Johnny Cash

[fox69]

"The Hobo Song"

"The Hobo Song"



There was a time when lonely men would wander
Through this land rolling aimlessly along
So many times I've heard of their sad story
Written in the words of dead men's song
Down through the years many men have yearned for freedom
Some found it only on the open road
So many tears of blood have fell around us
Cause you can't always do what you were told.

Please tell me where have all the hobos gone to.
I see no fire burning down by the rusty railroad tracks
Could it be that time has gone and left them
Tied up in life's eternal travelin' sack

Last Sunday night I wrote a letter to my loved one
I signed my name and I knew that I stayed away way too long
There was a time when my heart was free to wander
And I remember as I sing this hobo song

Please tell me where have all the hobos gone to
I see no fire burning down by the rusty railroad tracks
Could it be that time has gone and left them
Tied up in life's eternal travelin' sack

Please tell me where have all the hobos gone to
I see no fire burning down by the rusty railroad tracks
Could it be that time has gone and left them
Tied up in life's eternal travelin' sack

 

[fox69]

"The L & N Don't Stop Here Anymore"

"The L & N Don't Stop Here Anymore"



When I was a curly headed baby
My daddy sat me down on his knee
He said, "son, go to school and get your letters,
Don't you be a dusty coal miner, boy, like me."

I was born and raised at the mouth of hazard hollow
The coal cars rolled and rumbled past my door
But now they stand in a rusty row all empty
Because the l & n don't stop here anymore

I used to think my daddy was a black man
With script enough to buy the company store
But now he goes to town with empty pockets
And his face is white as a February snow

I was born and raised at the mouth of hazard hollow
The coal cars rolled and rumbled past my door
But now they stand in a rusty row all empty
Because the l & n don't stop here anymore

I never thought I'd learn to love the coal dust
I never thought I'd pray to hear that whistle roar
Oh, god, I wish the grass would turn to money
And those green backs would fill my pockets once more

I was born and raised at the mouth of hazard hollow
The coal cars rolled and rumbled past my door
But now they stand in a rusty row all empty
Because the l & n don't stop here anymore

Last night I dreamed I went down to the office
To get my pay like a had done before
But them ol' kudzu vines were coverin' the door
And there were leaves and grass growin' right up through the floor

I was born and raised at the mouth of hazard hollow
The coal cars rolled and rumbled past my door
But now they stand in a rusty row all empty
Because the l & n don't stop here anymore

 

[fox69]

"The Lady Came From Baltimore"

"The Lady Came From Baltimore"



The lady came from Baltimore and all she wore was lace.
She didn't know that I was poor, she never saw my place.
I was there to steal her money, to take her rings and run.
Then I fell in love with the lady and got away with none.

The lady's name was Susan Moore, her daddy read the law.
She didn't know that I was poor, and lived outside the law.
Her daddy said I was a thief and didn't marry her for love.
But I was Susan's true belief, and I married her for love

I was there to steal her money, to take her rings and run.
Then I fell in love with the lady and got away with none.

The house she lived in had a wall to keep the robbers out.
She never stopped to think at all, that that's what I'm about.
I was there to steal her money, to take her rings and run.
Then I fell in love with the lady and got away with none.

Then I fell in love with the lady and got away with none.

 

[fox69]

"The Last Gunfighter Ballad"

"The Last Gunfighter Ballad"



The old gunfighter stood on the porch
and stared into the sun
And relived all the old days
back when he was livin' by the gun
When deadly games of pride were played
and livin' was mistakes not made
And the thought of the smell of the black powder smoke
And the stand in the street at the turn of a joke
The thought of the smell of the black powder smoke
And the stand in the street at the turn of a joke

And it's always keep your back to the sun
And you can almost feel the weight of that gun
It's faster than snakes or a blink of the eye
And it's a time for all slow men to die
His eyes get squinty and he's straight as a log
and he empties his gun at the dirty dog
And he's hit by the smell of the black powder smoke
And the stand in the street at the turn of a joke
Hit by the smell of the black powder smoke
And the stand in the street at the turn of a joke

Now the burn of a bullet is only a scar
And he's back in his chair in front of a bar
And the streets are empty and the blood's all dried
The dead are dust and the whiskey's inside
So buy him a drink and lend him an ear
He's nobody's fool and he's the only one here
Who remembers the smell of the black powder smoke
And the stand in the street at the turn of a joke
Remembers the smell of the black powder smoke
And the stand in the street at the turn of a joke

Said I stood in that street before it was paved
I learned to shoot or be shot before I could shave
And I did it all for the money and the fame
Noble was nothing but feelin' no shame
And nothing was sacred but stayin' alive
And all that I learned from a Colt .45
Was to cuss the smell of the black powder smoke
And the stand in the street at the turn of a joke
Cuss the smell of the black powder smoke
And the stand in the street at the turn of a joke

Now he's just an old man that nobody believes
Says he's a gunfighter the last of this breed
And there's ghosts in the street seekin' revenge
Callin' him out to the lunatic fringe
He's out in the traffic now checking the sun
And he's killed by a car as he goes for his gun
So much for the smell of the black powder smoke
And the stand in the street at the turn of a joke
So much for the smell of the black powder smoke
And the stand in the street at the turn of a joke

 

[fox69]

"The Last Of The Drifters"
(with Tom T.Hall)

"The Last Of The Drifters"
(with Tom T.Hall)



I'm the last of the babies of the World War 2
World War 2 and that's the one we didn't lose, I heard that
I was raised on biscuits, Spam and powdered eggs
DiMaggio's baseball and Marilyn's legs

And I'm the last of the drifters
Last of the drifters, yeah

I remember when the great train, they used to run on coal
And they would run on coal and I would be ready to go, me too
Old white shirt and a tired overall
Sometime I think my daddy knew it all

And I'm the last of the drifters
Last of the drifters, yeah

I remember Louisiana in a hot steamy night
Hot steamy night and she was holding me tight
An old red Chevy with a big back seat
I had me some two tall shoes off my feet

Okay, I'm the last of the drifters
Last of the drifters, yeah

I'm a world war baby holding mama's hand
Mama's hand and how my daddy knew the land
Truck bearin' music and poverty and wealth
I got some great big scars on myself

Now I'm the last of the drifters
Last of the drifters, yeah

I'm the last tie roller with the last good hand
Last good hand and I'm a gambling man
All them bombs and people wakin' on that boom
Sometimes I reckon I got here too soon

I'm the last of the drifters
I'm the last of the drifters, yeah
I'm the last of the drifters
Last of the drifters

 

[fox69]

"The Last Time"

"The Last Time"



Darling the seasons are changing see now the leaves how they die
Love needs no reason for ending come kiss your baby goodbye
Darling the last time you lied was it really the last time
Have all the tears that you've cried simply dried up and gone
All in the world you can hurt anymore is my feeling
Whatever love ever was never lasted too long
Maybe the best of our life was a beautiful dream babe
That conscience was destined to crumble like castles in sand
All there is left of our love is a little girl's laughter
Let her keep making believing as long as she can
Now and again I still hear some old songs I don't want to
Is it the same over there where you found your new friend
Sometimes at night I still wake up and feel something missing
Maybe I'll never believe in forever again
Darling the seasons are changing see now the leaves how they die
Love needs no reason for ending come kiss your baby goodbye

 

[fox69]

"The Legend Of John Henry's Hammer"

"The Legend Of John Henry's Hammer"



John Henry's Papy woke him up one midnight
He said before the sheriff comes I wanna tell you, listen boy,
Said learn to ball a jack, learn to lay a track, learn to pick and shovel too, and take my hammer, it'll do anything you tell it to

John Hery's mammie had about a dozen babies, John Henry's papie told tale about a dozen times
The babies all got sick and when the doctor wanted money, he said I'll pay you quarter at a time, startin' tomorow, that's the pay for a steel driver on this line

Then the section foreman said hey hammer swinger, I see you brought your own hammer boy, but what else can all those muscles do?
And he said, I can turn a jack, I can lay a track, I can pick and shovel too
(can you swing a hammer boy?)
I can I'll do anything you hire me to

Now ain't you something so high and mighty with your muscles, just go ahead pick up that hammer, pick up the hammer

He said get a rusty spike and swing it down three times, I'll pay you a nickel a day for every inch you sink it to, go on and do what you say you can do

With a steep nose hammer on a four foot switch panel, John Henry raised it back till it touched his heels, then the spike went through the cross tie and it split it half in two, 35 cents a day for driven steel,
(sweat sweat boy, sweat, you owe me two more swings)
I was born for driven steel

Well John Henry hammered in the mountain, he'd give a grunt and he'd give groan with every swing, the women folks for miles around, heard him and come down, to watch him make the cold steel ring, Lord what a swinger, just listen to that cold steel ring,

But the bad boss come up laughing at John Henry, said you full of vinegar now, but you bout through, were gonna get a steam drill to do your share of drivin, then what's all them muscles gonna do, huh John Henry, gonna take a little bit of vinegar out of you

John Henry said I feed four little brothers, and my baby sister's walking on her knees, did the Lord say that machines awtta take the place of living, and what's a subsitute for bread and beans, I ain't seen it, do engines get rewarded for their steam

John Henry hid in a coal mine for his dinner now, had thirty minutes to rest before the bell, the mine boss hollered get up whoever you are and get a pick ax, give me enough coal to start another hill, and keep it burning, mine me enough to start another hill

John Henry said to his captain, a man ain't nothin but a man, but if you bring that steam drill round, I'll beat it fair and honest, I'll die with my hammer in my hand, but I'll be laughing, cuz you can't replace a steel driven man

There was a big crowd of people at the mountain, John Henry said to the steam drill how is you, pardon me mister steam drill, I suppose you didn't hear me, I said how you, well can you turn a jack, can you lay a track, can you pick and shovel too, listen this hammer swingers talkin' to you

2000 people hollered go John Henry, then somebody hollered the mountain's caving in, John Henry told the captain, tell the kind folks not to worry, that ain't nothin but my hammer suckin' wind, keeps me breathing, a steel drivers muscle I intend,

Captain tell the people move back further, I'm at the finish line and I ain't no drill, she's so far behind you ain't got the brains to quit it, when she blows up she'll scatter cross the hills, Lord Lordy, when she blows up she'll scatter cross the hills

Well John Henry had a little woman, I believe the lady's name was Polly Ann, yeah that was his good woman, John Henry threw his hammer over his shoulder and went on home, he layed down to rest his weary back and early next morining he said come here Polly Ann come here sugar, ya know I believe this is the first time I ever watched the sun come up that I couldn't come up with it

Take my hammer Polly Ann and go to that rail road, swing that hammer like you seen me do it, and when your swinging with the lead men, they'll all know they'll all know your John Henry's woman, but tell them that's not all I can do, tell em I can hoist a jack, and I can lay a track, I can pick and shovel too, aint no machine can, that's been proved to you

There was a big crowd of mourners at the church house, the section hands laid him in the sand, trains go by on the rails John Henry laid, they slow down and take off their hats, the men do, when they come to the palce John Henrys laid, rests on his back, some say mornin steel driver you sure were a hammer swinger, then they go along pickin up speed, clikty clak, clikty clak, down there lies a steel driven man oh Lord, down there lies a steel driven man, down there lies a steel driven man oh Lord, down there lies a steel driven man

 

[fox69]

"The Little Drummer Boy"

"The Little Drummer Boy"


Come they told me
Our newborn King to see
Our finest gifts we bring
To lay before the King

This is to honor Him
When we come

Baby Jesus, I am a poor boy too
I have no gift to bring
That's fit to give a King

But may I play for You
On my drum

The Mother Mary nodded
The ox and lamb kept time
I played my drum for Him
I played my best for Him

Then He smiled at me
Me and my drum

 

[fox69]

"The Long Black Veil"
(originally by Lefty Frizzell)

"The Long Black Veil"
(originally by Lefty Frizzell)



Ten years ago, on a cold dark night
Someone was killed 'neath the town hall light
There were few at the scene, but they all agreed
That the slayer who ran looked a lot like me

The judge said: Son, what is your alibi?
If you were somewhere else, then you won't have to die
I spoke not a word, though it meant my life
For I'd been in the arms of my best friend's wife

She walks these hills in a long black veil
She visits my grave when the night winds wail
Nobody knows, nobody sees
Nobody knows but me

Oh, the scaffold is high, and eternity's near
She stood in the crowd and shed not a tear
But late at night, when the north wind blows
In a long black veil, she cries over my bones

She walks these hills in a long black veil
She visits my grave when the night winds wail
Nobody knows, nobody sees
Nobody knows but me

 

[fox69]

"The Loving Gift"

"The Loving Gift"



You gave me a blanket to keep me from the cold
You gave me a song I learned to sing
You showed me some beauty through the windows of your soul
And you showed me a world I've never seen

Each giving to the other love and givin' it away
We spent the precious time we knew was borrowed
'Cause you gave me the courage to live with yesterday
And you gave me tomorrow

You brought me a candle to light my way to bed
You erased those shadows I'd been seeing
You brought me a pillow to rest my weary head
You taught me a gentle way of dreaming

And even if you leave me I'll be richer when you go
I'm richer with the loving gift you gave me
'Cause you gave me a blanket to keep me from the cold
And you gave me a baby