Tom T. Hall

[fox69]

"Rattle Mouse"

"Rattle Mouse"


Well don't look now but there goes a rattlemouse how can I tell how did he smell
He doesn't smell and you can't find him just by sniffin'
But you'll hear him when he's rattlin' round your kitchen
Yep that's a rattlemouse oh that's a rattlemouse I bet that's a rattlemouse

There it is again yep that's a rattlemouse how did I know where did he go
You can't see him when he travels he goes zoom
But you'll hear him when he's rattlin' round your room
Yep that's a rattlemouse oh that's a rattlemouse yep that's a rattlemouse

Did you hear that that was a rattlemouse how did I guess how was he dressed
He was wearin' a little fur coat and a little fur face
And you'll hear him when he's rattlin' round your place

 

[fox69]

"Ravishing Ruby"

"Ravishing Ruby"


Ravishing ruby, she'd been around for awhile
Ravishing ruby, she was a truckstop child
Born in the back of a rig somewhere near L.A.
Ravishing ruby, you poured a lot of hot coffee in your day

Ravishing ruby, believe anything you say
Just like her daddy said, said he'd be back someday
She was just fourteen, she grew up wild and free
And all the time she'd be waitin' on him, she'd been waiting on you and me

Ravishing ruby, she sleeps in a bunk out back
Her days and nights are filled with dreams of a man named smilin' Jack
That was her daddy's name and that's all she ever knew
Ravishing ruby ain't got time for guys like me and you

Ravishing ruby, a beautiful young girl now
Ravishing ruby, she made a solemn vow
Waitin' on smilin' Jack, he'll come rollin' by
And she wants to see him, she wants to touch him either way, dead or alive

Ravishing ruby, she sleeps in a bunk out back
Her days and nights are filled with dreams of a man named smilin' Jack
That was her daddy's name and that's all she ever knew
Ravishing ruby ain't got time for guys like me and you

 

[fox69]

"Redneck Riviera"

"Redneck Riviera"


Down here on the Redneck Riviera a drinkin' beer and singing country songs
Chillin' with the motel door wide open hopin' somethin' good will come along
Gulf Shores up through Apalachi-cola they got beaches of the whitest sand
Nobody cares if gramma's got a tottoo or Bubba's got a hot wing in his hand
Redneck Riviera is where I wanna be down here on the Redneck Riviera by the sea

Down here on the Redneck Riviera trawlin' up and down Mir-a-cle Mile
Smoothin' out my tan and disposition and wearin' little other than a smile

On Highway 98 I got a ticket something I ain't never understood
If driving a convertible is topless why can't I ride my Harley in the nude
Down here on the Redneck Riviera sign says Smoking Mullet Here Today
I really don't know what I'm gettin' into but I'm in line to try some anyway
Redneck Riviera is where I wanna be down here on the Redneck Riviera by the sea

I got seven dollars for the jukebox twenty more left over for some beer
Down here on the Redneck Riviera there ain't no better living anywhere
Now here comes them dreadful possums
(Down here on the Redneck Riviera down here on the Redneck Riviera)...

 

[fox69]

"Rolling Mills Of Middletown"

"Rolling Mills Of Middletown"


The rolling mills of Middletown roll on roll on roll on
I knew him well old friend of mine from down Kentucky way
We had some high good times my friend back in our younger days
I knew he shouldn't marry any woman quite that wild
Then later on I learned that she had been expectin' a child
He got his job at making steel and bought himself a home
Where the rolling mills of Middletown roll on roll on roll on
Well there's money in those steel mills boys and he made quite a bit
He worked all night she shopped all day bought everything that fit
A helper on the BOF three thousand degrees at a round
His wife was just about that hot in the bars in old Middletown
Of course he was the last to know oh but listen to my song
While the rolling mills of Middletown roll on roll on roll on

One night the foreman on his turn said cool down no 2
And he told my friend to go on home as soon as he was through
He stopped into a little bar to have a good cold beer
His woman and some dayturn guy were dancing closely there
Oh I knew him well and in his mind there must have been a storm
While the rolling mills of Middletown roll on roll on roll on
They say he never spoke a word he just turned and walked away
And no one knows exactly what took place that fateful day
Some say they saw him near the tracks at furnace no 1
With heat so hot the hubs of hell would seem just barely warm
Well they never saw my friend again did he do something wrong
While the rolling mills of Middletown Ohio roll on roll on roll on

 

[fox69]

"Royal Annie"

"Royal Annie"


She wore a big yellow bow in her hair one morning we woke up she was there
We were a little old out of way town and all us kids were glad to have her around
You know her castle was an old mobile home she didn't even have a cellular phone
She lived on cigarettes and cookies and tea and said she once had a show on TV
And all us kids around town called her Royal Annie
She talked to babies who had never been born
Said she had dresses that she never had worn
She had sweethearts who came out of the air and said she had a lock of Elvis' hair
She pushed an old shopping cart around town
She wore sneakers and an old satin gown
She wore diamonds and we knew they were fake
Said she once gave Dolly Parton a break
And all us kids around town called her Royal Annie
She'd sit and stare at the bright morning sun
We were suspicious that she carried a gun
They once considered puttin' Annie in jail she never ever went to pick up her mail
Then one day there was a big limousine came to town and caused a terrible scene
A bunch of doctors and lawyers they say and they came to take Annie away
And all us kids around town called her Royal Annie
When Royal Annie was gone I recall they had a meeting at a community hall
They wrote a letter and were tryin' to say they hoped that Annie had enjoyed her stay
Well they'd been looking for her over a year
They were surprised to find her living out here
And Royal Annie sent a small note of thanks and she had 10 million bucks in the bank
And all us kids around town called her Royal Annie
All us kids around town called her Royal Annie

 

[fox69]

"Running Wild"

"Running Wild"


In the shadow of the saddle running wild and running free
In a herd of running mustangs there's a part of you and me
Broken spirit broken promises make them fear the sight of man
In the shadow of the saddle lives the wild horse bronco band
Call 'em cayuse call 'em broncos call 'em mustangs call 'em free
In the shadow of the saddle let them run boys let them be

We have changed the land and water just to fit our selfish needs
Now the shadow of the saddle falls across these galant steeds
Oh the Spanish and the Indians gave them freedom in the sun
In the name of God and Nature let them run boys let them run
Call 'em cayuse call 'em broncos...

 

[fox69]

"Sad Song For My Friend"

"Sad Song For My Friend"


You know I love my music it's really all I got
I never really cared that much if I was cold or hot
Now I got a job to do I don't want to begin I've gotta write a sad song for my friend
He was not like me no he tried a lot but just like me he cried a lot
Oh I never thought I'd have to cause that ain't what I'm in
I've gotta write a sad song for my friend

She was quite a lady and he was quite a guy
They were quite a couple it was quite a cry
They used to sit and laugh a lot cause I like to pick and grin
They helped me write a sad song for my friend
He was not like me...
I don't wanna sing no sad songs for my friend

 

[fox69]

"Salute To A Switchblade"

"Salute To A Switchblade"


Me and Yates an army buddy o'mine were doin' three years in Germany at the time
We came upon these Frauleins in the bar
Yates said darf isch zee be-gleit-en they said ya
(And darf isch zee be-gleit-en means can we sit with you all)
Oh we must have drunk ten quarts of German beer
My conscience and my sinuses were clear
I asked that Fraulein if she was a spy she said nein but do bis ain bissel high
(A condition not uncommon to the American soldier)
Well later on I went to be excused when I returned I was a bit confused
Yates and his Fraulein had hit the air another guy was sittin' in my chair
(A young soldier whom we shall get to know better)
I said excuse me Mister that's my seat I'd like to have it back sir if you please
That girl's a nurse and I've been awful sick the man looked up at me and said mox-nix
(Which means that he was not overly concerned with my health)

Next thing I knew he had a switchblade knife
Lord I didn't know that Fraulein was his wife
I took off through that Gasthaus like a fool behind me I heard the crashing stools
(As the police would say he was in hot pursuit)
Well the waitress yelled there's MPs on the way
That's one more reason I didn't want to stay
As I went out the window somethin' went switch
And I giggled all the way home knowin' he missed
(At the time it seemed like a laughing matter)
But next morning my coat was lyin' there on the bunk
And when I saw that coat it made me jump
That man had cut my coat right down the back
A little bit more and they'd been playin' me taps
(And knowin' the sad nature of that song I would decline it)
Well later on I heard that guy got stabbed
They sent him home and didn't that make me glad
On love and marriage I want to say one thing oh lady if you're married wear that ring
(And the army has a new policy if you can't move it paint it
If it has a switchblade knife salute it
Not necessarily an incident one would want to write Mother about
Germany being full of good soldiers good people)

 

[fox69]

"Saturday Morning Song"

"Saturday Morning Song"


Here's a little song that you can sing on Saturday morning mhmm boogie
Here's a little song that you can sing on Saturday morning mhmm boogie

Monday you gotta go to school and Tuesday too
Wednesday and Thursday you get ready for the Friday blues
So here's a little song that you can hum on Saturday morning mhmm boogie
Here's a little song that you can hum on Saturday morning mhmm boogie

Yeah here's a little song that you can sing on...

I don't want you to be sad you'll get through
Here's a little song I wrote so you can sing away the blues
Here's a little song that you can hum on...

 

[fox69]

"Second Handed Flowers"

"Second Handed Flowers"


I was working in Miami for a day or two
I decided I'd look up a girl that I once knew
I bought some flowers and went to see a girl I used to know
The lady at her door said she had married long ago

Times will change and towns will change; there I was alone
And suddenly I wondered, "would Susie be at home? "
So with the flowers in my hand, I walked toward her gate
Someone touched me on the arm and said, "you'll have to wait."

Then I noticed there were people standing in a line
And some of them were holding pretty flowers just like mine
They explained that Susie had been in an awful crash
Doctors said that she had just a little while to last

When I walked into her room, I felt a sense of shame
But I heard Susie whisper, "I'm awfully glad you came."
She had been the girl that I had always gone to see
When someone that I cared for had been untrue to me

I handed her the flowers and she gently kissed my hand
She said, "don't be embarrassed; you know I understand."
I said, "goodbye" and as I bent to kiss her fevered brow
I heard her whisper, "thank you for the second handed flowers."