Johnny Cash

[fox69]

"Sixteen Tons"

"Sixteen Tons"



Some people say a man is made outta mud
A poor man's made outta muscle and blood
Muscle and blood and skin and bones
A mind that's a-weak and a back that's strong

You load sixteen tons, what do you get
Another day older and deeper in debt
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store

I was born one mornin' when the sun didn't shine
I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine
I loaded sixteen tons of number nine coal
And the straw boss said "Well, a-bless my soul"

You load sixteen tons, what do you get
Another day older and deeper in debt
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store

I was born one mornin', it was drizzlin' rain
Fightin' and trouble are my middle name
I was raised in the canebrake by an ol' mama lion
Cain't no-a high-toned woman make me walk the line

You load sixteen tons, what do you get
Another day older and deeper in debt
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store

If you see me comin', better step aside
A lotta men didn't, a lotta men died
One fist of iron, the other of steel
If the right one don't a-get you
Then the left one will

You load sixteen tons, what do you get
Another day older and deeper in debt
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store

 

[fox69]

"Slow Rider"

"Slow Rider"



I ride an old paint he's on the worry side
And I'm a saddle tramp about to cross the great divide
Where there's grass in the coolies and water in the drawl
And the forty pound saddle won't make us both raw

Slow rider, slow rider move on a little more
The sky boss is waitin' at the big ranch house door

I can't help but missin' the daughters that I had
One went to Denver the other went bad
My young wife died in a poolroom fight
But I try to keep singin' from morning till night

Slow rider, slow rider move on a little more
The sky boss is waitin' at the big ranch house door

Whenever I die take my saddle from the wall
Strap it on snuffy lead him out of the stall
Throw me on his back and turn him toward the west
He knows how to take me to the spot I love best

Slow rider, slow rider move on a little more
The sky boss is waitin' at the big ranch house door

 

[fox69]

"Smiling Bill Mccall"

"Smiling Bill Mccall"



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 knee bone
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
They'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 to 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

 

[fox69]

"Smokey Factory Blues"

"Smokey Factory Blues"



Early in the misty misty morning headin' for another freeway jam.

Sleepy eyed and shriverin' wakin' up and wishin' it was Sunday I wish it was Sunday.

On the radio they're playin' love songs songs that make me wanna turn around.

Factory gates are up ahead. I wished that I was home in bed.

With you, right now, back home with you, right now.

But I work to make a living and I work without a break
And I work when I am sleeping and I work when I'm awake
Yes and I'd like to leave the city but I can't afford to move.

And I think I'm going under with them way down lowdown smokey factory blues.

I was born a lover not a worker.

Money doesn't smell like sweet perfume.

Some of us feel out of place- engine oil upon our face.

Believe me you better believe me

But I work to make a living and I work without a break
And I work when I am sleeping and I work when I'm awake
Yes and I'd like to leave the city but I can't afford to move.

And I think I'm going under with them way down, lowdown smokey factory blues.

Yes. I work to make a living and I work without a break
And I work when I am sleeping and I work when I'm awake
Yes and I'd like to leave the city but I can't afford to move. (Fade)

 

[fox69]

"Snow In His Hair"

"Snow In His Hair"



The years have been many, the years have been long
But at last I'm returning to daddy and home
He's looking my way though he hardly can see
God bless my old daddy he recognize me

There's snow in his hair and I helped to put it there
A halo of worry and care
As my daddy grows old he's more precious than gold
For I cherish the snow in his hair

His shoulders were bent with the weight of the years
I scarcely could hold back the flood tide of tears
He walked with a cane as he hurried along
Comin' to meet me to welcome me home

There's snow in his hair and I helped to put it there
A halo of worry and care
As my daddy grows old he's more precious than gold
For I cherish the snow in his hair

 

[fox69]

"So Doggone Lonesome"

"So Doggone Lonesome"



I do my best to hide this lowdown feelin'
I try to make believe there's nothin' wrong
But they're always askin' me about you darlin'
And it hurts me so to tell 'em that you're gone

If they ask me, I guess, I'd be denyin'
That I've been unhappy all alone
But if they heard my heart they'd hear it cryin'
Where's my darlin' when's she comin' home

I ask myself a million times what's right for me to do
To try to lose my blues alone or hang around for you
Well I make it pretty good until that moon comes shinin' through
And that I get so doggone lonesome

Time stands still when you're a waitin'
Sometimes I think my heart is stoppin' too
One lonely hour seems forever
Sixty minutes more to wait for you

But I guess I'll keep waitin' till you're with me
'Cause I believe that lovin' you is right
But I don't care if the sun don't rise tomorrow
If I can't have you with me tonight

Well I know, I'll keep on loving you 'cause true love can't be killed
I ought to get you off of my mind but I guess I never will
I could have a dozen others but I know, I'd love you still
'Cause I get so doggone lonesome

 

[fox69]

"Softly And Tenderly"

"Softly And Tenderly"



Softly and tenderly, Jesus is calling
Calling for you and for me
See on the portals, he's waiting and watching
Watching for you and for me

Come home, come home
Ya who are weary come home
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling
Calling, oh, sinner come home

Why should we teary when Jesus is pleading
Pleading for you and for me
Why should we linger and heed not his mercies
Mercies for you and for me

Come home, come home
Ya who are weary come home
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling
Calling, oh, sinner come home

Oh, for the wonderful love he has promised
Promised for you and for me
Though we have sinn'd, he has mercy and pardon
Pardon for you and for me

Come home, come home
Ya who are weary come home
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling
Calling, oh, sinner come home

 

[fox69]

"Sold Out Of Flagpoles"

"Sold Out Of Flagpoles"



I walked down past the courthouse square three blocks or maybe four
Run into my old friend there who runs a handy hardware store
I said mornin' Lon what's the good word
He said Abraham Lincoln Lone Ranger Mickey Mouse and I'm sold out of flagpoles
I popped the top off a soda pop laid a quarter on the bar
I said inflation is a dirty dog my payday sure ain't goin' far
Liberty said Lonnie E Pluribus Uni in God we trust and I'm sold out of flagpoles
I said hey Lonnie did you see Evel Knievel jumpin' on TV
Jumped 13 buses with his machine reckon he could jump 14
No doubt said Lonnie winners keep on winnin'
Even losers win sometimes and I'm sold out of flagpoles

Ain't this been a year I said for frost and blight and flood and drought
Twice as many tornados reckon it's all caused by fallout
No it's the season said Lonnie they change
Wind's gonna blow always did and I'm sold out of flagpoles
Hey what d'you think about the sheriff's daughter
Runnin' off with the preacher's son
The sheriff's wife had to hold him back from goin' after them with his gun
Boys and girls said Lonnie will get together
Everything's normal and I'm sold out of flagpoles
And I'm sold out of flagpoles sold out of flagpoles sold out of flagpoles

 

[fox69]

"Solitary Man"

"Solitary Man"


Belinda was mine 'til the time that I found her
Holdin' Jim
And lovin' him
Then Sue came along, loved me strong, that's what I thought
But me and Sue,
That died, too.
Don't know that I will but until I can find me
A girl who'll stay and won't play games behind me
I'll be what I am
A solitary man
A solitary man
I've had it here - being where love's a small word
A part time thing
A paper ring
I know it's been done havin' one girl who loves you
Right or wrong
Weak or strong

[chorus]

 

[fox69]

"Song For The Life"

"Song For The Life"



I don't drink the way that I used to
lately that just ain't my style
And the hard times don't hurt like they once did
They pass more quickly like when I was wild

And somehow I've learned how to listen
to a sound like the sun going down
In the magic the morning is bringing
There's a song for the life I have found
it keeps my feet on the ground

The mid summer days ain't too heavy
they just flow like a breeze through my mind
And nothing appears in a hurry
to make up for some old lost times

And somehow I've learned how to listen
to a sound like the sun going down
In the magic the morning is bringing
There's a song for the life I have found
it keeps my feet on the ground

Somehow I've learned how to listen
to a sound like the sun going down
In the magic the morning is bringing
There's a song for the life I have found
it keeps my feet on the ground