David Allan Coe

[fox69]

"San Francisco Mabel Joy"

"San Francisco Mabel Joy"



My daddy was an honest man, just a redneck Georgia farm boy
My momma spent her short life, raisin' kids and bailin' hay
And I was just fifteen when I ached inside to wonder
So I hoped a freight in Waycross and I rode it to L.A.

Well, I met a girl known on the strip as San Francisco's Maybel Joy
Destitutions child, born on a L.A. street called Shane
And sleep came and left this little Waycross Georgia country boy
Maybel Joy was gone, Lord, I'd never see her again

Growin' up came quietly in the arms of Maybel Joy
Laughter found our morning's, brought new meaning to my life
I woke up one day, Lord to find that I was by myself
With dreams of Georgia cotton and California wine

Sunday mornin' found me standin' 'neath the red-light of her door
Right 'cross sent me reelin', laid me face down on the floor
In place of Maybel Joy I found a merchant mad marine
Who said, "Your Georgia neck is red but son you're still green"

Well, I turned twenty one in gray rock federal prison
The judge, he had no mercy on this Waycross, Georgia boy
Sometimes at night in silence, Lord, I'd listen
That same old freight to take me back to Maybel Joy

Cold nights had no pity on this Waycross, Georgia farm boy
Springtime turned to summer and then the winter came
Starin' at those four gray walls in silence, Lord, I'd listen
Somewhere in the distance to the whistle of the train

Sunday morning found me lying 'neath the red light of her door
With a bullet in my side I cried, "Have you seen Maybel Joy?"
Stunned and shaken someone said, "Son, she don't live here no more"
She left this town ten years ago, I heard she's looking for
Some Georgia farm boy"

 

[fox69]

"Seven Mile Bridge"

"Seven Mile Bridge"



You know, as a child, he heard tell of the seven mile bridge
That connected on marathon shore
Yes, and it was the gateway key west his grandpa
Had told him ten times or more.
The stories of some sailors curse on the bridge
Where it opens to let the boats through
But the natives all laugh at grandpas old stories
And swear that it just isn't true

Now most of them sail across to miami
From the edge of the blue water line
With crawfish and snappers to sell at the market
For money to spend on some wine
They always cross through at the seven mile bridge
Except when the moon comes out full
They're not superstitious they tell you as they are
Repeating that old seaman's rule

Watch out for those outlaws and pirates
Lord knows that they'll steal you blind
Don't mess around with those cutthroats and thieves
They're robbers and killers of time
And there's nothing worse than an old sailors curse
On the seven mile bridge where you find
They're stealing the future and making believe
The past is still somewhere behind
The seven mile bridge, the seven mile bridge

And he found a woman who'd come here from cuba
She gave him a son and a dream
They lived in a conch house somewhere on stock island
With the seven mile bridge in between
Shed spent her nights on the window walk wondering
If he'd safely pull through the storm
While he spent his money on painted up women
And whisky to keep hi blood warm
Then he'd gamble on crab races till he was broke
While she sat up waiting all night
Then felling too guilty to face her and tell her
He'd look for some bully to fight

At the end of the rainbow where the sun always shines
Just south of the seven mile bridge
She waits at the window for signs of his sailboat
And tries not to worried the kids
She sneaks a few drinks from the bottle she hides
From a husband that's to tired to think
With feelings of guilt she picks up the bottle
And pours the remains in the sink
Now she thinks of the men that stare at her boldly
They know she's a woman alone
With fingers that tremble she touches her body
And wishes her man would come home

Now the years pass so quickly for time is a thief
His skin looks like leather by now
His woman's got fat and lost all her beauty
But, lord, she's lived up to her vow
She looks at her son that's going on twenty
He's ready to live his own life
She hopes he can find a sea worthy woman
A sailor sure needs a good wife
Why he's just like his daddy, she thinks as she watches
Him weaving those fish nets all day
Knowing that some time the seven mile bridge
Will take him and lead him astray
He might return his woman would learn
Broke like his daddy and drunk
She wrote down some words on an old piece of sail cloth
Nailed it over his bunk
Why then, she packed his sea bag and filled up his trunk
His new wife would want it that way
Just before the old man shook the younger lads hand
These are the words he did say

 

[fox69]

"Shackles And Chains"

"Shackles And Chains"


On a long lonesome journey I am going
So my sweet little darling don't cry
For in shackles and chains they will take me
To a prison to live till I die

[Chorus:]
And each night threw the bars
I will gaze at the stars
My dreams dear of you so in vain
A peice of stone I will use for my pillow
While I'm sleeping in shackles and chains

Put your arms threw these bars once more darling
Let me kiss your sweet lips I love best
For in sorrow they were my conculution
And in sadness my haven of rest

[Chorus]

 

[fox69]

"She Used To Love Me A Lot"

"She Used To Love Me A Lot"



I saw her through the window today
She was sittin' in the Silver Spoon cafe
I started to keep going
But something made me stop
She used to love me a lot

She looked lonely and I knew the cure
Old memories would win her heart for sure
I thought I'd walk on in there
And give it my best shot
She used to love me a lot

I sat down beside her and she smiled
She said where have you been it's been awhile
She seemed so glad to see me
Lord, I could read her thoughts
She used to love me a lot

She used to love me with a love that wouldn't die
Looking at her now I can't believe i said good-bye
It would only take a minute to turn back the clock
She used to love me a lot

Well I reminded her how good it was back then
I said you know it's not to late to start again
We could spend a night together
Take up where we left off
She used to love me a lot

Then I panicked as she turned to walk away
As she went out the door I heard her say
Yes I'm in need of something
But it's something you ain't got
But I used to love you a lot

She used to love me with a love that wouldn't die
Looking at her now I can't believe she said good-bye
It would only take a minute to turn back that ol' clock
She used to love me a lot
She used to love me a lot
She used to love me a lot...

 

[fox69]

"She's Already Gone"

"She's Already Gone"


Fast cars and whiskey are just like a woman
There good for the taking but hard to let go
And gambling's as easy as working the pipeline
Or bustin some bronks in a cheap rodeo

[Chorus:]
If the proofs in the pudding
The cakes in the oven
You might as well pack up your things and move on
It's a fact when a woman starts talking about leaving
And she's standing beside you then she's already gone
Gone like the robins south for the winter
Gone like the river out to the sea
Gone like the leaves from the trees in the fall
I'll tell you she's already gone
She's talking about leaving she's already gone

Those high dice and pool cues are just like a lady
They love you and leave you a little bit down
Counting your loosing's they'll leave with your winnings
While your living on dreams that they already dreamt

[Chorus:]
If the proofs in the pudding
The cakes in the oven
You might as well pack up your things and move on
It's a fact when a woman starts talking about leaving
And she's standing beside you then she's already gone
Gone like the robins south for the winter
Gone like the river out to the sea
Gone like the leaves from the trees in the fall
I'll tell you she's already gone
She's talking about leaving she's already gone

 

[fox69]

"Shenandoah"

"Shenandoah"



Oh, Shenandoah's my native valley.
Aa-way, you rolling river!
Shenandoah is my native valley.
Ah-way, we're bound to go, 'cross th' wide Missouri!

Oh, Shenandoah, it's far I wander.
Aa-way, you rolling river!
Shenandoah, it's far I wander.
Ah-way, we're bound to go, 'cross th' wide Missouri!

Oh, Shenandoah has rushing waters.
Aa-way, you rolling river!
Shenandoah has rushing waters.
Ah-way, we're bound to go, 'cross th' wide Missouri!

Oh, Shenandoah, I love your daughters.
Aa-way, you rolling river!
Shenandoah, I love your daughters.
Ah-way, we're bound to go, 'cross th' wide Missouri!

Oh, Shenandoah, I long to see you.
Aa-way, you rolling river!
Shenandoah, I long to see you.
Ah-way, we're bound to go, 'cross th' wide Missouri!

Oh, Shenandoah, I'm boun' t' leave you.
Aa-way, you rolling river!
Shenandoah, I'm boun' t' leave you.
Ah-way, we're bound to go, 'cross th' wide Missouri!

Oh, Shenandoah, I'll never grieve you.
Aa-way, you rolling river!
Shenandoah, I'll never grieve you.
Ah-way, we're bound to go, 'cross th' wide Missouri!

 

[fox69]

"Shine It On"

"Shine It On"



Shine it on, my man, forget your troubles if you can,
I'll hold you 'till the dawn, shine it on, shine it on
You've been too long on the road and you're ready to explode,
Come and lighten up your load, shine it on

We had love and not much more but dreams just for free
We sure got lost there, dad and mom and me
He'd let me steer on straight a ways as we drove from town to town,
We knew that daddy's gypsy blood wouldn't let him settle down

There were times he'd sit right down, just plain hang his head
But he'd always lift it up and smile whenever mama said,
Shine it on, my man, forget your troubles if you can,
I'll hold you 'till the dawn, shine it on, shine it on
You've been too long on the road and you're ready to explode,

Papa's gone, but lord, his blood is running through my veins
Mama's gone to find him, so she can't ease my pain
Another woman holds me now, in a little different way
Now I know why papa smiled, when he heard mama say

 

[fox69]

"Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay"

"Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay"



Sittin' in the morning sun sittin' I'll be sittin' when the evening comes
Watching the ships roll in then I watch 'em roll away again
I left my home in Georgia headed for the Frisco Bay
I've had nothing to live for it looks like nothing's gonna come my way
I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay watchin' the tide roll away
I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay wastin' time

Looks like nothing's gonnar change everything still remains the same
I can't do what them people tell me to do so I guess I'll remain the same
Sittin' here restin' my bones this loneliness won't leave me alone
Two thousand miles I roamed just too make this dock my home
I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay...
I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay...

 

[fox69]

"Snowblind Friend"

"Snowblind Friend"



You say it was this mornin' when you last saw your good friend
Lyin' on the sidewalk with the misery on his brain
Stoned on some new potion he found upon the wall
Of some unholy bathroom in some ungodly hall

He only had a dollar to live on till next Monday
But he spent it all on comfort for his mind
Did you say you think he's blind?

Someone should call his parents or a sister or a brother
And they'll come and take him back home on a bus
But hell always be a problem to his poor and puzzled mother
And hell always be another one of us

He said he wanted heaven but prayin' was too slow
So he bought a one-way ticket on an airline made of snow
Did you say you saw your good friend flyin' low

You say it was this mornin' when you last saw your good friend
Lyin' on the sidewalk with the misery on his brain
Stoned on some new potion he found upon the wall
Of some unholy bathroom in some ungodly hall

Did you say you saw your good friend flyin' low
Dyin' slow, blinded by snow

 

[fox69]

"Someday You'll Have Children Of Your Own"

"Someday You'll Have Children Of Your Own"


Daddy worked hard all life sweatin’ in some factory
Gugitire Rubber, was the only life he knew
They gave him a gold watch after 20 years of service
The retired and moved to Florida with my mama Lou.

They left Akron far behind and sold the house we lived in
Nothin’ there but memories now of how it used to be
Diane left and middle Ray moved out to California
Jimmy stayed in Ohio and they got left with me.

[Chorus:]
And they said Someday You'll Have Children Of Your Own you will see
It takes more than money son to raise a family
I’m tellin’ you right now that there’s things in this life are free
Someday You'll Have Children Of Your Own and you will see.

I was much too young back then to know what he was sayin’
Daddy’s gone to Heaven now he left me all alone
Me I finally settled down but I can still remember
All the things he said I’d have to learn when I was grown.

Always lend a helpin’ hand when your out on the highway
Take the time to smell the roses life will soon be gone
Teach your children well my son someday you’ll be without them
So I’ve tried to show them how to make it on their own.

[Chorus 2:]
I tell ‘em Someday You'll Have Children Of Your Own you will see
It takes more than money son to raise a family
I’m tellin’ you right now that there’s things in this life are free
Someday You'll Have Children Of Your Own and you will see.

Someday You'll Have Children Of Your Own
Someday You'll Have Children Of Your Own
Someday You'll Have Children Of Your Own.