Old Golden Throat

I GOT STRIPES

(Johnny Cash - Charlie Williams)

On a Monday I was arrested (uh huh)

On a Tuesday they locked me in the jail (poor boy)

On a Wednesday my trial was attested

On a Thursday they said guilty and the judge's gavel fell

I got stripes stripes around my shoulders

I got chains chains around my feet

I got stripes stripes around my shoulders

And them chains them chains they're bout to drag me down

On a Monday got my striped britches (uh huh)

On a Tuesday got my ball and chain (poor boy)

On a Wednesday I'm working diggin' ditches

On a Thursday Lord I begged them not to knock me down again

I got stripes stripes around my shoulders...

On a Monday my mama come to see me (uh huh)

On a Tuesday they caught me with a file (poor boy)

On a Wednesday I'm down on solitary

On a Thursday Lord I start on a bread and water for awhile

I got stripes stripes around my shoulders...

**********

CERTAIN KINDA HURTIN'

(Johnny Cash)

I've got a certain kind of hurtin' since you've gone

I've got a pain I can't explain and it keeps on hanging on

You were gone on morning and I held on tight

But I went all to pieces later on that night

I've got a certain kind of hurtin' since you've gone

I've got a tear that's very near to showin' through

I get to week to speak when I think of losin' you

You never got out of sight till I knew

That nothin's gonna ever be right without you

I've got a certain kind of hurtin' since you've gone

[ whistle - piano - guitar ]

I've got a lonely heart that only beats for you

I hope you'll find I'm on your mind needin' me like I need you

You're not leavin' on a one way track

Cause I'm gonna come get you and I'm bringin' you back

I've got a certain kind of hurtin' since you've gone

**********

LITTLE AT A TIME

(Johnny Cash - Gordon Terry)

Stop lovin' me a little at a time let me lose you a little at a time

Walk away slow like you don't want to go leave me a little at a time

For my benefit try to cry a little bit

For old times sake give me a slow heertbreak

I put up a fight but I'll be all right if you stop lovin' me a little at a time

[ lute ]

Hurt me a little at a time turn me away a little at a time

Walk away slow like you don't want to go leave me a little at a time

For my benefit try to cry a little bit...

A little at a time a little at a time a little at a time a little at a time

**********

ALL OVER AGAIN

(Johnny Cash)

Every time I look at you I fall in love all over again

Every time I think of you it all begins all over again

One little dream at night and I can dream all day

It only takes a memory to thrill me

One little kiss from you and I just fly away

Pour me out your love until you fill me

I want to fall in love beginning from the start all over again

Show me how you stole away my heart all over again

[ guitar ]

One little dream at night...

All over again all over again all over again all over again

**********

STILL IN TOWN

(Harlan Howard - Hank Cochran)

To love you so but still not have you will destroy me in time

So I'm goin' away where nobody knows me and get you off of my mind

I've packed my things a dozen times but unpack is all I do

I'm still in town I'm still around and still in love with you

I've made it to the edge of town and turned around

I've made it to the bridge downtown but my nerve let me down

I tried to go but how can I leave when all roads lead to you

Yes I'm still in town and I'm still around and still in love with you

[ piano - steel ]

I've made it to the edge of town...

**********

SMILING BILL McCALL

(Johnny Cash)

Well the whole town listened to the radio for the Smiling Bill McCall Show

Everyone in Nashville was listenin' to Bill

I don't want to be layin' in bed when they pronounce me dead

He'd stand and breathe in the microphone with his guitar hangin' to his kneebone

All the girls just sat and dreamed when Bill began his sing

I don't want my hat to be hung when my last song is sung

But he never let fame go to his head this is Smiling Bill McCall he said

Gonna pick and sing a song or two you all listen till I'm through

And if you're at the house or in your car tune in this time tomorrow

To all the boys he was a big hero that'd glue their ears to the radio

Then talkin' a most unusual drawl imitatin' Bill McCall

Daddy can I get me a guitar cause I want to be a star

The girls would say of Bill McCall why I bet he's over six feet tall

Handsomest man in Nashville they said of Smiling Bill

He won't be plantin' potato slips when he cashes in his chips

Then one day Bill didn't make the show didn't even show up for a week or so

The station's boss said to city hall find Smiling Bill McCall

It won't be hard to track him down he's got the biggest feet in town

Well there's a creek that runs through Nashville

And on the bank they found Smiling Bill

He's committin' suicide but they grabbed him before he tried

Turn me loose I want to jump he screamed cause I can't stand that theme

Let this be my final breath cause I'm scared half to death

The big brave Smiling Bill McCall is only four feet tall

I'd rather be in the river dead than to hear 'em laughin' at my bald head

**********

WIND CHANGES

(Johnny Cash)

Yes the wind changes and one morning early a good wind will be blowing for me

Away like a bird you have flown and upon a wild wind you were blown

Where you're bound I don't know nor the way that you go

But the wonderlust beckons you on

But the wind changes...

The wind sings its song in the tree but the wind song is never for me

When followin' your track the wind's at your back

Makin' whirlwinds where you used to be

But the wind changes...

[ mandocello ]

The wind quietly hides in the night and it rises again with the light

But the days never fly they're slow to go by

And like you there's something I can't fight

Yes the wind changes...

**********

SONS OF KATIE ELDER

(Ernie Sheldon - Elmer Bernstein)

From the four winds we have come Katie Elder

Four brothers on the run Katie Elder

All your little ones have grown and we've reaped what we have sown

Yes we've reaped what we have sown Katie Elder

Oh the wind blows like the devil when it blows

And the boy grows up and like the wind he goes

So mothers teach your sons to not live by a gun

And to not live like the sons of Katie Elder

I think you'd understand Katie Elder

That a man is just a man Katie Elder

They're bound to cut him down if he doesn't stand his ground

But they haven't cut us down yet Katie Elder

Oh the wind blows...

We'll try to make it right Katie Elder

No more hidin' in the night Katie Elder

I vow it on your grave by all the things we never gave

And mistakes that we all made Katie Elder

Oh the wind blows...

And to not live like the sons of Katie Elder

**********

DARK AS A DUNGEON

(Merle Travis)

Oh come all you young fellers young and so fine

Seek not your fortune in a dark dreary mine

It'll form as a habit and seep in your soul

Till the stream of your blood is as black as the coal

Where it's dark as a dungeon damp as the dew

Danger is double and the pleasures are few

Where the rain never falls the sun never shines

It's a dark as a dungeon way down in the mine

[ trumpets ]

Well I'll pray when I'm dead and my ages shall roll

That my body would blacken and turn into coal

Then I'll look from the door of heavenly home

And pity the miner digging my bones

Where it's dark as a dungeon...

**********

10.

TENNESSEE FLAT TOP BOX

(Johnny Cash)

In a little cabaret in a south Texas border town

Sat a boy and his guitar and the people came from all around

And all the girls from there to Austin

Were slippin' way from home and puttin' jewelry in hock

To take the trip to go and listen

To the little dark haired boy that played The Tennessee Flat Top Box

And he would play

[ guitar ]

Well he couldn't ride a wrangle and he never cared to make a dime

But give him his guitar and he'd be happy all the time

And all the girls from nine to ninety

Were snappin' fingers tappin' toes and beggin' him don't stop

And hypnotized and fascinated

By the little dark haired boy that played The Tennessee Flat Top Box

And he would play

[ guitar ]

Then one day he was gone and no one ever saw him round

He vanished like the breeze and they forgot him in the little town

But all the girls still dreamed about him

And hung around the cabaret until the doors ware locked

And then one day on the hitparade

Was a little dark haired boy that played The Tennessee Flat Top Box

And he would play

[ guitar ]

**********

11.

MATADOR

(Johnny Cash - June Carter)

The crowd is waiting for the bull fight matador

My final fight the place is packed once more

But Anita won't throw me a rose this fight

The one she wears is not for me tonight

She's watching now with her new love I know walk proud and slow

Be strong and sure and give the crowd their show they want blood you know

You're still their idol as you were before

Kill just one more remind Anita you're the greatest matador

[ trumpets ]

Walk on out forget Anita in the stand be a tall and brave and noble man

Be better than you've ever been before make this your greatest moment matador

She's watching now with her new love...

**********

12.

SEND A PICTURE OF MOTHER

(Johnny Cash)

After seven years behind these bars together

I'll miss you more than a brother when you go (when you go)

If only I had not try to escape that partin' me with you I know (yes I know)

Won't you tell the folks back home I'll soon be coming

Don't let them know I never will be free (will be free)

Sometimes write and tell me how they're doing

And send a picture of mother back to me

Say hello to dad and shake his poor hard working hand

And send a picture of mother if you can

[ harpsichord ]

I'm happy for you that you've got your freedom

But stay with me just another minute or so (or so)

After all this sweat and blood together

Who'll be my fightin' partner when you go (when you go)

The hardest time will be on Sunday morning

Church bells will ring on Heaven Hill (Heaven Hill)

Please ask Reverend Garrett to pray for me

And send a picture of mother if you will

Say hello to dad...

**********

13.

YOU DREAMER YOU

(Johnny Cash)

(You dreamer you)

Well I dreamed I walked in a field of flowers (oh what a dream)

The houses all were silver towers (oh what a dream)

Beside the road an angel sat I said hello and tipped my hat

And stopped when I saw her smile and set me down a while I set me down a while

(You dreamer you)

Well I tried the angel for a kiss (oh what a dream)

But she turned away and my lips missed (oh what a dream)

She said sir I'll have you know I met you just a while ago

You're welcome for to sit but calm yourself a bit sir calm yourself a bit

(You dreamer you you dreamer you)

I fell in love like one two three (oh what a dream)

I asked the angel to marry me (oh what a dream)

She said sir I can't marry you but I'm a dream that can come true

There are dreams of much my worth that live upon the earth sir live upon the earth

(You dreamer you)

Then I awoke and found my love (oh what a dream)

As heavenly as the one above (oh what a dream)

We'll marry in a sea of flowers home will be a silver tower

There'll be heaven in my life with an angel for a wife with an angel for a wife

(You dreamer you)

**********

14.

RED VELVET

(Ian Tyson)

For month ago in April a day-coach she came down

And the dusty autumn winds began to blow

Should have known I couldn't hold her livin' out so far from town

And the nights to come are long and slow to go

If I had known before we kissed

You can't keep red velvet on a bordered farm like this

Well now she's up and left me she went a walkin' down the line

And the dusty autumn winds began to blow

All dressed up in red velvet and her high-heel shoes so fine

And the nights to come are long and slow to go

[ guitar ]

Well I sit and count December stars while they dance around

And the dusty autumn winds began to blow

Then I'll call my dog and I'll take the truck and I'll ride on into town

And the nights to come are long and slow to go

If I had known before we kissed...

**********