Johnny Cash

[fox69]

"Straight A's In Love"

"Straight A's In Love"



Well a readin' and a writin' and 'rithmetic never did get through to me
It ain't because I'm square or thick cause I learned my ABC's
But when I graduated from the grammar school and I moved one grade above
I began to be a snook at books but I made straight A's in love

Now the teacher would say to learn your algebra but I'd bring name C's and D's
How could I make an A when there's a swingin' maid
On the left and on the right and in the back and the front of me
Oh my grades are low on my card I know but they oughta give me one above
If I made a mark for learnin' in the dark I'd have straight A's in love

Now in my senior year with graduation near I did my home work every night
And when my mama said I oughta go to bed I'd turn out all the lights
But my sweetic pie was waitin' right outside she'd be a cooin' like a dove
Though I did my beat I made some mess o'test but I made straight A's in love

Now the teacher would say to learn your algebra but I'd bring name C's and D's
How could I make an A when there's a swingin' maid
On the left and on the right and in the back and the front of me
Oh my grades are low on my card I know but they oughta give me one above
If I made a mark for learnin' in the dark I'd have straight A's in love

 

[fox69]

"Strawberry Cake"

"Strawberry Cake"



In New York city just walking the street
Ran out of money had nothing to eat
I stopped at the Plaza, that fancy hotel
Where you can check in if you're well to do well…
The first of July and a hundred and four
I stopped at the Plaza's front revolving door
I stepped in the door and went around for a ride
Treatin' myself to the cool air inside
Then I found myself in a chandeliered room
Where people were dining and I hid in the gloom
My hunger pains hurt ‘til I thought I would break
When a waiter brought out a big strawberry cake

Oh that strawberry cake
Oh that strawberry cake
Out in California them berries were grown
And into this city them berries were flown
For making that strawberry cake

Then I thought of Oxnard, just north of LA
Where I picked strawberries for many a day
Hard work with no future for the harvest was done
And I headed eastward a-travelin' by thumb
And nobody wanted me here in this town
I felt like a stray dog they all kick around
Them berries reminded me of my bad breaks
I'm hungry and I want that strawberry cake

I deserve that strawberry cake
Deserve that strawberry cake
I ran and I grabbed it then out the side door
Into Central Park through the bushes I tore
Holdin' my strawberry cake

I look back behind me and what do I see
The chef and headwaiter and the maître d
I had a nice helpin' of cake as I ran
I gobble them berries as fast as I can
They're closin' the gap as I slowed down to eat
But the cake brought a new surge of power to my feet
I hid in the bush when the lead I did take
And I quietly finished my strawberry cake

I ate all that strawberry cake
That fine fancy strawberry cake
Someone at the plaza is without dessert
But for the first time in days now my belly don't hurt
I'm full of strawberry cake

 

[fox69]

"Streets Of Laredo"

"Streets Of Laredo"



As I walked out on the streets of Laredo.
As I walked out on Laredo one day,
I spied a poor cowboy wrapped in white linen,
Wrapped in white linen as cold as the clay.

"I can see by your outfit that you are a cowboy."
These words he did say as I boldly walked by.
"Come an' sit down beside me an' hear my sad story.
"I'm shot in the breast an' I know I must die."

"It was once in the saddle, I used to go dashing.
"Once in the saddle, I used to go gay.
"First to the card-house and then down to Rose's.
"But I'm shot in the breast and I'm dying today."

"Get six jolly cowboys to carry my coffin.
"Six dance-hall maidens to bear up my pall.
"Throw bunches of roses all over my coffin.
"Roses to deaden the clods as they fall."

"Then beat the drum slowly, play the Fife lowly.
"Play the dead march as you carry me along.
"Take me to the green valley, lay the sod o'er me,
"I'm a young cowboy and I know I've done wrong."

"Then go write a letter to my grey-haired mother,
"An' tell her the cowboy that she loved has gone.
"But please not one word of the man who had killed me.
"Don't mention his name and his name will pass on."

When thus he had spoken, the hot sun was setting.
The streets of Laredo grew cold as the clay.
We took the young cowboy down to the green valley,
And there stands his marker, we made, to this day.

We beat the drum slowly and played the Fife lowly,
Played the dead march as we carried him along.
Down in the green valley, laid the sod o'er him.
He was a young cowboy and he said he'd done wrong.

 

[fox69]

"Sugartime"

"Sugartime"



Well now sugar in the morning sugar in the evening sugar at suppertime
Be my little sugar and love me all the time
Honey in the morning honey in the evening honey at suppertime
Be my little honey and love me all the time

Put your arms around me swear by stars above
You'll be mine forever in the heaven of love
Sugar in the morning sugar in the evening sugar at suppertime
Be my little sugar and love me all the time

Now sugar time is anytime that you're near oh you're so dear
Now don't you roam just be my honeycomb and live in a heaven of love

Well sugar in the morning...

 

[fox69]

"Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down"
(originally by Ray Stevens)

"Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down"
(originally by Ray Stevens)



Well I woke up Sunday morning
With no way to hold my head, that didn't hurt
And the beer I had for breakfast wasn't bad,
So I had one more for dessert.
Then I fumbled in my closet through my clothes
And found my cleanest dirty shirt.
Then I washed my face and combed my hair
And stumbled down the stairs to meet the day.

I'd smoked my mind the night before
With cigarettes and the songs I'd been pickin'
But I lit my first and watched a small kid
Playin' with a can that he was kicking
Then I walked across the street
And caught the Sunday smell of someone's fryin' chicken
And it took me back to somethin'
That I'd lost somewhere, somehow along the way.

On a Sunday morning sidewalk
I'm wishing Lord that I was stoned
'Cause there's something in a Sunday
That makes a body feel alone.
And there's nothin' short of dyin'
That's half as lonesome as the sound
Of a sleepin' city sidewalk
And Sunday mornin' comin' down.

In the park I saw a daddy
With a laughin' little girl who he was swingin'
And I stopped beside a Sunday school
And listened to the songs they were singin'
Then I headed down the street
And somewhere far away a lonely bell was ringin'
And it echoed thru the canyon
Like the disappearing dreams of yesterday.

On a Sunday morning sidewalk
I'm wishing Lord that I was stoned
'Cause there's something in a Sunday
That makes a body feel alone.
And there's nothin' short of dyin'
That's half as lonesome as the sound
Of a sleepin' city sidewalk
And Sunday mornin' comin' down.

 

[fox69]

"Suppertime"

"Suppertime"



Many years ago in days of childhood I used to play till evening shadows came
Then winding down an old familiar pathway I hear my mother call at setting sun
Come home come home it's suppertime the shadows lengthen fast
Come home come home it's suppertime we're going home at last
Through the distant clouds I see my mother
Her face is shining bright, with tender love
She's gone up in heaven, with her maker
And I can still hear her voice, from up above
(and she said)
Come home come home it's suppertime the shadows lengthen fast
Come home come home it's suppertime we're going home at last

 

[fox69]

"Sweet Betsy From Pike"

"Sweet Betsy From Pike"



(Didli ai di ai didl didli ai di ai dei)

Oh, do you remember sweet Betsy from Pike
She crossed the big mountains with her lover Ike
With two yoke of oxen and a big yellow dog
And a tall Shanghai rooster and one spottled hog.

Didli ai di ai didl didli ai di ai dei
They soon reached the desert where Betsy gave out
And down in the sand she lay rolling about
While Ike in great tears looked on in surprise
Saying Betsy get up you'll get sand in your eyes.

Didli ai di ai didl didli ai di ai dei
Betsy got up in the great deal of pain
She said she'd go back to Pike County again
But I gave a sigh then he fondly embraced
And he traveled along with his arm round her waist.

(How can sweet Betsy went out to the dance
And Ike poor a fellow he's down at his pance)
Betsy was dressed up in ribbons and rings
Said Iken you're an angel but where are your wings.

Didli ai di ai didl didli ai di ai dei
Well, the miner said Betsy will you dance with me
She answere I will if you want make two free
I can't dance too hard do you want to know why
Because I'm so full of that strong out cooli.

Ike and sweet Betsy got married of course
But Ike was so jealous he gotta divorce
And Betsy well satidfied said with a shout
Goodbye forever I'm glad you've backed out.

Didli ai di ai didl didli ai di ai dei...

 

[fox69]

"Sweeter Than The Flowers"
(with Waylon Jennings)

"Sweeter Than The Flowers"
(with Waylon Jennings)



Just as far as I can remember
She'll remain the rose of my heart
Mom took sick along in December
February brought us broken hearts.

The reason we've not called a family reunion
We knew - she wouldn't be there
But since we've thought it all over, Mama
We know that your spirit is there.

Oh, no, I can't forget the hours
You're the onliest one Mom and sweeter than the flowers
Oh, no, there's no need to bother
To speak of you now would only hurt Father.

Well, it looked so good to see us together
But I had to look after Dad
Oh, no, Mama, when I passed by your coffin
I didn't want to remember you dead.

They all gathered 'round, I stared at their faces
All heads were bowed mighty low
But that was one time we all had to face it
Though it hurt us so bad, you know.

Oh, no, I can't forget the hours
You're the onliest one Mom and sweeter than the flowers
Oh, no, there's no need to bother
To speak of you now would only hurt Father.

Oh, no, Mama, we'll never forget you
And someday we'll meet you up there.

 

[fox69]

"Swing Low, Sweet Chariot"

"Swing Low, Sweet Chariot"



I looked over Jordan and what did i see?
Commin' for to carry me home
There was a band of angels, a-commin after me
Commin' for to carry me home

Swing low, sweet chariot
Commin' for to carry me home
Swing low, sweet chariot
Commin' for to carry me home

I'm sometimes up, and i'm sometimes down
Comin' for to carry me home
But but i know my soul is heavenly bound
Comin' for to carry me home

Swing low, sweet chariot
Comin' for to carry me home
Swing low, sweet chariot
Comin' for to carry me home

If you get there before I do
Comin' for to carry me home
Tell all my friends that I'm a-comin' too
Comin' for to carry me home

Swing low, sweet chariot
Commin' for to carry me home
Swing low, sweet chariot
Commin' for to carry me home
And now they're commin for to carry me home

 

[fox69]

"Take Me Home"

"Take Me Home"




Well I've been from Boston to LA seen Boulder Dam and Frisco Bay
I seen New York City and Washington
Seen Montreal and Saskatchewan and Rhode Island
And I've worked in three all night service stations and I drove a truck

Take me home my heart is heavy and my feet are sore
Take me home I don't wanna roam no more

Well I slept all night in a water trough
Had the flu and the croup and the whoopin' cough
Had the mumps and the measles and the seven years itch
And I can't count the times that I've had a cold and a sore throat
Not to mention all the times that I cut my fingers on a sardine can

Take me home my heart is heavy...

Well I can just see 'em all now just a gatherin' round
Mama's supper table when the sun goes down
And my good old pappy when the blessing is said
Fillin' up his plate with black eyed peas and all that stuff and side meat
And a great big hunk of my dear sweet mama's hot buttered cornbread

Take me home my heart is heavy...
Take me home my heart is heavy...