Tom Paxton

[fox69]

"Lyndon Johnson Told The Nation"

"Lyndon Johnson Told The Nation"


I got a letter from L. B. J.
It said this is your lucky day.
It's time to put your khaki trousers on.
Though it may seem very queer
We've got no jobs to give you here
So we are sending you to Viet Nam

[Chorus:]
Lyndon Johnson told the nation,
"Have no fear of escalation.
I am trying everyone to please.
Though it isn't really war,
We're sending fifty thousand more,
To help save Viet nam from Viet Namese."

I jumped off the old troop ship,
And sank in mud up to my hips.
I cussed until the captain called me down.
Never mind how hard it's raining,
Think of all the ground we're gaining,
Just don't take one step outside of town.

[Chorus]

Every night the local gentry,
Sneak out past the sleeping sentry.
They go to join the old VC.
In their nightly little dramas,
They put on their black pajamas,
And come lobbing mortar shells at me.

[Chorus]

We go round in helicopters,
Like a bunch of big grasshoppers,
Searching for the Viet Cong in vain.
They left a note that they had gone.
They had to get down to Saigon,
Their government positions to maintain.

[Chorus]

Well here I sit in this rice paddy,
Wondering about Big Daddy,
And I know that Lyndon loves me so.
Yet how sadly I remember,
Way back yonder in November,
When he said I'd never have to go.

[Chorus]

 

[fox69]

"Mary Ann"

"Mary Ann"


Fare thee well, my own true love
Fare thee well, my dear
For the ship is a-waiting and the wind blows high
And I am bound away to the sea, Mary Ann
And I am bound away to the sea, Mary Ann

Ten thousand miles away from home
Ten thousand miles or more
The sea may freeze and the earth may burn
If I never no more return to you, Mary Ann
If I never no more return to you, Mary Ann

A lobster boiling in a pot
Bluefish on a hook
They're suffering long but it's nothing like
The ache I bear for you, my dear Mary Ann
The ache I bear for you, my dear Mary Ann

Oh, had I bought a flask of gin
Sugar here for two
And a great big bowl for to mix 'em in
I'd pour a drink for you, my dear Mary Ann
I'd pour a drink for you, my dear Mary Ann

Fare thee well, my own true love
Fare thee well, my dear
For the ship is a-waiting and the wind blows high
And I am bound away to the sea, Mary Ann
And I am bound away to the sea, Mary Ann

 

[fox69]

"Mary Got A New Job"

"Mary Got A New Job"


Mary got a new job workin’ on a line
Help to make the automobiles
It wasn’t very long ‘til the job was goin’ fine
And she liked the way it made her feel
It gave her independence
To pull into the lot
And pull her heavy work clothes on
She liked the rush and clatter
She liked her new friends
And her favourite was a man named John
John was like a brother workin’ at her side
And they both came on the job the same day
Learned the job together
How the ropes were tied
Went together down to draw their first pay
Opened up his packet Johnny dropped his cash
Money was all over the floor
Mary saw the money
Saw to her surprise
Johnny had a whole lot more
And she said
“Who’s been matchin’ you sweat for sweat
Who’s been workin’ on the line
Who’s been earnin’ what she ain’t got yet
All I want is what’s mine
I’ve got eyes and hands and a back like yours
And I use ‘em hard the whole day
I stand here workin’ just as hard as you do
And I want my equal pay”
Johnny was a good man and Mary knew that
Taught to think of women as queens
Now here stood Mary in a yellow hard hat
And her broken down faded blue jeans
He liked her more than anybody he knew
When he was close to understanding why
She didn’t cuss or spit
She didn’t raise her voice
She just looked him straight in the eye
And she said
“Who’s been matchin’ you sweat for sweat
Who’s been workin’ on the line
Who’s been earnin’ what she ain’t got yet
All I want is what’s mine
I’ve got eyes and hands and a back like yours
And I use ‘em hard the whole day
I stand here workin’ just as hard as you do
And I want my equal pay
And I want my E. R. A.”

 

[fox69]

"Mashed Potatoes"

"Mashed Potatoes"


Mashed potatoes, mashed potatoes
Drown ‘em in some gravy, brown and strong
I love to hear ‘em plop
I’ll eat ‘em till I drop
I’ll eat my mashed potatoes all day long
Billy took his lunch box to school on Maple Street
The whistle blew at twelve o’clock, the kids sat down to eat
They all took out their sandwiches and then they gathered ‘round
As Bill looked in his lunch box, and this is what they found
Mashed potatoes, mashed potatoes
Drown ‘em in some gravy, brown and strong
I love to hear ‘em plop
I’ll eat ‘em till I drop
I’ll eat my mashed potatoes all day long
The family took an auto ride one sunny afternoon
The engine coughed and sputtered like a banjo out of tune
But now they’ve got it running like it’s never gonna stop
‘Cause they emptied out the gasoline and filled it to the top, with
Mashed potatoes, mashed potatoes
Drown ‘em in some gravy, brown and strong
I love to hear them plop
I’ll eat ‘em till I drop
I’ll eat my mashed potatoes all day long
Astronauts were landing spaceships on the surface of the moon
They a step for humankind and sang a happy tune
For they had found when they stepped down it wasn’t made of cheese
They said to one another, “Would you take a look at these?”
Mashed potatoes, mashed potatoes
Drown ‘em in some gravy, brown and strong
I love to hear ‘em plop
I’ll eat ‘em till I drop
I’ll eat my mashed potatoes all day long
Last winter was a long one, it snowed most every day
And when our school was over we all went out to play
My friends they built a snowman, my goodness he looked fine
But they all fell down with laughter when they saw that I built mine, of
Mashed potatoes, mashed potatoes
Drown ‘em in some gravy, brown and strong
I love to hear ‘em plop
I’ll eat ‘em till I drop
I’ll eat my mashed potatoes all day long
I love to hear ‘em plop
I’ll eat ‘em till I drop
I’ll eat my mashed potatoes all day long

 

[fox69]

"Michael And Lisa Marie"

"Michael And Lisa Marie"


Michael Jackson got married
Married to Lisa Marie
Made this poor boy wonder
Just how weird this world can be
Living in Trump Tower
On a sunny honeymoon
Only question now is
Who does what, and how, to whom

 

[fox69]

"Mister Can't-Go-On"

"Mister Can't-Go-On"


There's a man on the telephone, says he's been drinkin’ some wine
He won't give his name, says he's come to the end of the line
He can't win for losin’, he feels like his back's to the wall
He's hard to keep talkin’; keeps sayin’ he's tired of it all
I'm asking him anythin’, any fool question will do
He knows what I'm doin’ and I know what he's goin’ through
I hear him cryin’, so I'll do the talkin’ for now
I hear my own voice and I'm talking, but I don't know how
I say, “Please Mister Can't-Go-On, you can go on one more day
The time to decide is still twenty-four hours away
If you still feel the same, then I'll still have the same thing to say”
I’ll say, “Mister Can't-Go-On, you can go on one more day”
I ask him his name again; finally, he tells me it's Ray
His woman can't take it no more and she's movin’ away
He's tried to quit drinkin’ but the least little thing and he's gone
Keep talkin’, keep talkin’, keep prayin’, keep keep in’ him on
Sayin’, “Please Mister Can't-Go-On, you can go on one more day
And the time to decide is still twenty-four hours away
If you still feel the same, then I'll still have the same thing to say”
I’ll say, “Please Mister Can't-Go-On, you can go on one more day”
I’ve drunk so much coffee, I know won’t sleep for a week
But I feel like we’re winnin’; I’m sitting here letting Ray speak
He’s laughed once or twice, even laughed at a lame joke of mine
He said it was lousy - I guess that’s a pretty good sign
I say, “See Mister Can't-Go-On, you can go on one more day
And the time to decide, is still twenty-four hours away
If you still feel the same, then I'll still have the same thing to say”
I’ll say, “See Mister Can't-Go-On, you can go on one more day”
I’ll say, “See Mister Can't-Go-On, you can go on one more day”

 

[fox69]

"Modern Maturity"

"Modern Maturity"


When you find it in your mail for the first time, my friend
Then you'll know that you've turned a corner and you're getting’ grey
It's a sure sign of decline, it's the start of the end
When your wrinkles outnumber your hairs, then it's headin’ your way
Modern Maturity means you're getting old
And now you get the magazine that you hide from your friends
Once it was Rolling Stone, it was thrill after thrill
And now Modern Maturity means over the hill
When Mick Jagger has his breakfast of yogurt and bran
Does he read of prescriptions by mail, or of self-rising chairs
Oh, you keep on rockin’ and rollin’ as long as you can
Then you sit in your little seat and you ride up the stairs
Modern Maturity means you're getting old
A-now you get the magazine that you hide from your friends
Once it was Rolling Stone, it was thrill after thrill
And now Modern Maturity means over the hill
I look through its pages and what I see there
Is that everyone looks about twenty-five with white hair
You can get polyester pants for nineteen ninety-five
You can get your grandchildren's picture on your coffee cup
If you're tired of walkin’, there's a scooter that you can drive
Or a button to push if you've fallen and you can't get up
Modern Maturity means you're getting old
And now you get the magazine that you hide from your friends
Once it was Rolling Stone, it was thrill after thrill
And now Modern Maturity means over the hill

 

[fox69]

"Monday Morning In Paradise"

"Monday Morning In Paradise"


The toast is burning; the kids won’t eat
The bacon’s splattered on my bare feet
The kids are screaming; the dog’s in heat
It’s Monday morning in paradise
Granddad’s complaining about his heart
The brand new toaster just flew apart
It’s started snowing; the car won’t start
It’s Monday morning in paradise
It’s Monday morning
A brand new day
A new day dawning
With a hell to pay
It’s Monday morning
I’m here to say
They seem to come every other day
My son the genius has lost a shoe
His father’s socks are, one black one blue
And here comes my old friend the flu
It’s Monday morning in paradise
It’s Monday morning
A brand new day
A new day dawning
With a hell to pay
It’s Monday morning
I’m here to say
They seem to come every other day
The toast is burning; the kids won’t eat
The bacon’s splattered on my bare feet
The kids are screaming; the dog’s in heat
It’s Monday morning in paradise
Monday morning in paradise
Monday morning in paradise
It’s Monday morning in paradise
It’s Monday morning

 

[fox69]

"Morning Again"

"Morning Again"


Someone's morning begins,
The phone in the next apartment is ringing,
The man upstairs in the shower is singing loudly.
Someone's morning begins,
The shadows on his window are thinning,
The picture on his dresser is grinning proudly.

[Chorus:]
Morning again, the sun is probably shining,
Someone is probably finding his way.
Morning again, somebody else's day.

Someone's morning begins,
The sound of his razor is humming and whirring,
And somebody under the blankets is stirring and talking.
Someone's morning begins,
I think I hear him ordering dinner,
His steps in the hall are the steps of a winner stalking.

[Chorus]

Somebody else is going for glory,
Someone else is going far;
I'm drinking my instant coffee
And wondering where you are.

Someone's morning begins,
And down on the pavement the traffic is roaring,
I make more coffee and catch myself pouring one for you.
Someone's morning begins,
The radio gives me advice with my dishes,
I'm tripping myself on the things that I wish I had done for you.

[Chorus]

 

[fox69]

"Morning Wonder"

"Morning Wonder"


Morning wonder, day on the way
Don't suppose they'll be clouds today
Feel that silence
Hear it starts to hum
Glory, let the new day come
Morning, let me find you a rose
Wonder if my love for you shows
I could tell you
If you've got the time
Glory, let the morning shine
Let it shine on me
Let it shine on you
Shine on you
Make it fine to be
Here alone with you
Loving you
Morning, see the last star fade
Morning, I'm so glad I stayed
Who could tell us
Where the love came from
Glory, let the morning come
Let it shine on me
Let it shine on you
Shine on you
Make it fine to be
Here alone with you
Loving you
Morning, see the last star fade
Morning, I'm so glad I stayed
Who could tell us
Where the love came from
Glory, let the morning come
Who could tell us
Where the love came from
Glory, let the morning come