Ry Cooder

[fox69]

"Jesus On The Mainline"
(originally by James Shorty)

"Jesus On The Mainline"
(originally by James Shorty)



I know Jesus is on that mainline
Tell Him what you want
Jesus is on that mainline
Tell Him what you want
Jesus is on that mainline
Tell Him what you want
Call Him up and tell Him what you want

Well, the line ain't never busy
Tell Him what you want
Wo, that line ain't never busy
Tell Him what you want
Well, the line ain't never busy
Tell Him what you want
Keep on calling Him up
And tell Him what you want

Well, if you want His kingdom
Tell Him what you want
If you want His kingdom
Tell Him what you want
If want His kingdom
Tell Him what you want
Call Him up, call Him up, call Him up, call Him up
You can call Him up and tell Him what you want

Well, if you're sick and wanna get well
Tell Him what you want
Well, if you're sick and you wanna get well
Tell Him what you want
If you're sick and you wanna get well
Tell Him what you want
Call Him up and tell Him what you want

And if you're feeling down and out
Tell Him what you want
And if you're feeling down and out
Tell Him what you want
And if you're feeling down and out
Tell Him what you want
Call Him up and tell Him what you want

I know Jesus is on that mainline
Tell Him what you want
Jesus is on that mainline
Tell Him what you want
Jesus is on that mainline
Tell Him what you want
Call Him up, call Him up, call Him up, call Him up
Call Him up and tell Him what you want

 

[fox69]

"John Lee Hooker For President"

"John Lee Hooker For President"


When I first came to town people, I was walkin' down Pennsylvania Avenue
I heard a lot people talking 'bout the White House
I decided I'd drop in there that night
And when I got there I said man what's shakin'
They said look man you can't come in here this where the President hang out
What you want
I said look man, I'm John Lee Hooker, I sing the blues
They said the President don't have time for the blues
I said look man everybody got to have the blues sometime, don't matter where you from or where you at
I decided to make a run for President
I know everyone got the blues 'cause I'm in touch wilt 'em when I sing the blues it's my life
I got the number one record in Detroit right now
He's called Boom Boom
It tells a tremendous story these lyrics are something else
Every time you hear Boom Boom, that's a dollar change
I don't need yo money 'cause I finance my own campaign
I ain't for sale. I keep a fat bankroll in my pocket baby, big as a hay bale...
I want everybody to know I'm strictly copastatic, I ain't Republican or Democratic
I got a new program for the nation
It's gonna be groove time, a big sensation
Every man and woman gets one scotch, one bourbon and one beer, three times a day if they stay cool
And little chillens gets milk, cream and alcohol, two times a day if they stay involved in school
Now boogie chillen...
Now I want nine fine lookin' womens sittin' on the Supreme Court
Their big legs, their tight skirts drive me out of my mind
And when I need a judgment, they gonna give it to me right on time
They call me on the phone sayin'
Johnny, we disagree on which one of us you like best
I said honey, you all equally fine under the law
I'm sharp and up to date
Jimmy Reed, Vice President, Little Johnny Taylor, Secretary of State
I got the foreign policy numbers 444, domestic spending goin' up
Continental clothes, Stetson hats, everybody's on the dance floor
All you back bilers and syndicators, hear what I say
I ain't gonna stand for no trash talking and double dealin'
If I catch you messin' 'round the White House I might cut you, I might shoot you, I just don't know
And there's one point I really want to prove
If you vote for John Lee Hooker you know you gonna groove
Don't be fooled by the Republican, don't pity the Democratie
Vote John Lee Hooker and everything gone be mellow, knocked out, copastatic

 

[fox69]

"Johnny Cash"

"Johnny Cash"


I was just a boy in school 1954
I heard Johnny singin' on my Sears radio
I wouldn't do my schoolwork then nor join in schoolyard games
I'd sit there by the radio so I could hear him sing

Hey porter, hey porter would you tell me the time
I want to get on board John I want to ride your train
I don't care where you're goin' long as it ain't where I been
There ain't nothin' in this little town that a boy like me can do
So if you're goin' to Folsom Prison I want to go there too

I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die

I tried to learn the guitar blues to ease my troubled mind
But Johnny kept a movin' and I kept wastin' time
He was somewhere down Big River but all that I could see
Was west Pico Boulevard and that's what tortured me

And I followed you Big River when you called

Johnny Cash will never die buddy can't you see
He's up there with the Tennessee Two for all eternity
But sometimes in the dark of night his voice still calls to me
Hey porter hey porter was what I heard him say
On my Sears and Roebuck radio Pasadena KXLA

 

[fox69]

"Johnny Porter"

"Johnny Porter"


Johnny Porter was the oldest in his family
And I remember he was almost twenty one
Y'know I can't quite explain the situation
But he broke into his father's truck and stole a gun
Mother running down the highway screaming
Johnny it's too bad, oh it's too and it's bad
And it's too bad
Well, his father wonders where he got the money
And he wonders if he got it right or wrong
Then Johnny killed a man in Pensacola, Florida
And he caught a freight train and and took off on the run
Well, run, Johnny, run
They're rolling right behind you
Run, Johnny, run
You know they're gonna find you
You come out late at night, 'cause you're running for your life
Hum, Johnny Porter
Johnny Porter
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Well, it's a shame the way you make your mother worry
And it's hurts inside to sit and watch her cry
And it will be a long time before she knows the answer
But it won't be long before she will see ya die
Well, I was standing in my front door early this morning
So sad, when I heard my name was said
Johnny Porter was no good than anybody
But I hate to see him throw his life away
Now, run, Johnny, run
They're rolling right behind you
Run, Johnny, run
You know they're gonna find you
You come out late at night, 'cause you're running for your life
Well, Johnny Porter, Johnny Porter
Found him holed up in some dark and dirty building
Heard his mother begging, "Please, let Johnny go!"
That's when John fired his pistol
As a warning and he said,
"I was born to die by the gun"
"I was born to die by the gun"
"I was born to die by the gun"

 

[fox69]

"Let's Have A Ball"

"Let's Have A Ball"


I wanna ball like I never did ball before (Before, before, before)
I wanna ball like I never did ball before (Before, before, before)
I may never get a break like this in life no more
Well, I wanna ball like I never did ball before (Before, before, before)
I wanna ball like I never did ball before (Before, before, before)
I may never get a break like this in life no more
Got money in my pocket
I ain't begging for bread
Cadillac El Dorado
Well, it's gone to my head
I got a short time living and a long greasy time to pay (play) dead
Ain't doing no favours, ain't asking for none
Honey, I got money, I can pay for my fun
That's the way I want it, that's the way it must be done
(Because)
I wanna ball like I never did ball before (Before, before, before)
I wanna ball like I never did ball before (Before, before, before)
I may never get a break like this in life no more
A certain little mama (You [?] for me)
Gonna jump and shout (Oh, yeah)
When the El Dorado rolls up (Ah)
And I'll come walking out [?]
Gonna tell ya pretty baby (Say you like nothing)
You don't know what it's all about
(I've got) No special woman (No special woman)
Want no special friend (No special friend)
Want a good time today (Good time today)
Tomorrow may be down again (May be down again)
Don't dial my number (Oh, Lord)
I'll tell you when (I'll tell you when)
I wanna ball like I never did ball before (Before, before, before)
Really wanna... never did ball before (Before, before, before)
I may never get a break like this in life no more

 

[fox69]

"Little Sister"

"Little Sister"


Little sister won't you please, please, please
Little sister don't you cheat on me
Little sister don't you kiss me once and twice
Say it's very nice and then you run
Little sister don't you do what your big sister done

Well, I dated your big sister
And I took her to a show
I went out for some candy
Along came Jim Dandy
And they snuck right out the door

Little sister won't you please, please, please
Little sister don't you cheat on me
Little sister don't you kiss me once and twice
Say it's very nice and then you run
Little sister don't you do what your big sister done

Ev'ry time I see your sister
Seems she's got somebody new
Well, she's mean and evil
Like that little old Boll Weevil
Got to try my luck with you

Sister won't you please, please, please
Little sister don't you cheat on me
Little sister don't you kiss me once and twice
Say it's very nice and then you run
Little sister don't you do what your big sister done

Well, now I used to pull your pigtails
And I pinched your turned-up nose
Baby you been a-growin'
Yes, it's been a-showin'
From your head down to your toes

 

[fox69]

"Little Trona Girl"

"Little Trona Girl"


Little Trona girl little Trona girl
Little Trona girl will you wait for me

Standing in the twilight by the highway side
In my mirror I can see the teardrops in her eyes

Little Trona girl little Trona girl
Little Trona girl will you wait for me

 

[fox69]

"Look At Granny Run Run"

"Look At Granny Run Run"


Said, look at Granny run, run
Grandpa runnin' close behind
Look at Granny run, run, ah... there's something on Grand-daddy's mind
Because he went to the doctor, got a brand new pill
The doctor said, "Son, you ain't over the hill"
He can't sit still
Great, gosh, almighty, won't you
Look at Granny run, run, faster than a Greyhound bus (Granny, you better run)
Look at Granny run, run, now Grandpa is gettin' serious (somebody's calling you)
Well, he woke up in the middle of the night
Said, "Look-a here baby, everything's all right"
It was such a sight
Great, gosh, almighty, won't ya

Well, look at Granny run, run
Grandpa runnin' closer now
No matter how she run, run, he gonna catch her anyhow
Well, he jumped up and he began to shout
Granny come a-running with the mouth poked out
Said, "Look here, pretty Mama, stop your carrying on
All I want's a little loving just before I'm gone
Ain't nothing wrong"
Hear my Lord, singing
Great, gosh, almighty

(You better run)
(Somebody's calling you)
Look at Granny run, run
Well, I feel like my time ain't (long), time ain't (long), time ain't (long)

 

[fox69]

"Lord Tell Me Why"

"Lord Tell Me Why"


Lord tell me why a white man ain't worth nothing in this world no more
Lord tell me how you 'spect me to stand up tall and proud
I did just what you told I done everything you said
But the way I'm doing lately I could have stood in bed
So Lord tell me why a white man ain't worth nothing in this world no more
Lord tell me when a white man's gonna be all right again
Please fix it Lord they took back everything we been working for
When the riots tore our city I stood watch outside our home
My kids crying daddy why can't they leave us alone
Split level in Valencia where the cops reside
We had to walk away and leave old memories inside
Lord tell me why a white man ain't worth nothing in this world no more
You can walk across the silvery moon and get back home all right
But it ain't safe to walk the streets of your home town at night
I'm a Lord man from the Lord land
But a Lord man ain't worth nothing in this world no more

 

[fox69]

"Los Chucos Suaves"

"Los Chucos Suaves"


[?]
Antes se bailaba swing
Boogie-woogie, jitterbug
Pero esto ya torció
Y este es lo que sucedió
Pachucos suaves bailan rumba
Bailan la rumba y le zumba
Bailan guaracha sabrosón
El botecito y el danzón
[x2]
Cada Sábado en la noche
Yo me voy a borlotiár
Con mi linda pachucóna
Las caderas a menear
Ella le hace muy de aquellas
Cuando empieza a guarachar
Al compas de los timbales
Yo me siento petetear
Pachucos suaves bailan rumba
Bailan la rumba y le zumba
Bailan guaracha sabrosón
El botecito y el danzón
[x2]