Ry Cooder

[fox69]

"Cat And Mouse"

"Cat And Mouse"


Well I had an uncle Charley, back in my hometown
Said, don't take no mice to be your friend
'Cause they'll wait till you're asleep and steal your money and your food
And rat you out when the police come around
Later on I started travellin', seeing something of this world
And I learned to know a thing or two
Just because you've been told a story back in your hometown
Don't have to mean that story's always true
I remember it was winter and things were goin' bad
It rained and it snowed all day long
Nobody would feed me and I couldn't find no job
In a factory or workin' on a farm
I was laying in my suitcase and the snow was falling down
I didn't know what I was gonna do
When I heard a tiny voice out there in the dark
Saying, brother, can I come in there with you?
Well right here in my bag I got some real good cheese
And a crust of bread or two
If you let me come in and get out of the snow
I'll share what I got with you
Don't take no mice to be your friend
Was the rule uncle Charley always told
But the north wind kept howling and the snow kept blowin' down
And I couldn't leave him out there in the cold
Well he said his name was Lefty and he'd been traveling round
The secrets of this world to share with you
Mouse traps are set right-handed, get your cheese out from the left
We are many, Buddy, they are few
He said, they'll tell you lies to make you doubt your fellow man
Like cats and mice just can't get along
Well it suits the bosses, Buddy, and it serves them fine
'Cause it keeps us working folks from bein' strong
There's a better world a coming, Buddy
Which side are you on?
Don't let the big men take it, Buddy
Which side are you on?
It's your country, too, Buddy
Which side are you on?
It's time to take a stand, Buddy
Which side are you on?
Play!
Boy, it's a fact mice ain't no good
Old Charley always said they'll treat you bad
But I'm here to tell you people, and I want it understood
Lefty is the truest friend I'd ever had

 

[fox69]

"Chinito Chinito"

"Chinito Chinito"


Chinito, chinito, toca la maraca chinito
Chinito, chinito, no preocupes más
Chinito, chinito, me lava la lopa, chinito
Chinito, chinito, no preocupes más
Cuando la maraca come mucho arroz
Chinito ni trabaja, a 5 why a 2
Lava la camisa, me plancha pantaloon
Cuando la maraca la lleva al canton
Chinito, chinito, toca la maraca, chinito
Chinito, chinito, no proecupes más
Vaya Chino!
Chinito, chinito...
Chinito finito
Chinito bonito
...
Ay chinito bonito, donde vas?
Donda vas chinito con su maraca
Why donde estan mis pantalones, chinito?
Pinche chinito, con mi camisa, dame la ropa
Chinito, chinito, toca la maraca, chinito
Chinito, chinito, no preocupes más
Chinito, chinito, me lava la lopa, chinito
Chinito, chinito, no preocupes más
Cuando la maraca come mucho arroz
Chinito ni trabaja a 5 why a 2
Lava la camisa, me plancha pantaloon
Cuando la maraca la lleva al canton
Chinito, chinito, toca la maraca, chinito
Chinito, chinito, no preocupes más

 

[fox69]

"Christmas In Southgate"

"Christmas In Southgate"


Well, you got no credit and I got no cash
Now that bonus they give us was nothing but trash
You been laid off at Goodyear, I been laid off at Hughes
It looks like a bad year, there just ain't no use
'Cause it's Christmas in Southgate, you been a true friend
I ain't never been much of a churchgoing man
But I'd even give up drinkin' whiskey and gin
If Jesus and Santa Claus ever get back down to Southgate again
Well, the telephone rang and it jumped off the wall
Says, we're sorry, Buddy, but we can't place your call
'Cause Jesus don't answer, Santa ain't got back yet
What's a poor old Red Cat got a right to expect?
So I called up my banker to ask for a loan
Said, It's Christmas Eve, Buddy, there ain't no one home
Then I called up my preacher and he said, We're through
What the heck is a poor old Red Cat gonna do?
Now I'd work any job just to clear a day's pay
Except for being President of the old USA
Now that's dirty work, Lefty, no future, it's true
I'd rather drink up my last nickel with you
Well it's Christmas in Southgate, you been a true friend
I ain't never been much of a churchgoin' man
But I'd even give up drinkin' whiskey and gin
If Jesus and Santa Claus ever come back down to Southgate again

 

[fox69]

"Christmas Time This Year"

"Christmas Time This Year"


Our boys and girls will be here soon coming home from war
I'm so glad it's Christmas time this year
But they'll be going back to war again I fear
Can't they stay for Christmas time this year
Now Johnny ain't got no legs and Billy ain't got no face
Do they know it's Christmas time this year?
Tommy looks about the same but his mind is gone
Does he know it's Christmas time this year?
When is Santa coming 'round 'cause I got some requests
I bet he knows it's Christmas time this year
Military personnel might not be on his list
Don't he know it's Christmas time this year
All I want is two good arms so I can hold my kids
Then they'll know it's Christmas time this year
I'd like a mouth so I can kiss my honey on her lips
Then she'll know it's Christmas time this year
Because it's Christmas time, Christmas time
Yes it's merry Christmas time
Everybody stand up tall and cheer
Our children will be coming home in plastic bags I fear
Then we'll know it's Christmas time this year
Thank you Mr. President for your kind words and deeds
There's just one thing I'd like for you to hear
Take this war and shove it up your Crawford, Texas ass
And then you'll know it's Christmas time this year

 

[fox69]

"Comin' In On A Wing And A Prayer"

"Comin' In On A Wing And A Prayer"


One of our planes was missing
Two hours overdue
One of our planes was missing
With all its gallant crew
The radio sets were humming
We waited for a word
Then a noise broke
Through the humming and this is what we heard

Comin' in on a wing and a prayer
Comin' in on a wing and a prayer
Though there's one motor gone
We can still carry on
Comin' in on a wing and a prayer

What a show, what a fight, boys
We really hit our target for tonight
How we sing as we limp through the air
Look below, there's our field over there
With just one motor gone
We can still carry on
Comin' in on a wing and a prayer

Comin' in on a wing and a prayer
Comin' in on a wing and a prayer
With our full crew on board
And our trust in the Lord
We're comin' in on a wing and a prayer

 

[fox69]

"Corrido De Boxeo"

"Corrido De Boxeo"


Que ironia, si lo sabes
Que habian dos hermanos Chavez
Pugilistas que nacieron
En mero Chavez Ravine
Carlos y Fabela Chavez
De La Loma Y Palo Verde
Decian, "Si peleas limpio
Siempre ganas, nunca pierdes"
En el Auditorio Olimpic
Quedaban bien por la gente
Nunca hiceron enemigos
Peleaban honoradamente

Mas no pudieron ganar
El pleito de Chavez Ravine
Se deshicieron encima
Con mentiras hasta al fin
Se batieron en el lodo
Hasta que perdieron todo
En la historia del boxeo
Has ganado o has perdido
Pero en Chavez Ravine
Todo quedo en el olvido
Nadie sabe los secretos
Que quedaron escondidos
Se la pagaran con Dios
Esa bola de bandidos

 

[fox69]

"Crazy 'Bout An Automobile (Every Woman I Know)"
(originally by Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs)

"Crazy 'Bout An Automobile (Every Woman I Know)"
(originally by Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs)



-Man, I'm gonna tell you my story
-Go on and tell about it, go on and tell about it more
-Just what I've been doing
-What you've been doing, Ry?
-Well, you know I used to be particular about the womens that I picked
-Aha
-Yeah! They used to be tender, lean and tall, that's all
-But the way things has been going, I'll take 'em knock-kneed and bow-legged
-What?
-I'll even take 'em bald! Man. I'll tell you why
-Please, tell me why!

Every woman I know is crazy 'bout an automobile
Every woman I know is crazy 'bout an automobile
And here I am standing with nothing but rubber heels

He-hey, every woman I know, crazy 'bout an automobile
Oh, every woman I know, crazy 'bout an automobile
And here I am standing with nothing but rubber heels

Now look'it here
They say, walking women home is a thing of the past
Women want to ride and ride around in class
Some like Cadillacs, boys, some like Fords
Some like anything as long as it rolls

Crazy 'bout an automobile (that's right)
And here I am standing with nothing but rubber heels

Well, every woman I know she's crazy 'bout an automobile
Every woman I know is crazy 'bout an automobile
And here I am standing with nothing but rubber heels

One more thing I wanna tell you

Said, riding and loving just can't be beat
You and your woman in your own front seat
Now, she can play with your keys, shift the gears
Turn on your radio just loud enough to hear
Now, she can turn up the heat and flip on your fan
And then you start rolling just as fast as you can

Crazy 'bout an automobile
And just here I am standing with nothing but rubber heels

Man, when I get some money I just got to get me some kind of automobile
You don't seem like the women in this town just don't pay no attention to ya 'less you're driving
Look at that big, fine Buick over there
Oh, I like that one
Yeah, now, looks like somebody left the keys in it
Oh, let's take a ride

Nothing but rubber heels

 

[fox69]

"Crossroads"
(originally by Robert Johnson)
(from "Crossroads" soundtrack)

"Crossroads"
(originally by Robert Johnson)
(from "Crossroads" soundtrack)



Well, I'm standin' at the crossroad, I'm tryin' to flag a ride
I'm standin' at the crossroad, tried to flag a ride

I went down to the crossroads, fell down on my knees
I went down to the crossroads, fell down on my knees
Asked the Lord above for mercy, save me if you please

I went down to the crossroads, tried to flag a ride
I went down to the crossroads, tried to flag a ride
Nobody seemed to know me, everybody passed me by

I'm going down to Rosedale, take my rider by my side
I'm going down to Rosedale, take my rider by my side
You can still barrelhouse, baby, on the riverside

You can run, you can run, tell my friend-poor Willie Brown
You can run, you can run, tell my friend-poor Willie Brown
And I'm standing at the crossroads, believe I'm sinking down

 

[fox69]

"Crow Black Chicken"

"Crow Black Chicken"


Well, I went on the mountain
And I gave my horn a blow
Thought I heard some purty gal say
"Yonder come my beau"
Crow black chicken and crow for a day
Crow black chicken and fly away
Crow black chicken and-a...
I like chicken pie
Well, the hardest work that ever I done
Is plowin' a field of rye
The easiest work that ever I done
Was eatin' chicken pie
Chicken crow for midnight
And chicken crow for a day
Along come an owl, Lord, have mercy
And stole my chicken away

 

[fox69]

"Denomination Blues"
(originally by Washington Phillips)

"Denomination Blues"
(originally by Washington Phillips)



I wanna tell you people it's a nat'ral fact
Ev'ry man don't understand the Bible alike
And that's all, I tell you that's all
'Cause you better have Jesus
I tell you that's all

Well, the denominations have the right to fight
They ought go on and treat each other right
And that's all, I tell you that's all
'Cause you better have Jesus
I tell you that's all

It's right to stand together, wrong to stand apart
When none will enter heaven but the pure at heart
And that's all, I'll tell you that's all
'Cause you better have Jesus
I'll tell you that's all

Well, the primitive Baptists they believe
That you can't go to heaven 'less you wash your feet
And that's all, I'll tell you that's all
'Cause you better have Jesus
I tell you that's all

Well, the African Methodists, they believe the same
'Cause they know denomination ain't a thing but a name
And that's all, I'll tell you that's all
'Cause you better have Jesus
I tell you that's all

Well, people that jump from church to church
You can bet their conversion don't amount too much
And that's all, I'll tell you that's all
'Cause you better have Jesus
I tell you that's all

Well, you can to your college, you can go to your school
But if you ain't got Jesus, you'se (you are) an educated fool
And that's all, I'll tell you that's all
'Cause you better have Jesus
I tell you that's all