1.

The First Mrs. Jones

Bill Anderson

© Stallion Music, BMI

Her real first name was Betty but I'd rather just forget it
So I'll call her the First Mrs Jones
We were married in September and it lasted till November
Then one day she just took out on her own

I followed her to Savannah New Orleans and then Atlanta
Every day I begged her to come home
Pretty soon I started drinkin' tryin' hard to keep from thinkin'
Just how much I loved the First Mrs Jones

It was cold and dark one mornin' just before the day was dawnin'
When I staggered from a tavern to a phone
When she picked up her receiver I said you're gonna come back or either
They're gonna be callin' you the Late Mrs Jones

I put a pistol in my jacket stumbled out and hailed a taxi
I told the taxi driver to take me to her home
I remember walkin' proudly ev'rybody said I yelled out loudly
Come on out or I'm gonna come in Mrs Jones

Then next thing I recall was walkin' to the forest
Lookin' for a place to hide her bones
I dug and dug for hours and then I planted flowers
Right on the top of the First Mrs Jones

Did my little story scare you
Oh I can see cause I'm so near you
Little beads of perspiration dot your clothes
Aren't you sorry now that you left me
Really now doesn't you wanna come go with me
After all you are the Second Mrs Jones

**********

2.

Words And Music

Vance Bulla

© Plainspoken Music, ASCAP

I was in a lonely cafe by the roadside
All unfriendly people no one said a word
When in there stepped a starry eyed old stranger
He sat down threw up his arms and then I heard

Let me have about me lots of words and music
Gather round and tell me anything you know
Let's talk and sing and let's have words and music
Give me lots of words and music till I go

Then with spirits high and the conversation livens
The old man told us all where he'd come from
He said where I've been it's dark and lonely
And you know I hardly ever see the sun

The kids all said the place would be best for me
And they took all my money they said to pay the bills
But you know I haven't heard a word from 'em
And I sorta think I never will

And words are so important when you're lonely
And music has always been so good for me
So let's talk and sing and let's have words and music
Cause they'll come find me and they'll see that I got free

Then the old man's starry eyes grew cold and lifeless
When he saw the men in white suits standin' at the door
He turned and shouted please don't take me back there
And then he fell down to his knees upon the floor

Then steppin' from a corner of the cafe
A mask of teardrops streamin' down his face
A young man came to claim his long lost daddy
And soon their happy voices filled the place

Let me have about me lots of words and music...
Give me lots of words and music till I go

**********

3.

(# 2 country hit)

The Cold Hard Facts Of Life

Bill Anderson

© Moss-Rose Pub, BMI

I got back in town a day before I'd planned to
I smiled and said I'll sure surprise my wife
I don't think I'll phone I'll just head on home
For I didn't know the cold hard facts of life

I passed a little wine store on the corner
I pictured pink champagne by candle light
I stopped the car right then got out and hurried in
My mind not on the cold hard facts of life

A stranger stood there laughing by the counter
He said I'll take two bottles of your best
Her husband's out of town and there's a party
He winked as if to say you know the rest

I left the store two steps behind the stranger
From there to my house his car stayed in sight
But it wasn't till he turned into my drive that I learned
I was witnessing the cold hard facts of life

I drove around the block till I was dizzy
Each time the noise came louder from within
And then I saw our bottle there beside me
And I drank a fifth of courage and walked in

Lord you should've seen their frantic faces
They screamed and cried please put away that knife
I guess I'll go to hell or I'll rot here in this cell
But who taught who the cold hard facts of life
Who taught who the cold hard facts of life

**********

4.

Sleep

Jack Clement

© Jack Music, BMI

Sleep sweet and deep
Visit me for awhile
Sleep come over me
Let me rest and dream awhile

Of two young lovers makin' plans
Of dreams I dreamed when dreams began
Of things that could and should have been
Before the eternal sadness moved in

Sleep come over me
Set me free to dream awhile

Of sunlight shining in her hair
Of days with laughter in the air
Of my world of sweetness again
Before the eternal sadness moved in

Sleep sweet and deep
Let me rest and dream awhile
Let me rest and dream awhile

**********

5.

A Hundred Dollar Funeral

Vic McAlpin

© Tree Pub, BMI

With one nickel in his pocket and a pack of cigarettes
There were no tears of sorrow no tears of regret
In a plain wooden casket the county laid him away
Just a hundred dollar funeral with no loved ones to pray

There must be a mother who loved him somewhere
Perhaps she had gone home and was waiting up there
Where there's no disappointments around God's great throne
No hundred dollar funerals unloved and unknown

No pretty marble headstone not one friend came
He was lowered by four strangers that didn't know his name
A loser on this earth a debt so many must pay
Just a hundred dollar funeral with no loved ones to pray

There must be a mother who loves him somewhere...

**********

6.

If I Could Only Start Over

Faye Bradshaw

© Sawgrass Music, BMI

Now if I could only start over
And have a new life to begin
Oh 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 dreamed of old sweethearts
The way that I dream about you
[ instrumental ]
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 dreamin' tonight of old sweethearts...

But I never dreamed of old sweethearts
The way that I dream about you

**********

7.

Tragic Romance

Grandpa Jones - Wiley Morris - Zake Morris

© Lois Pub, BMI

Nestled in the heart of the Tennessee Hills
There neat the pines midst the rocks and the rills
There stands my ole homestead of long long ago
It brings back sweet mem'ries of the one I loved so

I'll tell you the reason why I left her there
To roam this ole world with its sorrow and care
I saw her one night in the arms of a man
Huggin' and kissin' as two lovers can

I went to my home with a heart full of woe
Packed my belongings determined to go
For many long years this ole world I did roam
With thoughts of my sweetheart my darling my own
[ instrumental ]
While dining one day in a little country town
A stranger walked in and he chanced to sit down
While talking of loved ones I happened to find
That his sister was that ole sweetheart of mine

When he heard my story to me then he said
The one you left there has a long time been dead
She waited so long for the day you'd return
And why you had left her she never did learn

Now I was the one that you saw that fatal night
Wrapped in the arms of my sister so tight
She loved you so dearly but you broke her heart
Stranger from her ever more you must part

**********

8.

Try Being Lonely

Buck Trent - George McCormick

© Caretta Music, BMI

Just try bein' lonely and you'll know just how I feel

I saw you with your new love and oh it hurt me so
Funny how I see your face everywhere I go
You smiled and looked to be so happy as you passed by
So I stepped around the corner so you wouldn't see me cry

Suppose you wanted someone the way I want you
Just imagine your body mind and soul breaking in two
Walk the floor each night shed tears you can't conceal
Just try bein' lonely and you'll know just how I feel
Just try bein' lonely and you'll know just how I feel

**********

9.

(# 5 country hit)

I'll Get Ahead Someday

Mack Magaha

© Warden Music, BMI

I'll get ahead someday I'll get ahead someday
If the sun comes up and my wife cuts down
I'll get ahead someday

Well I get up early work hard all day listen to the troubles of my friends
But I don't realize till I get home what an awful shape I'm in
Well my car's in the shop my shoes wore out got a bill from doctor today
And the landlord said you'll get out tomorrow if you don't get me some pay

But I'll get ahead someday I'll get ahead someday...

All I can hear there's a sale downtown gotta have some money today
But there's things at home that's never been used she bought last bargain day
Well I tell hurt we'll have to cut down here is what you said
What's mine is mine what's yours is mine that's how I got this mess

But I'll get ahead someday I'll get ahead someday...

If the sun comes up and my wife cuts down
I'll get ahead someday

**********

10.

I Just Can't Let You Say Goodbye

Willie Nelson

© Pamper Music, BMI

I had not planned on seeing you
I was afraid of what I'd do
But pride is strong and here am I
I just can't let you say goodbye

Please have no fear you're in no harm
As long as you're here in my arms
But you can't leave so please don't try
I just can't let you say goodbye

What force behind your evil mind
Can make your lips speak so unkind
The one who loves as much as I
I just can't let you say goodbye

The flesh around your throat is pale
Intended by my fingernails
Please don't scream please don't cry
I just can't let you say goodbye

Your voice is still now it speaks no more
You'll never hurt me anymore
You know death is a friend to love and I
Cause now you'll never say goodbye

**********

11.

Shopworn

Ted Harris

© Plainspoken Music, ASCAP

Shopworn and aged what's left of a man
Will never be useless for he's part of God's plan

Did you ever think of life as just a shop along the street
And yourself as a product displayed in easy reach
And you laid there for some quite some time now and pondered at your fate
Then you begin to wonder if maybe you'd hit the market late

Wealth had looked you over once and seen you at your best
But somehow you didn't fit his needs so he took one of the rest
Love had read your label and you lingered in her mind
But the competition caught her eye and she left you there behind

Fame had brushed the edges of the counter where you lay
And she pondered for a moment but then she walked away
Lady Luck had even picked you up but then you heard her say
I just can't afford you so I'll have to let you lay

Then one day they marked you down put you up on sale
And you got looked over once again but all to no avail
Now stained with yellow marked with age you heard a salesman state
Boss I guess I'll throw this out it's old and out of date

The keeper of the shop came then and he seemed to understand
He smiled and looked you over and held out a caring hand
Give me that I'll take it home don't throw it on the street
It's old and gray but in its way it'll help my shop complete

**********

12.

(# 15 country hit)

Julie

Waylon Jennings

© Tree Pub, BMI

When I married Julie she was just seventeen
Pretty as the answer to any man's dream
From the start I gave Julie all the love that I had
But ev'ryone told me that Julie was bad

For Julie liked parties and clothes that fit tight
Drinkin' and dancin' and out late at night
She was ev'rything evil with the face of a child
And I sat home and waited while my Julie went wild
(Julie went wild Julie went wild)

I built an empire with my own two hands
Power and money to break any man
But with all my possessions power and gold
Julie was one thing I couldn't control

Though I gave Julie all my money could buy
And begged her to love me but she wouldn't try
For she'd only laugh as she'd walk out the door
Each time she'd hurt me made me love her more
(He loved her more he loved her more)

I couldn't sleep until Julie got home
Last night she came in but wasn't alone
The things that I heard I could hardly believe
As her and the stranger made plans to leave

Without my Julie why I just couldn't live
And this is one thing I know I could never forgive
So I wait with a pistol the bullets just three
One for the stranger Julie and me
One for the stranger Julie and me

**********