Jim Reeves

[fox69]

"The Fool's Paradise"

"The Fool's Paradise"



As I write this letter to you darling
I can't hold the teardrops from my eyes
For at sundown I will lay a dying
At the door of the Fool's Paradise.

Rode into this cattle town this morning
Left my bearer to check the market price
And I walked into the nearest barroom
They call it the Fool's Paradise.

There the crowd was gay and girls were dancing
And the men were playing cards and dice
So I stepped up to the bar to join them
What a grand place this Fool's Paradise.

It was then I showed to them your picture
I passed it around once or twice
Then a man insulted your sweet honor
At the bar of the Fool's Paradise.

So I slapped his face and I told him
I said you eat 'em words Mister or draw that's my advice
And he said well somebody might get hurty inside
But I'll be glad to meet you in the street at sundown
At sundown in front of the Fool's Paradise.

So goodbye my darling may God bless you
I go to make this sacrifice
And if ever you visit old Dodge City
Remember the Fool's Paradise...

 

[fox69]

"The Gods Were Angry With Me"

"The Gods Were Angry With Me"


The Gods were angry with me for loving you
The Gods were angry with me because they knew
I stood at heaven's portal and that was too high
For any model such as I.

So they took down the sun the skies were gray
Then the howling winds took you away
And there was nothing I could do because I knew
The Gods were angry with me for loving you.

[Spoken]
Once upon a time when our love was new
And I was happy with the love that I've found
Then the Gods and the sun and the moon
And the stars looked down and saw me there with you
And they sent my dream world crash into the ground.

(It was because the Gods were angry with me.)

The Gods were angry with me for loving you
The Gods were angry with me because they knew
I stood at heaven's portal and that was too high
For any model such as I.

And so they took down the sun the skies were gray
And then the howling winds took you away
And there was nothing I could do because I knew
The Gods were angry with me for loving you.

(And so they took down the sun, the skies were gray)
(And then the howling winds took you away)
And there was nothing I could do for I could see
It was because the Gods were angry with me...

 

[fox69]

"The Gun"

"The Gun"



This is the story of love that came undone
This is the story of two men and a gun of two men and a gun.

A man that I'd never met stole my wife and son
But that's been nearly three years now
And it's over with and done
At first I'd stare out into space while hate consumed my soul
Hate was the creed by which I lived and revenge my only goal.

But the road to happiness isn't paved with hate
I'm glad I learned how to forgive before it was too late
Now here's the way the other man paid for what he'd done
I heard it from the man's own lips, who took my wife and son.

I didn't really know this man but I'd seen him round
He's a new guard at the factory where I work west of town
This fellow swung into step with me and said I've got to talk
I listened spellbound at his words as we stood on the walk.

You the guard said hoarsely are a kind man I surmise
As he stood there with his handkerchief wiping in his eyes
Three years ago I wronged a man I stole his wife and son
I didn't realize then the terrible thing that I had done.

This thing gets hold of me at night and I can't sleep or rest
Forgive me sir, but telling it seems to get it off my chest
When my past looms up like this it kinda helps me to unload
I'm one man sir who knows for sure that you reap just what you sow.

I sure appreciate your listening it helps me a lot
You know to have that man's forgiveness I'd give everything I've got
Well I feel much better now I I didn't get your name
More why that was my wife's name before we wed
It's odd your name's the same.

You know I'd kill a man who'd do to me the thing that I've done
And when the truth got through to him he handed me his gun
As I gave the weapon back I said what's done is done
All I ask is just be kind to Jenny and my son...

 

[fox69]

"The Hawaiian Wedding Song"

"The Hawaiian Wedding Song"



This is the moment, I've waited for
I can hear my heart singing, soon bells will be ringing
This is the moment of sweet Aloha
I will love you longer than forever
Promise me that you will leave me never.

Here and now dear all my love I vow dear.
Promise me that you will leave me never
I will love you longer than forever
Now that we are one clouds won't hide the sun.

Blue skies of Hawaiian smile
On this our wedding day.
I do (I do), love you (love you),
With all my heart...

 

[fox69]

"The Letter Edged In Black"

"The Letter Edged In Black"



I was standin' by my window yesterday morning
Without a thought of sorrow or of care
When I saw the postman comin' up the pathway
With such a smiling face and jolly air.

He rang the bell and whistled as he waited
Then he said; "Good morning to you, Jack"
But he little knew the sorrow that he brought me
When he handed me a letter edged in black.

With trembling hands I took the letter from him
I open it and sifted what it said:
"Come home my boy, your dear old daddy wants you
Come home my boy, your dear old mother's dead."

"The last words your mother ever uttered
Tell my boy I want him to come back
My eyes are blurred, my poor old heart is breaking
As, I write to you this letter edged in black."

"Those angry words I wish I'd never spoken
You know I didn't mean them, don't you, Jack
May the angels bear me witness, I am asking
Your forgiveness in this letter edged in black."...

 

[fox69]

"The Merry Christmas Polka"

"The Merry Christmas Polka"



This is Christmas season so there isn't any reason
We can't dance the Christmas polka
Hear sleigh-bells ringing' everybody's singing
Dancing the Christmas polka
Christmas trees and holly make everyone so jolly
And love just fills the air
It's a wonderful world for a boy and a girl
While dancing the Christmas polka.

The merry Christmas polka,
Let's dance, let's dance, let's dance
Everyone's so happy, the air is filled with romance
Watch the sweethearts kissing'
As they dance underneath the mistletoe
It's a sight to behold for the young and the old
The merry Christmas polka.

(The merry Christmas polka.)

This is Christmas season so there isn't any reason
We can't dance the Christmas polka
Hear sleigh-bells ringing' everybody's singing
Dancing the Christmas polka
Christmas trees and holly make everyone so jolly
And love just fills the air
It's a wonderful world for a boy and a girl
While dancing the Christmas polka...

 

[fox69]

"The Mighty Everglades"

"The Mighty Everglades"



(South from Okeechobee and reachin' to the keys)
(Lays the mighty wonder nature made)
(A hundred miles of jade)
(The mighty everglades.)

It's beautiful at sunset but oh,
There's something else that makes bravest heart afraid
A word of things a-crawling and a-thumping
And a-bawling and a-wadin' in the Everglades.

Creepin', seepin'
I hear a million things a-weepin'
As I gazed into the weirdness
Of the mighty everglades.

Over and over
I called, Oh, please come back my lover
But my love is dead or wand'ring
In the fearful everglades.

Voices calling, shadows falling,
Spirits of those who ventured in and stayed
Hear it, fear it, never, never go too near it
For there's myst'ry in the hist'ry of the mighty everglades.

Seeping, crawling, spirits calling
Sliddin', hidin', my love in the everglades
Over and over I call but now she's gone for ever
And my heart is wand'ring with her through the mighty everglades.

A world of things a-crawling
And a-thumping and a-bawling
And a-wadin' in the Everglades...

 

[fox69]

"The Night Watch"

"The Night Watch"



God is keeping the night watch for you and for me

Bright stars are watching the world as it sleeps
Shepherds watch over the little white sheep
The lighthouse is shining for ships far at sea
As God keeps the night watch for you and for me

So sleep, sleep in peace and rest
Don't be afraid of the darkness
All's well for over the land and the sea
God's keeping the night watch for you and for me

God is keeping the night watch for you and for me

So sleep, sleep in peace and rest
Don't be afraid of the darkness
All's well for over the land and the sea
God's keeping the night watch for you and for me

 

[fox69]

"The Old Kalahari"

"The Old Kalahari"



Ver in die Ou Kalahari daar sing die Boere so
Gee ons die Ou Kalahari die Ou Kalahari bo
In misty plains all around me the burning sun and sand
Lovely and peacful surroundings my old Kalahari land.

Sonbesies sing in jou bosse die hittige son te versmaai
Rooi Afrikaner-osse sien jy om elke draai
Ver in die Ou Kalahari tot daar in die Molopo
Gee ons die Ou Kalahari die Ou Kalahari bo.

When I am called on safari
By him whom I cannot deny
I pray that the old Kalahari
Will be part of that land in the sky...

 

[fox69]

"The One That Got Away"

"The One That Got Away"



Out with someone new,
Almost every day
People look at me
I can hear them say
He's so lucky he has
Everything going his way.

I can't let them know
That I really don't
I'm not with the one
That I really want
And I'm still in love
With the one that got away.

The one that got away
Took all my love not just a part
The one that got away
Got away with my heart.

If we chance to meet
On some lonely street
And I pass you by
Without a word to say
I'm just thinking
'Bout the one that got away.

If we chance to meet
On some lonely street
And I pass you by
Without a word to say
I'm just thinking
'Bout the one that got away...