Tom T. Hall Chords and Lyrics
- Ballad Of Forty Dollars
- Candy In The Window Lyrics
- Country Is
- Della And The Dealer
- Don't Forget The Coffee Billy Joe Lyrics
- Faster Horses (The Cowboy And The Poet) Lyrics
- Harper Valley PTA Lyrics
- Homecoming
- I Hope It Rains At My Funeral Lyrics
- I Love
- I'm Not Ready Yet Lyrics
- It Sure can Get Cold In Des Moines Lyrics
- Kentucky Feb. 27, '71 Lyrics
- Me And Jesus
- Old Dogs, Children And Watermelon Wine
- Old Enough To Want To, Fool Enough To Try Lyrics
- The Old Side Of Town
- Second handed Flowers Lyrics
- She Gave Her Heart To Jethro Lyrics
- Sneaky Snake
- Texas Never Fell In Love With Me
- The Little Lady Preacher Lyrics
- The Year That Clayton Delaney Died
- Trip To Hyden Lyrics
- Tulsa Telephone Book Lyrics
- Turn It On, Turn It On, Turn It On Lyrics
- Who's Gonna Feed Them Hogs Lyrics
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Ballad Of Forty Dollars - Tom T. Hall
[D] The man who preached the funeral
Said it really was a simple way to [G] die ...
[A7] He laid down to rest one afternoon
And never opened up his [D] eyes ...
They hired me and Fred and Joe
To dig the grave and carry up some [G] chairs ...
[A7] It took us seven hours
And I guess we must have drunk a case of [D] beer. ...
I guess I ought to go and watch them put 'im down
But I don't own a suit
And anyway when they start talkin' about
The fire in Hell, well, I get spooked
So, I'll just sit here in my truck
And act like I don't know 'im when they pass
Anyway, when they're all through
I've got to go to work and mow the grass.
Well, here they come and who's that
Ridin' in that big ol' shiny limousine
Mmh! look at all that chrome, I do believe
That that's the sharpest thing I've seen
That must belong to his great uncle
Someone said he owned a big ol' farm
When they get parked I'll mosey down
and look it over, that won't do no harm.
Well, that must be the widow in the car
And would you take a look at that
That sure is a pretty dress
You know some women do look good in black
Well, he's not even in the ground
And they say that his truck is up for sale
They say she took it pretty hard
But you can't tell too much behind the veil.
Well, listen ain't that pretty
When the bugler plays the Military "TAPS"
I think that when you's in the war
They always (*hide 'n) play a song like that
Well, here I am and there they go
And I guess you'd just call it my bad luck
I hope he rests in peace, the trouble is
The fellow owes me forty bucks.
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Candy In The Window - Tom T Hall
Don't kiss my lips and say good-bye, it makes me
want you more
Anyway, I knew somebody like you once before
I know that love is waiting for you farther down
the line
Candy in the window of my mind
You're candy in the window and I'm that ragged
child
That came to town to stare into the window for
awhile
I wish you every happiness you'll ever hope to
find
Sweet candy in the window of my mind
Remember me for I'm the one who never will
forget
Now you know the way life is, you may decide
you want me yet
Take care, sweeetheart, and keep in touch if you
can spare the time
Candy in the window of my mind
You're candy in the window and I'm that ragged
child
That came to town to stare into the window for
awhile
I wish you every happiness you'll ever hope to
find
Candy in the window of my mind
Sweet candy in the window of my mind
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Country Is - Tom T. Hall
[C] Country Is - [F] sittin' on the [C] back porch
[F] List'nin' to the [C] whipporwills - late in the [G7] day
Country [C] Is - [F] mindin' your [C] business
[F] Helpin' a [C] stranger - if he [G7] comes your [C] way.
1st Refrain
[F] Country Is - livin' in the [C] city
[F] Knowin' your [C] people, knowin' your [G7] kind
Country [C] Is - [F] what you [C] make it
[F] Country [C] Is - [G7] all in your [C] mind
Country Is - workin' for a livin'
Thinkin' your own thoughts - a-lovin' your kind
Country Is - teachin' your children
Find out what's right - and stand your ground.
2nd Refrain
Country Is - havin' a good time
List'nin' to the music - and singin' your part
Country Is - walkin in the moonlight
Country Is - all in your heart.
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Della And The Dealer - Tom T Hall
verse = A - D - /CFDA ://
chorus = AEEA
A D
It was Della and the Dealer and a dog named Jake and a cat named Kalamazoo
C F D A
Left the city in a pick-up truck. Gonna make some dreams come true
A D
Well they rolled out west where the wild sun sets and the coyote bays at the moon
C F D A
Della and the Dealer and a dog named Jake and a cat named Kalamazoo
A
If that cat could talk what tales he'd tell
E
About Della and the Dealer and the dog as well
E
But the cat was cool
A
And he never said a mumblin' word
Down Tucson way there's an old cafe where they play a little cowboy tune
The guitar picker was a friend of mine by the name of Randy Boone
Well Randy played her a sweet love song and Della got a fire in her eye
The Dealer had a gun and the dog had a knife and the cat had a shot of rye
~~chorus~~
Well the Dealer was a killer; he was evil and mean and he was jealous
of the fire in her eye
He snorted his coke through a century note and he swore that Boone
would die
Well the stage was set when the lights went out there was death in
Tucson town
Bodies ran for the bar back door, but one stayed on the ground
~~chorus~~
Two bodies ran from the bar that night and a dog and a cat ran too
The tires got hot on the pickup truck, as down the road they flew
It was Della and her lover and a dog named Jake and a cat named
Kalamazoo
Left Tucson in a pickup truck. Gonna make some dreams come true
~~chorus~~ (2x)
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Don't Forget The Coffee Billy Joe - Tom T Hall
It snowed the night before and it had frozen on the
ground We didn't have a car and we lived seven
miles from town And I can hear my daddy's voice
so many years ago Saying, "Don't forget the
coffee Billy Joe."
"Mama needs her medicine, she's got that real
bad cough We'll get our check on Monday, tell ol'
Sam we'll pay him off You can catch a ride when
you get to the black-top road Don't forget the
coffee Billy Joe"
Me and Quentin went back on the hill and we cut
some wood Burnin' in that ol' warm mornin' stove
it sure smelled good Daddy couldn't get work then
and I was just a child And God was on vacation
for awhile
"Well, if you see Fred you tell him I'll come help
him kill them hogs And ask him if he'd still be
interested in my dogs Don't hang around that pool
room all day, we might get more snow And don't
forget the coffee Billy Joe"
Well, they wonder why there ain't no rabbits left
this day and time To tell the truth I guess we ate
'em all in '49 Was that yesterday or was it over 20
years ago "Don't forget the coffee Billy Joe"
"Mama needs her medicine, she's got that real
bad cough We'll get our check on Monday tell ol'
Sam we'll pay him off You can catch a ride when
you get to the black-top road Don't forget the
coffee Billy Joe (Now pay attention, son) Don't
forget the coffee Billy Joe"
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Faster Horses (The Cowboy And The Poet) - Tom T Hall
He was an old-time cowboy, don't you
understand His eyes were sharp as razor blades
his face was leather tan His toes were pointed
inward from a-hangin' on a horse He was an old
philosopher, of course
He was so thin I swear you could have used him
for a whip He had to drink a beer to keep his
britches on his hips I knew I had to ask him about
the mysteries of life He spit between his boots and
he replied
"It's faster horses, younger women, Older
whiskey, and more money"
He smiled and all his teeth were covered with
tobacco stains He said, "It don't do men no good
to pray for peace and rain. Peace and rain is just a
way to say prosperity, And buffalo chips is all it
means to me."
I told him I was a poet, I was lookin' for the truth I
do not care for horses, whiskey, women or the
loot I said I was a writer, my soul was all on fire
He looked at me an' he said, "You are a liar."
"It's faster horses, younger women, Older
whiskey, and more money"
Well, I was disillusioned, if I say the least I
grabbed him by the collar and I jerked him to his
feet There was something cold and shiny layin' by
my head So I started to believe the things he said
Well, my poet days are over and I'm back to being
me As I enjoy the peace and comfort of reality If
my boy ever asks me what it is that I have learned
I think that I will readily affirm
"It's faster horses, younger women, Older
whiskey, and more money" (repeat 2X)
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Harper Valley PTA - Tom T Hall
I wanna tell you all a story 'bout a Harper Valley
widowed wife
Who had a teenage daughter who attended
Harper Valley Jr. High
Well her daughter came home one afternoon and
didn't even stop to play
And she said, "Mom, I got a note here from the
Harper Valley P.T.A."
Well the note said: "Mrs. Johnson, you're wearin'
your dresses way too high.
It's reported you've been drinkin' and a-runnin'
'round with men and goin' wild.
And we don't believe you oughta be a-bringin' up
your little girl this way."
And it was signed by the Secretary, Harper Valley
P.T.A.
Well it happened that the P.T.A. was gonna meet
that very afternoon
And they were sure surprised when Mrs. Johnson
wore her miniskirt into the room
And as she walked up to the blackboard I can still
recall the words she had to say
She said, "I'd like to address this meeting of the
Harper Valley P.T.A.
Well there's Bobby Taylor sittin' there and seven
times he's asked me for a date.
And Mrs. Taylor sure seems to use a lot of ice
whenever he's away.
And Mr. Baker can you tell us why your secretary
had to leave this town
And shouldn't Widow Jones be told to keep her
window shades all pulled completely down
Well Mr. Harper couldn't be here 'cause he
stayed too long at Kelly's bar again
And if you'll smell Shirley Thompson's breath
you'll find she's had a little nip of gin
And then you have the nerve to tell me you think
that as a mother i'm not fit
Well this is just a little Peyton Place and you're all
Harper Valley hypocrites"
No, I wouldn't put you on because it really did, it
happened just this way
The day my mama socked it to the Harper Valley
P.T.A.
The day my mama socked it to the Harper Valley
P.T.A.
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Homecoming - Tom T. Hall
[G] I guess I should've written, Dad
To let you know that I was comin' home ...
[C] I've been gone so many years
I didn't realize you had a phone ...
I [G] saw your cattle comin' in
Boy, they're looking mighty fat and slick ...
I [C] saw Fred at the service station
[D7] Told me that his wife is awful [G] sick. ...
You heard my record on the radio
Oh! well it's just another song ...
But I've got a hit recorded
And it'll be out on the market 'fore too long ...
I got this ring in Mexico
An' no, it didn't cost me quite a bunch ...
When you're in the business that I'm in
The people call it puttin' up a front. ...
I know I've lost a little weight
I guess I am lookin' kind of pale ...
If you didn't know me better, Dad
You'd think that I'd just gotten out of jail ...
No, we don't ever call them beer joints
Night clubs are the places where I work ...
You meet a lot of people there, but no
There ain't much chance of gettin' hurt. ...
CHANGE TO A:
[A] I'm sorry that I couldn't be here
With you all when Momma passed away ...
[D] I was on the road and when they came
And told me it was just too late ...
I [A] drove by the grave to see her
Boy, that really is a pretty stone ...
I'm [D] glad that Fred and Jan are here
It's [E7] better than you being here a-[A] lone. ...
Well, I knew you's gonna ask me
Who the lady is that's sleepin' in the car ...
That's just a girl who works for me
And, man, she plays a pretty mean guitar ...
We worked in San Antone last night
She didn't even have the time to dress ...
She drove me down from Nashville
And to tell the truth I guess she needs the rest. ...
[A] Well, Dad, I gotta go, we got a dance
To work in Cartersville tonight ...
[D] Let me take your number down, I'll call you
And I promise you I'll write ...
Now [A] you be good and don't be chasin'
All those pretty women that you know ...
And [D] by the way if you see Barbara [E7] Walker
Tell her that "I said [A] Hello."
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I Hope It Rains At My Funeral - Tom T Hall
A man with forty acres plowed and planted
Can't send no fourteen year-old boy to no school
The only thing I learned in the years I worked on
my daddy's farm
Was, "Son, you better get them crops in when it
turns cool."
In the magazines, I saw the naked women
I heard about the drinkin' and the bars
If my daddy could've caught me, he'd a-killed me
He said, "You might run, boy, but you ain't gonna
get far."
I hit town or you might say that it hit me
Next mornin' there were things I knew more
about
The woman who had taken me in said, "Country
boy, you're all right."
The same way I turned her on, she turned me out
The first law I broke, right away they got me
I helped them build the country roads for awhile
They fed me two times a day and knocked me
down about four
For thirty days I didn't even crack a smile
I met a nice girl and she said I was her baby
She let me go and would never tell me why
I learned what it means to be somebody's baby
They let you lie in your bed by yourself and cry
The miles were good but the mileage is turnin' my
hair gray
I've met some people that knew me and call me
friend
Ain't no sense in wantin' my life to live over
I'd find different ways to make those mistakes
again
So let me say this, I never tried to hurt anybody
Though I guess there's a few that I still couldn't
look in the eye
If I've got one wish, I hope it rains at my funeral
For once, I'd like to be the only one dry
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I Love - Tom T. Hall
[E] I Love - [A] little baby [E] ducks
[A] Old pickup [E] trucks
[B] Slow movin' trains - and [E] rain
[E] I Love - [A] little country [E] streams
[A] Sleep without [E] dreams
[B] Sunday school in May - and [E] hay
And [A] I [B] love you [E] too.
I Love - leaves in the wind
Pictures of my friends
Birds of the world - and squirrels
I Love - coffee in a cup
Little fuzzy pups
Bourbon in a glass - and grass
And I love you too.
Change to F
[F] I Love - [Bb] honest open [F] smiles
[Bb] Kisses from a [F] child
[C] Tomatoes on the vine - and [F] onions
[F] I Love - [Bb] winner's when they [F] cry
[Bb] Loser's when they [F] try
[C] Music when it's good - and [F] life
And [Bb] I [C] love you [F] too.
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I'm Not Ready Yet - Tom T Hall
I said I'd leave you anytime I'm ready
Some April when all the land is wet
Some summer, some fall, or maybe winter
I'll go someday, but I'm not ready yet
I should've left the day your love was dyin'
I passed up every date I ever set
I know I'll leave you when my heart is ready
I'm still around, 'cause I'm not ready yet
Well, I've left a hundred times, but you don't know
that
Because I'm ashamed to tell how far I get
You didn't, you don't, you'll never love me
And someday I'll go, but I'm not ready yet
I should've left the day your love was dyin'
I passed up every date I ever set
I know I'll leave you when my heart is ready
I'm still around, 'cause I'm not ready yet
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It Sure can Get Cold In Des Moines - Tom T Hall
The Iowa weather was 13 below
I had come to Des Moines for a radio show
I awoke in the evening from a traveler's sleep
With notions of something to eat
The old elevator slid down past the floors
My head and my eyes said "You should have slept
more."
The man at the desk said the restaurant was
closed
Outside it was 14 below
The lounge was still open and so I walked in
In place of my food I had two double gins
I looked 'round the room, as a tourist would do
That's when I saw the girl in the booth
She sat there and cried in the smoky half-dark
The silent type crying that tears out your heart
Her clothes were not cut in the new modern way
And her suitcase had seen better days
Nobody asked her what caused her such pain
Nobody spoke up, yet no one complained
Without even asking, I knew why she cried
Life is just like that sometimes
The man at the desk said, "It's 15 below."
The bellhop said "Yeah man, that's cold...that's
cold."
I went back to my room and I wrote down this
song
Oh it sure can get cold in Des Moines
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Kentucky Feb. 27, '71 - Tom T Hall
There were signs beside the road like "Jesus
Saves"
And "Relieve yourself the fast and gentle way"
I was lookin' for an old man who lived way back
in these hills
Who just might have a story I could tell
Pretty soon the blacktop disappeared
I felt the car change to a lower gear
I took a drink of liquor just to chase away the chill
I was 27 miles from Olive Hill
Ahead I saw the bridge where I turned right
A dirt road led straight up a mountainside
I pulled up to a farmhouse I thought I had seen
before
An old man and his dog were at the door
They told me this old-timer knew this land
I told him, "Sir, I just don't understand
Why the kids in this state just grow up and move
away
And leave the land where they were born and
raised."
He said, "Son, you can't make it on this land
Unless you're happy workin' with your hands
There ain't no kids today that wanna stay and
work it out
They wanna see the things they hear about."
He said, "I cleared this whole farm off myself
And I'd work it now but time has got my health."
Then starin' out the window restin' in his easy
chair
He told me what I'd really come to hear
"You know, son, people used to tell their kids
'Now, I don't want you to have to work the way I
did.'
They don't and some will tell you that it's a shame
But you have to think before you place the blame."
I guess we must have talked for half a day
'Til I told him that I'd best be on my way
He shook my hand and said, "I'm glad I met you,
Mr. Hall
But I guess there ain't no song here after all."
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Me And Jesus - Tom T. Hall
G G7
(Chorus) Me and Jesus, got our own thing goin'.
C G
Me and Jesus, got it all worked out.
Em
Me and Jesus, got our own thing goin'.
C D G
We don't need anybody to tell us what it's all about.
G G7
(1st Verse) I know a man, who once was a sinner.
C G
I know a man, who once was a drunk.
Em
And I know a man, who once was a looser.
C D G
He went out one day and made an alter out of a stump.
(Chorus) (Lead)
G G7
(2nd Verse) Jesus brought me through all of my troubles.
C G
Jesus brought me through all of my trials.
Em
Jesus brought me through all of my heartaches.
C D G
And I know that Jesus ain't gonna' forsake me now.
(Chorus)
G G7
(3rd Verse) We can't afford any fancy preachin'.
C G
We can't afford any fancy church.
Em
We can't afford any fancy singin'.
C D G
You know Jesus got a lot of poor people out doin' his work.
(Chorus)
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Old Dogs, Children And Watermelon Wine - Tom T. Hall
G C Am
1. I WAS SITTING IN MIAMI POURING BLENDED WHISKY DOWN
C G D G
WHEN THIS OLD GREY BLACK GENTLEMAN WAS CLEANING UP THE LOUNGE
G C Am
THERE WASN'T ANYONE AROUND BUT THIS OLD MAN AND ME
D C D G
THE GUY WHO TENDED BAR WAS WATCHING IRONSIDES ON TV
G C Am
UNINVITED, HE SAT DOWN AND OPENED UP HIS MIND
C G D G
ON OLD DOGS AND CHILDREN, AND WATERMELLON WINE.
2. HAVE YOU EVER HAD A DRINK OF WATERMELLON WINE HE ASKED
HE TOLD ME ALL ABOUT IT THOUGH I DIDN'T ANSWER BACK
AIN'T BUT THREE THINGS IN LIFE THAT'S WORTH A SOLITARY DIME
THAT'S OLD DOGS AND CHILDREN, AND WATERMELLON WINE.
3. HE SAID WOMEN THINK ABOUT THEMSELVES WHEN THEIR MENFOLK AREN'T AROUND
AND FRIENDS ARE HARD TO FIND WHEN THEY DISCOVER THAT YOU'RE DOWN
HE SAID I TRIED IT ALL WHEN I WAS YOUNG AND IN MY NATURAL PRIME
NOW IT'S OLD DOGS AND CHILDREN AND WATERMELLON WINE.
4. HE SAID OLD DOGS CARE ABOUT YOU EVEN WHEN YOU MAKE MISTAKES
GOD BLESS LITTLE CHILDREN WHILE THEY'RE STILL TOO YOUNG TO HATE
AS HE MOVED AWAY I GOT MY PEN AND COPIED DOWN THAT LINE
ON OLD DOGS AND CHILDREN AND WATERMELLON WINE.
5. I HAD TO CATCH A PLANE UP TO ATLANTA THE NEXT DAY
AS I LEFT FOR MY ROOM I SAW HIM PICKING UP MY CHANGE
THAT NIGHT I DREAMED IN PEACEFULL SLEEP OF SHADY SUMMER TIMES
OF OLD DOGS AND CHILDREN AND WATERMELLON WINE.
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Old Enough To Want To, Fool Enough To Try - Tom T Hall
I hope that gleam that you have in your eye
Is reflection from the buttons on your blouse
If it's not then we're in trouble, I can tell you why
I'm old enough to want to and fool enough to try
They don't make women like you anymore
And since there's not enough to go around
If you think what I think you're thinking, this is
what I think
I'd be a crazy fool to turn you down
I hope that smile that you have on your lips
Is just a smile that you wear all the time
If it's something special, then start making up your
line
I'm old enough to want to and fool enough to try
I'm old enough to want to and fool enough to try
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The Old Side Of Town - Tom T. Hall
[A] Ain't it strange how people change
And [D] almost over-[A] night
[D] Who once was a [A] country girl
Is now a social-[E] ite
We're [A] proud for you, but when you're through
And [D] seek some common [A] ground
[D] Oh, we [A] miss you
On the [E] old side of [A] town.
[E] We still drink cokes and tell old jokes
And [D] bowl at [E] Splits 'n' [A] Strikes
[D] Country music still [A] plays
(George Jones is still a hero--2nd chorus)
On the jukebox every [E] night
So-[A] ci-ety is not for me
But [D] I can still be [A] found
[D] Oh, we [A] miss you
On the [E] old side of [A] town.
R-S-V-P is not for me
And black ties are not my style
I thought you'd like to know
'Cause you ain't been here for awhile
We read about your Tour D'Force
We're glad you get around
But we miss you
On the old side of town.
CHORUS
Babe, we miss you on the old side of town.
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Second handed Flowers - Tom T Hall
I was working in Miami for a day or two
I decided I'd look up a girl that I once knew
I bought some flowers and went to see a girl I
used to know
The lady at her door said she had married long
ago
Times will change and towns will change; there I
was alone
And suddenly I wondered, "Would Susie be at
home?"
So with the flowers in my hand, I walked toward
her gate
Someone touched me on the arm and said, "You'll
have to wait."
Then I noticed there were people standing in a
line
And some of them were holding pretty flowers
just like mine
They explained that Susie had been in an awful
crash
Doctors said that she had just a little while to last
When I walked into her room, I felt a sense of
shame
But I heard Susie whisper, "I'm awfully glad you
came."
She had been the girl that I had always gone to
see
When someone that I cared for had been untrue to
me
I handed her the flowers and she gently kissed my
hand
She said, "Don't be embarrassed; you know I
understand."
I said, "Goodbye" and as I bent to kiss her fevered
brow
I heard her whisper, "Thank you for the second
handed flowers."
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She Gave Her Haert To Jethro - Tom T Hall
I guess you know Jethro went crazy; we've all
been crazy sometimes
They fixed up his lungs and his fever; but they
could not fix up his mind
He married a beautiful redhead; of women they
say she's a pearl
She gave her heart to Jethro, and her body to the
whole damn world
Well, Jethro had someone to talk to; they were
monsters and little green men
He never talked to his woman; naw, he spent all
his time with his friends
In the evenings she'd drive off and leave him; she
tossed back her long, pretty curls
She gave her heart to Jethro, and her body to the
whole damn world
Some friends came and begged her to leave him;
they said, "Jethro belongs in a home."
She said, "My heart is Jethro's, but my
God-given body is my own."
Now some of her lovers were strangers; she gave
everybody a whirl
She gave her heart to Jethro, and her body to the
whole damn world
I know some will condemn me for writin' this song
of a man and his wife
A man's not writin' if he can't relate all the things
that he sees in his life
I know some will condemn me for cursin', but
much can be said for this girl
Who gave her heart to ol' Jethro, and her body to
the whole damn world
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Sneaky Snake - Tom T. Hall
[G] Boys and girls take [G7] warning
If [C] you go near the [G] lake
[C] keep your eyes wide [G] open
And [A7] look for Sneaky [D7] Snake
Now [G] maybe you won't [G7] see him
And [C] maybe you won't [G] hear
But [C] he'll sneak up behind [G] you
And [D7] drink all of your Root [G] Beer.
CHORUS:
And then [G] Sneaky Snake goes [C] dancin'
[G] wigglin' and a-[C] hissin'
[G] Sneaky Snake goes dancin'
[A7] gigglin' and a-[D7] kissin'
I [G] dont like old [G7] Sneaky Snake,
He [C] laughs too much, you [G] see
When [C] he goes wiggin' [G] thru the grass
It [D7] tickles his under-[G] neath.
Well, Sneaky Snake drinks Root Beer and he just makes me sick
When he is not dancin', he looks just like a stick
Now he doesn't have any arms or legs, you cannot see his ears
And while we are not lookin', he's stealin' all of our beer.
CHORUS
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Texas Never Fell In Love With Me - Tom T. Hall
It [D] wasn't much, but I sold it all, and I [G] moved to San An-[D] tone
[G] Knowing in my [D] heart, that Texas [E] had to be my [A] home
I [D] fell in love with Texas, I was [G] happy, I was [D] free
But [G] Texas never [D] fell In [A] love with [D] me.
CHORUS
[A] I found out my style just didn't [G] suit the local [D] squirrel
I [G] found out that [D] I can't fit [E] into a cowboy [A] world
I'm [D] back in Indiana, just as [G] lonesome as can [D] be
[G] Texas never [D] fell in [A] love with [D] me.
I bought myself a cowboy hat, of course it didn't fit
I bought myself a case of Coors and I'm used to drinkin' Schlitz
I watched the cowgirls come and go, Lord, don't they love to play
The one I wanted never came my way.
CHORUS
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The Little Lady Preacher - Tom T Hall
Oh, the little lady preacher from the limestone
church
I'll never forget her, I guess
She preached each Sunday mornin' on the local
radio
With a big black Bible and a snow-white dress
She was 19 years of age and was developed to a
fault
But I will admit she knew the Bible well
A little white lace hanky marked the text that she
would use
She'd breathe into that microphone and send us all
to hell
She had a guitar picker by the name of Luther
Short
A hairy-legged soul lost out in sin
She would turn and smile at Luther when the
program would commence
With a voice as sweet as angels she would break
out in a hymn
I was pickin' for her too with what we call the
doghouse bass
I clung to every word that passed her lips
She was down on booze and cigarettes and high
on days to come
And she'd punctuate the prophecy with
movements of her hips
The Lord knows how I loved her, he was there
each time she preached
But ol' Luther took her home each Sunday morn'
Lookin' back I still recall the way it hurt my tender
pride
I longed to be a hero but they're made not born
Sometimes ol' Luther showed up at the studio
half-tight
And smokin' was a thing he liked to do
She never said a word to him but said a prayer for
me
I told her in a way that I'd been prayin' for her too
One Sunday her old man showed up and said that
she was gone
Said she and brother Luther had a call
I can see me standin' in that studio that day
I had to face the heartbreak, unemployment and
all
I don't know where they are 'cause I ain't seen
them people since
Lord if I judge 'em let me give 'em lots o' room
I know ol' Luther Short and he's a hard ol' boy to
change
And I've often sat and wondered who it was
converted whom
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The Year That Clayton Delaney Died - Tom T. Hall
Played in C# most likely with a capo on the first fret.
Intro:
G C G7 C G C
3-------------|-------------|-3--------------|-------3-------|
-0-2-3-----3--|-------------|--0-2-3---------|-3-2-0---/-/-/-|
-------2------|-2-0---------|--------2-------|---------------|
--------0-----|-----0-------|----------0-----|---------------|
--------------|-------0---0-|----------------|---------------|
--------------|---------1---|----------------|---------------|
C
I remember THE YEAR
G C C7
THAT CLAYTON DELANEY DIED
F
They said for the last two weeks
C
That he suffered and cried
F
It made a big impression on me
C
Although I was a barefoot kid
G
They said he got religion at the end
C
And I'm glad that he did
Clayton was the best guitar picker
In our town
I thought he was a hero
And I used to follow Clayton around
I often wondered why Clayton
Who seemed so good to me
Never took his guitar
And made it down in Tenn-o-see
Well daddy said he drank a lot
But I could never understand
I knew he used to pick up in Ohio
With a five piece band
Clayton used to tell me son
You'd better put that ol' guitar away
There ain't no money in it
It will lead you to an early grave
I guess if I'd admit it
Clayton taught me how to drink booze
I can see him half stoned
A-pickin' out the Lovesick Blues
When Clayton died I made him a promise
I was going to carry on some how
I'd give a hundred dollars
If he could only see me now
I remember THE YEAR
THAT CLAYTON DELANEY DIED
Nobody ever knew it
But I went out in the woods and I cried
While I know there's a lot of big preachers
That know a lot more than I do
It could be that the good Lord
Likes a little pickin' too
Coda:
C
Yeah I remember THE YEAR
G7 C
THAT CLAYTON DELANEY DIED
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Trip To Hyden - Tom T Hall
Tossed and turned the night before in some old
motel
Subconsciously recallin' some old sinful thing I'd
done
My buddy drove the car and those big coal trucks
shook us up
As we drove on into Hyden in the early morning
sun
Past the hound dogs and some domineckered
chickens
Temporary-lookin' houses with their lean and
bashful kids
Every hundred yards a sign proclaimed that Christ
was coming soon
And I thought, "Well, man, he'd sure be
disappointed if he did."
On the way we talked about the 40 miners
Of the 39 who died and one who lived to tell the
tale
We stopped for beans and cornbread at the Ed &
Lois Cafe
Then went to see the sherrif at the Leslie County
Jail
They took us to the scene of that disaster
I was so surprised to not find any sign of death at
all
Just another country hillside with some mudholes
and some junk
The mines were deadly silent like a rathole in the
wall
"It was just like being right inside of a shotgun."
The old man coughed and lit a cigarette that he
had rolled
Back in town I bought a heavy jacket from a store
It was sunny down in Hyden but somehow the
town was cold
The old man introduced the undertaker
Who seemed refreshed despite the kind of work I
knew he did
We talked about the pretty lady from the Grand
Ole Opry
An' we talked about the money she was raisin' for
the kids
Well, I guess the old man thought we were
reporters
He kept reminding me of how his simple name
was spelled
Some lady said, "They worth more money now
than when they's a-livin'. "
And I'll leave it there 'cause I suppose she told it
pretty well
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Tulsa Telephone Book - Tom T Hall
Have you read any good telephone books lately?
If you ain't then let me recommend one
I've already read that Tulsa telephone book
through thirteen times
If you don't know any last names it ain't much fun
Readin' that Tulsa telephone book, can drive a
guy insane
Especially if that girl you're lookin' for has no last
name
I gotta find her and tell her, I don't want our love
to end
So I'm readin' that Tulsa telephone book again
Well, I was in Tulsa and didn't have anything goin'
She lived in Tulsa and didn't have anything on
She said, "My name is Shirley," and I said, "My
name is T."
I woke up the next mornin' and she was gone
All of the Tulsa operators know my voice now
And they gotta know how long I've been alone
If you meet a girl named Shirley with some
ribbons in her hair
Would you tell her that she's wanted on the phone
Readin' that Tulsa telephone book, can drive a
guy insane
Especially if that girl you're lookin' for has no last
name
I gotta find her and tell her, I don't want our love
to end
So I'm readin' that Tulsa telephone book again
I'm readin' that Tulsa telephone book again
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Turn It On, Turn It On, Turn It On - Tom T Hall
Johnny got up one morning; he went down to the
company store
Got him a big box of bullets to fit into his .44
The store man said, "Son, are you gonna work?
You know you owe me too much to stop."
John said, "I got a little workin' to do but I ain't
goin' by your clock."
People said John was a slacker, 'cause he
wouldn't fight in their war
A man wasn't much if he wouldn't fight back in
1940 and 4
The doctor said John was just too sick to go, but
the people said that he was a coward
And one of the men makin' fun of him was a
fellow named Milton Howard
Milton was down at the cold spring, a-drinkin'
from a mason jar
He said, "John, you better get yourself to work or
you're gonna fool around 'til you get fired."
John blew the dust from his old .44, put two holes
in Milton's head
When Johnny walked off to get some more
shootin' done, that ol' cold spring was a-runnin'
red
Next guy he met was a Stigall boy, and the boy
had a hammer in his hand
John said "Son, you should've built yourself a box,
'cause you're a headed for the Promised Land."
Stigall fell down to his knees to pray, and he cried
"Lord, Johnny please don't shoot!"
Before he got halfway to saying "Amen", well old
Johnny shot him out of his boots
Word went out through the county, that old John
had lost his head
The people were runnin' and screamin'; there
were seven of 'em lyin' there dead
Johnny hid out in a farmhouse; he had satisfaction
in his eyes
He said "I know they're coming to get me, boys,
but they ain't a-gonna take me alive."
People gathered 'round that old farmhouse; it was
the relatives of all them dead
Now John said, "If the sheriff comes through that
door I'm gonna fill him plumb full of lead."
The sheriff kicked down that old farmhouse door,
but old John's gun would not shoot
Johnny just smiled at the sheriff and said, "The
Lord must think a lot of you."
They took old John to the jailhouse; he entered in
a guilty plea
The judge said death in the electric chair, 'cause
it's murder in the first degree
John's last meal was a lot of fried chicken, cold
beans and baby squash
He ate every bite that they brought him, then he
smiled and said, "I thank you all a lot."
They put old John in the electric chair; they
shaved his ankles and his head
The preacher said, "Son, have you got something
to say; in a minute you're a-gonna be dead."
John said, "I ain't no coward, and the people know
that I won't run."
Then Johnny smiled up at the warden and said,
"Turn it on, turn it on, turn it on!"
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Who's Gonna Feed Them Hogs - Tom T Hall
I met him in a hospital about a year ago
And why I still remember him I guess I'll never
know
He'd lie there and cry out in a medicated fog,
"Here I am in this dang bed and who's gonna feed
them hogs?"
"Four hundred hogs, they just standin' out there
My wife can't feed 'em and my neighbors don't
care
They can't get out and roam around like my old
huntin' dogs
Here I am in this dang bed and who's gonna feed
them hogs?"
His face was lean and his hands were rough
His way was hogs and his nature was tough
His doctors tried to tell him that he may not live at
all
But all he ever talked about was who's gonna feed
them hogs
"Four hundred hogs, they just standin' out there
My wife can't feed 'em and my neighbors don't
care
They can't get out and roam around like my old
huntin' dogs
Here I am in this dang bed and who's gonna feed
them hogs?"
Four hundred hogs comes to eight hundred hams
And that's a lot of money for a hog-raisin' man
Four hundred hogs comes to sixteen hundred feet
The market's up and there are people a-waitin'
on that meat
Well, the doctors say they do not know what
saved the man from death
But in a few days he put on his overalls and he left
That's all there is to this small song but waitress,
before you leave,
Would you bring me some coffee and a hot ham
sandwich, please?
Four hundred hogs they're just standing out there
His wife couldn't feed 'em and his neighbors didn't
care
They couldn't get out and roam around like his old
huntin' dogs...
[fades out]
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