1.

(# 19 country hit)

Ship In The Bottle

Glenn Sutton - Hugh X. Lewis

© Al Gallico Music, BMI

As I sit at this bar and drink it over
Thoughts of you keep runnin' through my wine
So I build myself a ship inside this bottle
Sail away leave all my blues behind

Ship in the bottle don't you fail me
I'm drownin' in my sorrow can't you see
Ship in the bottle please sail me
Where that rising tide of hurt can't get to me
[ instrumental ]
I board my ship and sail all through my bottle
My friends say it's through water on my brain
But I'm in high spirits even though they're liquid
I've finally found the way to ease my pain

Ship in the bottle please sail me
I'm drownin' in my sorrow can't you see
Ship in the bottle don't you fail me
Keep that rising tide of hurt away from me
Keep that rising tide of hurt away from me

**********

2.

Morals Of A Man

John Virgin

© Turp Tunes, BMI

She was a good girl from a family well respected
Until he offered her the whole world in her hands
Then she went with him to do the things he wanted
She didn't know the morals of a man

It didn't take long until he changed her from a good girl
Since he forgot to buy a wedding band
Then he left her he didn't like what he had made her
She was learning fast the morals of a man

Now she don't even try to hold her head up
And they call her names she don't quite understand
Looked down upon by those she thought who loved her
Too late she learned the morals of a man
[ instrumental ]
Many long nights she holds her baby to her
And thinks quietly she has her whole world in her hand
For she has no one left except her baby
Yes she learned well the morals of a man
Yes she knows well the morals of a man

**********

3.

I Miss You Most In The Winter Time

John Virgin

© Turp Tunes, BMI

Funny how the spring brings back your mem'ry
And the summer finds you always on my mind
In the loneliness of fall I can almost hear you call
But it seems I miss you most in the winter time

On a winter's night the world is cold as I feel
As I reach to touch the place you left behind
Anytime of the year you can always find a tear
But it seems I miss you most in the winter time
[ instrumental ]
Did you tell him how the snow fell as you left me
But I'm sure he was with you all the time
Can you send me down your love to warm me from above
Don't God know I miss you most in the winter time
Don't God know I miss you most in the winter time

**********

4.

(# 72 country hit)

Better Days For Mama

Hugh King

© Milene Music, ASCAP

Bad whiskey and his wild wreckless way
Put my young daddy in an early grave
So many nights my mama cried
And then I'd hear her pray
She'd asked the Lord to send her better days
Better days for mama better days

Then sister had to marry at fourteen
Destroyed what was left of mama's dreams
She cried but then I heard her say
Sometimes the best sheep go astray
That night she knelt and pray for better days
Better days for mama better days

She cried a lot that day that I left home
I said don't worry I know right from wrong
Although I tried my best somehow
Four grey walls surround me now
And again my mama prays for better days
Better days for mama better days

Mister warden many many thanks to you
To let me come here for the flowers too
Although my tears fall on her grave
I feel she's found her restin' place
At last the Lord sent mama better days
Better days for mama better days
Better days for mama better days

**********

5.

The Lonesome In Me

Dave Kirby

© Tree Pub, BMI

I go home to a home where love is all gone
I remember how things used to be
Over there is her picture with our little boy
And it brings out the lonesome in me

What can I do what can I say
What made me treat her that a way
I walk into a room where my baby should be
And it brings out the lonesome in me
[ instrumental ]
Just a drink now and then with some sociable friends
But the good wine got a bad hold on me
Now I know that I'll never see them no more
For the right was just taken from me

What can I do what can I say...

**********

6.

Thoughts Of A Lonely Man

Stonewall Jackson

© Parton Music, BMI

Tonight when I get through at work I'll just head straight on home
I'll fix a bite and try to eat then I'll pick up the phone
I'll try to find out where she went I must know how she's been
That's the thoughts of a lonely lonely man

The mind of a lonely man when he's alone like me
All day it counts mistakes he's made all night it counts bad dreams
I meant to treat my darlin' right somehow I failed my plans
That's the thoughts of a lonely lonely man

Tomorrow I'll wake up at six I'll rise without a groan
Punch in at work by eight o'clock just like there's nothin' wrong
If I work hard enough maybe the work will help me stand
All these thoughts of a lonely lonely man

My beggin' her might not be smart but it makes sense to me
Bein' smart won't help me much if she don't come back to me
Oh what I'd give to see her face or touch her gentle hand
That's the thoughts of a lonely lonely man
That's the thoughts of this lonely lonely man

**********

7.

(# 25 country hit)

Never More Quote The Raven

Cy Coben

© Delmore Music, ASCAP

(Never more never more)

Never more quote the Raven never more
Nothin' hurts as strong as knowin' you've done wrong
And not one thing can make it right again
I don't blame you for walkin' out the door
But when you did that raven flew right in

Never more quote the Raven never more
Your one big chance for love went out the door
Oh please Raven tell me when she'll be back again
Never more quote the Raven never more

I said raven what's my fate tell it to me straight
Can I mend that gentle heart I broke
Will I end up alone or will she come back home
The Raven thought a moment then he spoke

Never more quote the Raven never more...

Never more quote the Raven never more
Then he spread his wings and few back out the door
And the voice that sealed my doom still echoes in my room
Never more quote the Raven never more
Never more quote the Raven never more

**********

8.

The Difference Between Going And Really Gone

Jimmie Helms - Grant Townsley

© Sure-Fire Music, BMI

By our house runs the highway only forty feet away
In the driveway sits the car that I could used to get away
Up the sidewalk comes the reason I'm still hangin' on
The little boy that makes the difference between goin' and really gone

You tell me it's all over there's no reason I should stay
You've already found another and I'm only in your way
But past the mailbox walks the reason I'm still hangin' on
The little boy that makes the difference between goin' and really gone

Here comes six years of difference between goin' and really gone
Sixty pounds of reasons just walked across the lawn
Into the arms of his daddy no I can't do him wrong
For I help create the difference between goin' and really gone
Yes I help create the difference between goin' and really gone

**********

9.

Blues Plus Booze (Means I Lose)

Elkin Brown

© Sure-Fire Music, BMI

Just last night my love said she was leaving
I sat right there and cried until the dawn
Then booze was added to the pain and heartbreak
The combination keep all trouble from then on

Blues plus booze means I lose
Not a right combination for anyone to choose
Nobody knows the feelin' till he's been in my shoes
Blues plus booze means I lose
[ instrumental ]
Tonight I'm fast forgetting how she left me
But tomorrow pain will come on twice as strong
I order stronger booze and louder music
Like I'm happy for tonight but not for long

Blues plus booze means I lose...

**********

10.

The Harm You've Done

Stonewall Jackson

© Turp Tunes, BMI

I never dreamed I'd have a cryin' time
It seemed to me our love would turn out fine
I've heard you still remember and say we sure had fun
But I guess you'll never know the harm you've done

You're not here to watch my hair turn gray
You don't see the tears I brush away
You've never heard me cry oh Lord don't let me see the dawn
And so you'll never know the harm you've done
[ instrumental ]
I tried to smile when you told me goodbye
I don't suppose you've ever seen me cry
In your world skies are sunny in mine there is no sun
I guess you'll never know the harm you've done

You're not here to watch my hair turn gray...

**********

11.

(# 52 country hit)

Somebody's Always Leaving

Jack Schneider - Claude Southall

© Cedarwood Pub, BMI

Mama died when I was borned that July
Daddy took to drinkin' long before he died
Grandma kept me up until her passin'
Somebody's always leavin'

I've met Betty Jo at school for orphans
In those two years we saw each other of'en
A car wreck took her life before our wedding
Somebody's always leavin'
[ instrumental ]
Susan Johnson left me three good children
They say the man she left with went to prison
God knows I done my best to try to raise 'em
Somebody's always leavin'

Six years ago Susie called from Ireland
Mary Jane sent me a card from Wheelin'
The telegram said my son died for freedom
Somebody's always leavin'
[ instrumental ]
They said that barroom brawl was all my doin'
They knifed my pal that's when I started shootin'
The only friend I had lay there bleedin'
Somebody's always leavin'

This cell ain't big but it's big enough for thinkin'
This bed sheet makes a rope that's what I'm makin'
When they find me I'm quite sure there'll be no weepin'
Somebody's always leavin' somebody's always leavin'

**********