brighter way
In my heart I know that you'll come through
Darling I could never be ashamed of you
[ steel ] All the happiness I've ever known
Came the day you said you'd be my own
And it matters not what we go through
Darling I could never be ashamed of you
Maybe you've been cheated in the past
And perhaps those memories will always last
Even though you prove to be untrue
Darling I could never be ashamed of you
**********
8.
UNMITIGATED GALL
(Mel Tillis) « © '66 Cedarwood Publishing, BMI »Well how can you have the unmitigated gall
To come back now expecting me to fall
Right down on my knees and kiss your feet yeah feet
Feet that one day went a walkin' out on me with a fast talkin'
Slob you hardly knew his name your mind is de-arranged
And where did you get the backbone and grit
To come back now expectin' me to fit
Right back into plans that we once made
Plans that now are gone forever
To return never never I don't want you anymore
So get away from my door
And let me live live live and let me live live live
Don't come messing up my life again
How can you have the courage and the nerve
To come back now expectin' me to love
You after the way that you've done me
Guess you think that I'm a fool
But you're the one that blew their cool
I don't need you anymore so get away from my door
And let me live live live and let me live live live
Live live live live live live
Live live live and let me live live live
**********
9.
RIGHT BACK IN YOUR ARMS AGAIN
(Mel Tillis) « © '66 Cedarwood Publishing, BMI »So many times I've told myself we're through it's done that's all
And I think that I've convinced my pride that it must naver fall
But even though you can't be true I know that I can't win
Cause it don't take long till pride is gone and I'm in your arms again
For just a few lonely hours and a few sleepless nights
Too many teardrops and a heart that won't beat right
Too many mem'ries and a fight that I can't win
And I'm right back in your arms again
[ steel ] Too many nights I've laid awake and prayed for day to come
With my mind made up to just give up leave and not return
But a smile or two I get from you and that old feeling begins
And then it don't take long to turn me on and I'm in your arms again
For just a few lonely hours...
**********
10.
THAT'S WHERE MY MONEY GOES
(Mel Tillis - Buck Peddy) « © '65 Cedarwood Publishing, BMI »Oh boy that's where my money goes
I've got a gal in Monroeville she won't dance but her sister will
Oh boy that's where my money goes
And I've got a gal down in Florida way she won't swing but she sure will sway
Oh boy that's where my money goes
Work my fingers to the bone so I can take more dollars home
Working over time at the mill tryin' to pay for my baby's bills
My gal wears fancy clothes replite shoes and rolldown hose
Oh boy that's where my money goes
[ trumpet ] (Oh boy that's where my money goes)
[ trumpet ] (Oh boy that's where my money goes)
My gal drives a limousine and you know who buys the gasoline
Oh boy that's where my money goes
My gal lives like a movie star pink champagne and caviar
Oh boy that's where my money goes
Work my fingers to the bone...
Oh boy that's where my money goes
**********
11.
OLD GANG'S GONE
(Bobby Cisco - Bill Guess) « © '66 Sawgrass Music, BMI »The old gang's gone I'm the only one that's left
And I guess that it's about time I moved on out myself
Cause there ain't no use in hanging round a town that's grown so cold
With its used-to-be's and its memories it makes a man feel old
My friends have wed and some are dead and some are far away
From the one horse town that we ran around and the dreams of yesterday
The old gang's gone...
Johnny Green's in Jacksonville he's a doctor now you know
Shaky Sam's in Vietnam he volunteered to go
Cindy lives in Tennessee and Mary's moved to Maine
And I don't guess that I'll ever see the likes of them again
The old gang's gone...
The old gang's gone...
**********
12.
ALONE WITH YOU
(Roy Drusky - Lester Vanadore - Faron Young) « © '58 Johnny Bienstock Music, BMI »How I'd love to be around you when the lonely night surrounds you
How I'd love to be alone with you
What I'd give to have the power to read your mind one hour
How I'd love to be alone with you
Just to be with you one night you and me alone
Kiss your lips and hold you tight and have you for my own
This would be a joy unending could be a real beginning
How I'd love to be alone with you
[ guitar - steel ] How I'd love to be around you when the lonely night surrounds you
How I'd love to be alone with you
If I only knew for certain I'd cut out all my flirtin'
How I'd love to be alone with you
Just to be with you one night you and me alone
Kiss your lips and hold you tight and have you for my own
Won't you try to be my baby just for once and then well maybe
I could always be alone with you I could always be alone with you
**********
