Tom T. Hall

[fox69]

"Soldier Of Fortune"

"Soldier Of Fortune"


I'll follow my dreams like a soldier of fortune
I'd rather chase rainbows than stay here and grow old and never know
How high I could fly if I reach for the sky
It's my turn to try so I'll take my best hold

I've done my time in the beer and wine mines
Tryin' to climb with my own kind of rhymes it ain't easy
I've had my doubts what they're mostly about
Whether I should reach out to the crowd to just try to please me
Chasin' the brass rein and bendin' guitar strings are the things I enjoy most of all
We can just call this a mission of mercy but the soldier of fortune should fall

(I'll follow my dreams) I already know it's a rough row to hoe
But I can't let go I've been almost so close a few times
My sights are all set it's my chance to get
Somethin' better than whatever it is that I'm leavin' behind
Chasin' the brass rein...
I'll follow my dreams...
I'll follow my dreams like a soldier of fortune

 

[fox69]

"Song For Uncle Curt"

"Song For Uncle Curt"


I hate to write this song I never wanted to but after all Curt writin' songs is what I do
Right now the paper's staring at me cold and blank
Defying me to even try express my thanks
But this song is for you uncle Curt you never were my uncle ain't that strange
This song is for you uncle Curt a name is just a name is just a name is just a name

They called and said that you had bought your final's rout
You gave me hell right to the end and I was proud
I know some friends have wanted you to beg for life
But I knew you'd live long enough to learn to die
This song is for you uncle Curt...

I'm living down in Nashville now and writin' tunes
The neighborhood is full of trees and good saloons
I just got back from California on a plane everything is different but it's just the same
And this song is for you uncle Curt...
Is just a name is just a name is just a name

 

[fox69]

"Song Of The One Legged Chicken"

"Song Of The One Legged Chicken"


Do you like true stories I do that's why I'm singing this song
A song about one legged chicken who lives in the straw on the floor in my barn
I remember the day she was hatched out the vet came to see her and said
She has only one leg she'll never grow up he said that chick would be better off dead
I said no let's just let her keep growing we'll just wait and see how she gets
Before very long she was hopping and pecking and chasing the bugs with the rest
And now she is a beautiful chicken though she has only one leg
When I go to see her each morning she hops from the nest and she leaves me an egg
And she cackles
Do you like true stories I do that's why I've sung you this song
The song about the one legged chicken who lives on the floor in my barn

 

[fox69]

"Songwriter"

"Songwriter"


He sits with the guitar on his knee thinking of love that he's had
If it makes a sound he writes it down he's a songwriter
He's trying to paint little pictures of mountains
Turn little teardrops into mighty fountains he's a songwriter
He smiles at the good lines frown at the bad lines
Cries with the sad parts rewrites the bad parts he's a songwriter

He looks through the window of life some people think he's a joke
But who can tell the thing might sell he's a songwriter
He's trying to paint...

Thank you for hearing my tune now I'll get out of your room
It's late you know I've got to go I'm a songwriter, mhm..

 

[fox69]

"Souvenirs"

"Souvenirs"


Take these arms of mine, throw them away
They're just souvenirs of some other day
Take these lips of mine, they're useless to me
They're just souvenirs of things that used to be

[Chorus:]
They're just souvenirs and who needs 'em now
They're just bits and pieces of my yesterday, anyhow
Take this old heart of mine, it's been beating too long
It's just a souvenir of something that went wrong

Take my yesterdays, the minutes, the hours
They're just souvenirs, they'll fade like the flowers
Take these eyes before I see her again
They're just souvenirs of things that might have been

[Chorus]

Ol' t's just a souvenir of something that went wrong

 

[fox69]

"Spokane Motel Blues"

"Spokane Motel Blues"


I don't know what I'm doing here, I could be someplace else
Like in Atlanta drinkin' wine, wine, wine
I don't know what I'm doing here, I should be someplace else
Like in Kentucky drinkin' 'shine, 'shine, 'shine

The dogs are running down in Memphis
And them nags are running in la
I'm stuck in spokane in a motel room
And there ain't no way to get away

Willie nelson's picking out in Austin
And Waylon's hanging out in Mexico
I'm stuck in spokane in a motel room
And kris is making movin' picture shows

Hey, I don't know what I'm doing here, I could be someplace else
Like in Atlanta drinkin' wine, wine, wine
I don't know what I'm doing here, I should be someplace else
Like in Kentucky drinkin' 'shine, 'shine, 'shine

Well I know they're dancing in New Orleans
And old Chicago's bright as day
I'm stuck in spokane in a motel room
Lord, I wish I had a dolly parton tape

Well hill and bare and billy Joe they're gambling
And ol' tp's frying croppie all night long
They're down at tootsie's eating chili
I'm stuck in spokane a-writing songs

Hey, I don't know what I'm doing here, I could be someplace else
Like in Atlanta drinkin' wine, wine, wine
I don't know what I'm doing here, I should be someplace else
Like in Kentucky drinkin' clear moonshine

 

[fox69]

"St. George Isle"

"St. George Isle"


I saw an eagle catch a fish crossed my fingers made a wish
He flew away to clear blue skies the way an eagle flies
I saw the sun rise o'er the sea through the clouds he winked at me
Brightened up and seemed to say here is another day

Out of St George Isle people make you smile
Won't you bide a while out on St George Isle

I found a penny on the beach in the sand beneath my feet
Fortune someone had one day and let it slip away
Oyster boats in disarray scattered all around the bay
Makes me think of one complaint I wish that I could paint

Out of St George Isle...
Out of St George Isle...

 

[fox69]

"St. Louis Named A Shoe After Me"

"St. Louis Named A Shoe After Me"


You know what I've been doin' honey since you said goodbye
I've been gettin' close to walkin' my one millionth mile
I walked the floor so much just thinkin' where could you be
St Louis named a shoe after me
St Louis is famous for its shoes don't you know
Loafers and sneakers and they're makin' them all with soul
Honey I walked so doggone much since you set me free
St Louis named a shoe after me

When I was walkin' all night long and steppin' on my tears
It never dawned on me that someone out there really cared
I walked the floor so well I'm gonna do it on TV St Louis named a shoe after me
St Louis is famous...

Well don't think that I'm braggin' I don't care about that shoe
Come on home before they name a river for me too
They're just feeling sorry for me that's plain to see St Louis named a shoe after me
St Louis is famous...
St Louis named a shoe after me
Well you know they didn't name it after Jerry Lee St Louis named a shoe after me

 

[fox69]

"Story Of Your Life Is In Your Face"

"Story Of Your Life Is In Your Face"


I was sittin' down in Hong Kong in a bar
Picking and a singing my way west with my guitar
I talked to some old sailor just to pass away the time
And he said something that stuck in my mind
He said the story of your life is in your face it's written there in little subtle lines
The story of your life is in your face
What's written on your face has been heavy on your mind

He touched my face with his hands old and frail
They were scared and weather beaten by the oceans he had sailed
He said it's written in your face the times that you've been hurt
And he said mighty is the power of the skirt
And he said the story of your life...

He said the lines say you're a travelin' man
I said that ain't no revelation seein' where I am
He said in this ole world our paths may never cross again
Just remember what I'm tellin' you my friend
He said the story of your life...

There are some things we cannot seem to hide
We sometimes lie about them cause it satisfies our pride
There are some things we can't escape no matter how we try
Cause it's written in our face and in our eyes
And he said the story of your life...
And he said the story of your life...

 

[fox69]

"Strawberry Farms"

"Strawberry Farms"


Summer comes laughing to strawberry farms
Have you ever been there, where the wind never blows
Summer comes early to strawberry farms
Oh the sun always shines, but an orphan can't go

My mother is dead, she doesn't care where I go
My father left a long, long time ago
I had me a frog, he never whined or cried
I kept him in my pocket and he died
Summer comes laughing to strawberry farms
Have you ever been there, where the wind never blows
Summer comes early to strawberry farms

Oh the sun always shines, but an orphan can't go

Bobby had a brother, he got killed in the war
I asked him but he didn't know what for
My mother was pretty, she had long black hair
Once, she promised me a teddy bear

Summer comes laughing to strawberry farms
Have you ever been there, where the wind never blows
Summer comes early to strawberry farms
Oh the sun always shines, and things don't die