Ry Cooder

[fox69]

"France Chance"

"France Chance"


Drop down baby, just like showers of rain
I hate to hear my fair brown call my name, yeah
I hate to hear my fair brown call my name
Well, she calls so loud, and the poor girl calls so plain

Walks to the station, tears running down
I got news, my baby, done left town, yeah
I got news, my baby, 'cause he done blow this town
Well, I got great news, my baby, he done blow this town

Blues started calling me like Ronny and France
Looks like that other guy won't allow me no chance, yeah
Well, it looks like, to me, that other guy won't allow me all chance...

 

[fox69]

"Gentrification"

"Gentrification"


Standing on corner, spending my time
Out of a job, not earning a dime
Lady steps up, says I suppose
You're a stylish young man by the looks of your clothes
She said trust me and take a little tip
This building's been sold to Johnny Depp
Who? Take the buyout, relocate
The Googlemen are coming downtown, so don't be late
I said this is my apartment just a hole in the wall
Got to sleep in the kitchen with your feet in the hall
No hot water, no windows and doors
You got to make it past all the real estate agents, junkies and ho's
I live in the heart of the city, ain't no coffee shops around
I heard them Googlemen drink so much coffee, I declare, I think they might drown
Gentrification is here, one thing I know
You can't stand pat, I declare you got to step it up and go
Gentrification is here, sho' is worryin' my mind
Can't understand why an uptown Googleman wants a downtown room like mine
Gentrification

 

[fox69]

"Get Rhythm"

"Get Rhythm"


Get rhythm when you get the blues
Hey, get rhythm when you get the blues
Get a rock 'n' roll feelin' in your bones
Get taps on your toes and just get gone
Get rhythm when you get the blues
Little shoeshine boy never gets low down
But he's got the dirtiest job in town
Bendin' low at the peoples' feet
On the windy corner of the dirty street
Well, I asked him while he shined my shoes
How'd he keep from gettin' the blues
He grinned as he shook his little head
Popped a shoeshine rag and then he said
Get rhythm when you get the blues
Hey, get rhythm when you get the blues
It only costs a dime, just a nickel a shoe
Does a million dollars worth of good for you
Get rhythm when you get the blues
Well, I started to listen to the shoeshine boy
And I thought I was gonna jump for joy
Slapped on the shoe polish left and right
He took a shoeshine rag and he held it tight
He stopped once to wipe the sweat away
I said you're a mighty little boy to be a-workin' that way
He said "I like it", with a big wide grin
And he kept on poppin' and he said again
Hey, get rhythm when you get the blues
Hey, get rhythm when you get the blues
Yes a jumpy rhythm makes you feel so fine
It shakes all the trouble from your worried mind
Get rhythm when you get the blues
Get rhythm when you get the blues
Get rhythm when you get the blues
Get a rock 'n' roll feelin' in your bones
Get taps on your toes and get gone
Get rhythm when you get the blues

 

[fox69]

"Go Home, Girl"

"Go Home, Girl"


Well, me and Frank we're the best of friends
And our friendship will never end
But it would hurt him so for him to know
That I'm in love with his girlfriend

Now, the love of a girl and the love of a friend
Are two things you can't compare
Though my heart will ache I will let it break
'Cause I know that it just ain't fair
So go on home girl, let's call it a night
You better go home girl, this just ain't right

But before you go I want you to know
That I love you, yes I do
And though it breaks my heart for us to part
Still I know Frank loves you too

Well, you say that a we can make him see
We have a love that's really real
But I think that he is just like me
And I don't know just how he'd feel

Darling, people know it would hurt him so
If you told him that it must end
And I could never hold the love I stole
From a man I call my best friend

Go on home girl, you better go home, girl
Go on home, you better move on

Me and Frank been friends for so long
And our friendship is really strong
He gives me his car to go for a ride
Never knows how long I'll be gone

Well, I'm trying to forget all the things that we've done
While Frank is just a-waiting back home
Girl you can't go ride with me anymore
That's the way it's got to be from now on

Go on home!
Uhn, hun. Better go home, girl
Uhn, hun. Now you better move on, girl
Uhn, hun. Better go home, girl
Uhn, hun. You better move on, girl

 

[fox69]

"Goin' To Brownsville"

"Goin' To Brownsville"


I'm going to Brownsville, take that right hand road
Well, I'm going to Brownsville, take that right hand road
And I ain't gonna stop walking till I get in sweet mama's door

The girl I'm loving she's got great long curly hair
The girl I'm loving she's got great long curly hair
And her mama and her papa well, they sure don't allow me there

If you catch my jumper [?] babe, hanging upside your wall
Well, if you catch my jumper [?] babe, hanging upside your wall
Well, you know by that I need my ashes hauled

I'm going to Brownsville, take that right hand road
I'm going to Brownsville, take that right hand road
And I ain't gonna stop walking till I get in sweet mama's door

 

[fox69]

"Going Back To Okinawa"

"Going Back To Okinawa"


Goin' back down to Okinawa
Sorry, baby, but I can't take you
You better stay at home in California
There's nothing over there that you can do

Goin' back down to Okinawa
Ain't gonna do me like you've done before
They treat me like a king down in Okinawa
And I may never come back no more

It's just an island floating in the sun
Everybody is having so much fun
Pretty mamas laying in the sand
Sure to know how to treat your man

Okinawian baby, won't you come by me?
Sun going down in the China Sea
Making love on the beach all night
Okinawa moon is shining so bright

Folks in Okinawa sure have fun
They get together when the working day is done
Drinking cheap wine and making romance
While some old man's doing the Okina dance

Back in the days of World War II
Fought against the Japanese like me and you
Everybody's worried 'bout World War III
Okinawa's just the place where I'm gonna be

Going back to Okinawa
Sorry, but I can't take you
Never coming back no more, baby

 

[fox69]

"Going To Tampa"

"Going To Tampa"


Goodbye my honey, farewell my baby
Don't look for me around convention time
I'm bound for Tampa, in the great state of Florida
To see some distinguished friends of mine

Mitt and Rick and the pitbulls, the jolly ride and step forth
To the highest bidder each will guarantee
I'd give all my money sir if Palin calls me honey
And shakes the peaches off my tree

'Cause I'm goin' to Tampa in the morning
Got my credentials in my overalls
But I can't take you with me little darling
I'm going down to get my asses hauled

Well here's a proposition to entertain a motion
Bring back Willie Horton to us now
We'll spook the congregation and petrify the nation
And blame the folks from Mexico somehow

And let me introduce a man who all know well
He can play a very important role
State rights is his game, Jim Crow is his name
And Jim's our little ace in the hole

'Cause I'm goin' to Tampa in the morning
Saints of latter days will heed the call
We'll shout hallelujah in the evening
I'm going down to get my asses hauled

Well the NRA woman told the tea party man
Gonna make love to you with a gun in my hand
That tea party man said, that's all right
Got a smoking bomb under my pillow at night

Well we're all going to Tampa in the morning
Honey will you miss me when I'm gone
Now hope you pack my old bed sheet
I'm going down to get my asses hauled

Yes, I'm goin' to Tampa in the morning
Honey will you miss me when I'm gone
Now hope you pack my old bed sheet
'Cause I'm going down to get my asses hauled

 

[fox69]

"Good Morning Mr. Railroad Man"

"Good Morning Mr. Railroad Man"


Good morning, Mr. Railroad Man
What time do your trains roll by?
"At 9:16 and 2:44 and 25 minutes till 5"
"At 9:16 and 2:44 and 25 minutes till 5"
Thank you, Mr. Railroad Man
I want to watch your trains go by
Standing on a platform, smoking a cheap cigar
And waiting for an old freight train that carries an empty car
Well, I pulled my hat down over my eyes
And I walked across the tracks
And I caught me the end of an old freight train
And I never did come back
Well, I sat down in a gamblin' game
But I could not play my hand
I was thinkin' about the woman I loved
Run away with another man, poor boy
Run away with another man
I was thinking about the woman that I loved
Run away with another man

 

[fox69]

"Goodnight, Irene"
(originally by Lead Belly)

"Goodnight, Irene"
(originally by Lead Belly)



I asked your mother for you
She told me that you was too young
I wish dear Lord never have seen your face
And I'm sorry that you ever been born
Irene good night, Irene good night
Goodnight Irene, good night Irene
I'll get you in my dreams
Sometimes I lives in the country
Sometimes I lives in town
Sometimes I have a great notion
To jump into the river and drown
I loves Irene, God knows I do
Loves her till the sea runs dry
If Irene turns her back on me
I'm gonna take morphine and die
Stop ramblin' and stop gamblin'
Quit staying out late at night
Come home into your wife and your family
Sit down by the fireside bright
Irene goodnight, Irene goodnight
Goodnight Irene, goodnight Irene
I'll get you in my dreams

 

[fox69]

"Green Dog"

"Green Dog"


Walkin' cross the desert, it ain't no fun
Too hot in the daytime, too much sun
Lefty says we'll cross at nighttime
Like my people always have done
Keep moving, quit nagging
Walk, don't run
I ask Lefty, why'd we bring so much cheese?
Coyotes, Buddy, just you wait and see
Coyotes eat anything, Buddy, long as it's free
Suppose they want a little something extra, Lefty?
Might be you and might be me
Well the desert's dark and the desert's deep, stars everywhere
Something like you never see sittin' in your easy chair
Watch out, Lefty, something strange is comin' down
Look out! It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a flyin' tin can
Got those coyotes on the run
Out steps a green dog, as green as he can be
Or maybe she, 'cause when they're wearin' space suits
You can't tell, 'cause you can't see
"In my world, toads are purple, mice are blue, and I declare
A red cat is really something new
I'm so far from home, can you tell me what should I do?"
"Do you think there is room for me in this strange land?
I'm sorry I scared your friends
I write poetry, teach astronomy, how about me?"
"In my world everyone is a friend
Shaking hands, saying how do you do
Guess you'll notice we all look the same, it's so tame
I'd rather take a chance here with you"
Let's ride, says Lefty, let's see how fast this crate can fly
Va va-va-voom, says Lefty, watch the coyotes scatter, and watch the towns go streaking by
Kingman, Barstow, San Bernardino just won't do
Go west, you green dog, Hollywood's the place for you
Green dog, green dog, green dog, you're so rare, so rare