Songs That Tell Stories

One of my great loves on a2k.

It is fun singing to each other isn't it.

I can't sing a note in real life. Here I can be Caruso or Willie Nelson at will.

CYCLONE OF RYE COVE
(A.P. Carter)

Oh listen today and a story I'll tell,
In sadness and tear rimmed eyes,
Of a dreadful cyclone that came this way,
And blew our schoolhouse away.

cho: Rye Cove (Rye Cove), Rye Cove (Rye Cove),
The land of my childhood and home,
Where life's early morn I once loved to roam,
But now it's so silent and lone.

When the cyclone appeared it darkened the air,
And the lightning flashed over the sky,
And the children all cried, don't take us away,
But spare us to go back home.

There were mothers so dear and fathers the same,
That came to this terrible scene,
Searching and crying each found their own child,
Dying on a pillow of stone.

Oh give us a home far beyond the blue sky,
Where storms and cyclones are unknown,
And there by life's strand we'll clasp the glad hand,
Our children in their heavenly home.


Recorded in 1929

Goodtime Charlie's Got the Blues
By Charlie Rich

Everybody's gone away.
Said they're movin' to L.A.
There's not a soul I know around.
Everybody's leavin' town!

Some caught a freight. Some caught a plane.
Find the sunshine, Leave the rain?
They said this town's a waste time.
I guess they're right, it's wasting mine!

Some gotta win! Some gotta lose!
Good time Charlie's got the blues!

You know my heart keeps tellin' me,
You?re not a kid at thirty-three.
You play around you'll lose your wife.
You play too long you'll lose your life!

I?ve got my pills to ease the pain,
Can?t find a friend to ease the rain.
I know I should try and settle down.
Everybody?s leaving town.

Some gotta win! Some gotta lose!
Good time Charlie's got the blues!
Good time Charlie's got the blues!

Farewell Party

When the last breath of life is gone from my body,
And my lips are as cold as the sea,
When my friends gather round for my farewell party,
Won't you pretend you love me.

There'll be flowers from those who'll cry when I go,
And leave you in this ole world alone,
I know you'll have fun at my farewell party,
I know you'll be glad when im gone.

Don't be mad at me for wanting to keep you,
Till my life on this ole world is through,
You'll be free at the end of my farewell party,
But I'll go away loving you.

There'll be flowers from those who'll cry when I go,
And leave you in this ole world alone,
I know you'll have fun at my farewell party,
I know you'll be glad when I'm gone.

Oh I know you'll be glad when I'm gone.

Brown Skin Girl

Ev'rything to keep me from sleepin'
A lot of sailor boys they were leavin'
And everybody there were jumpin'
To hear the sailor boys in our chorus singin'

Brown skin girl stay home and mind baby
Brown skin girl stay home and mind baby
I'm goin away, in a sailing boat
And if I don't come back
Stay home and mind baby

Now de Americans made an invasion
We thought it was a help to the island
Until they left from here on vacation
They left de native boy home to mind their children

Brown skin girl stay home and mind baby
Brown skin girl stay home and mind baby
I'm goin away, in a sailing boat
And if I don't come back
Stay home and mind baby

Now I tell you de story 'bout Millie
Well she made a nice blue-eyed baby
And dey say she fancy the mother
But the blue-eyed baby ain't know she father

Brown skin girl stay home and mind baby
Brown skin girl stay home and mind baby
I'm goin away, in a sailing boat
And if I don't come back
Stay home and mind baby

Now de Americans all have their pleasure
While the music played to their leisure
Everybody there they were jumpin'
To hear the sailor boys in our chorus singin'

Brown skin girl stay home and mind baby
Brown skin girl stay home and mind baby
I'm goin' away, in a sailing boat
And if I don't come back
Stay home and mind baby

WARNING: If you have overly tender sensibilities you are advised to scroll. Yes, SCROLL FOR YOUR LIFE !!! It's Sophie B Hawkins up next.



you can do it baby you know you can do it baby
you were always the darkest childe
making all the grown ups sweat
driving both your parents to distraction
with the sweetness in your head

you're the one who raped your superintendent
on the rooftop tied his hands and feet to the fence
you sucked his cock and fucked the man immobile
you paid your daddy's rent

you are the darkest childe
you spread your angel wings
and fly through the night into the dreams of ancient ruins
and make them sing

lost lover shameless girl
bury me in your sultry curls
i'm in the wilderness alone
let me kiss you until the dawn
let me put your wilde things on
i've been howling in the fog so long

you are the darkest childe
you have a sacred duty to perform upon this blessed earth
you must cradle those thoughts of the lustful lonely
inside your wicked warmth
and you must
get off

you are the darkest childe
and evil will never stop you
and people will mock you and try
to pop pop pop you into the market place where you cannot be bought
understood you will be missed
there will be sadness
for the darkest childe

so long

so long to the darkest childe
waiting in patient anguish
for the scent of someone's wilderness
to howl against the smog screen
of accolade smoothies
goose bump burgers and christ like fries
how long can this world keep ******* itself up the ass
wonders never cease
how long would it have to be
anyway

long enough to cause hysteria
wide enough to cause great pain
i am in the wilderness alone

oh god

let me kiss you until the dawn
let me put your wilde things on
i've been howling in the fog so long

Laughter in the Rain
Neil Sedaka
(N.Sedaka/P.Cody)

Strolling along country roads with my baby
It starts to rain, it begins to pour
Without an umbrella we're soaked to the skin
I feel a shiver run up my spine
I feel the warmth of her hand in mine

Oo, I hear laughter in the rain
Walking hand in hand with the one I love
Oo, how I love the rainy days
And the happy way I feel inside

After a while we run under a tree
I turn to her and she kisses me
There with the beat of the rain on the leaves
Softly she breathes and I close my eyes
Sharing our love under stormy skies

Oo, I hear laughter in the rain
Walking hand in hand with the one I love
Oo, how I love the rainy days
And the happy way I feel inside
I feel the warmth of her hand in mine

Oo, I hear laughter in the rain
Walking hand in hand with the one I love
Oo, how I love the rainy days
And the happy way I feel inside
Oo, I hear laughter in the rain
Walking hand in hand with the one I love
Oo, how I love the rainy days
And the happy way I feel inside
(repeat and fade)

I like that one, Joanne. Since the 50s, Sedaka has made two records I like. That one and the slow version of Breaking up is Hard to Do.

Sunday Morning Coming Down


Well, I woke up Sunday morning
With no way to hold my head that didn't hurt.
And the beer I had for breakfast wasn't bad,
So I had one more for dessert.
Then I fumbled in my closet through my clothes
And found my cleanest dirty shirt.
Then I washed my face and combed my hair
And stumbled down the stairs to meet the day.

I'd smoked my mind the night before
With cigarettes and songs I'd been picking.
But I lit my first and watched a small kid
Playing with a can that he was kicking.
Then I walked across the street
And caught the Sunday smell of someone frying chicken.
And Lord, it took me back to something that I'd lost
Somewhere, somehow along the way.

On a Sunday morning sidewalk,
I'm wishing, Lord, that I was stoned.
'Cause there's something in a Sunday
That makes a body feel alone.
And there's nothing short a' dying
That's half as lonesome as the sound
Of the sleeping city sidewalk
And Sunday morning coming down.

In the park I saw a daddy
With a laughing little girl that he was swinging.
And I stopped beside a Sunday school
And listened to the songs they were singing.
Then I headed down the street,
And somewhere far away a lonely bell was ringing,
And it echoed through the canyon
Like the disappearing dreams of yesterday.

On a Sunday morning sidewalk,
I'm wishing, Lord, that I was stoned.
'Cause there's something in a Sunday
That makes a body feel alone.
And there's nothing short a' dying
That's half as lonesome as the sound
Of the sleeping city sidewalk
And Sunday morning coming down.

Man In Black

Well, you wonder why I always dress in black,
Why you never see bright colors on my back,
And why does my appearance seem to have a somber tone.
Well, there's a reason for the things that I have on.

I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down,
Livin' in the hopeless, hungry side of town,
I wear it for the prisoner who has long paid for his crime,
But is there because he's a victim of the times.

I wear the black for those who never read,
Or listened to the words that Jesus said,
About the road to happiness through love and charity,
Why, you'd think He's talking straight to you and me.

Well, we're doin' mighty fine, I do suppose,
In our streak of lightnin' cars and fancy clothes,
But just so we're reminded of the ones who are held back,
Up front there ought 'a be a Man In Black.

I wear it for the sick and lonely old,
For the reckless ones whose bad trip left them cold,
I wear the black in mournin' for the lives that could have been,
Each week we lose a hundred fine young men.

And, I wear it for the thousands who have died,
Believen' that the Lord was on their side,
I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died,
Believen' that we all were on their side.

Well, there's things that never will be right I know,
And things need changin' everywhere you go,
But 'til we start to make a move to make a few things right,
You'll never see me wear a suit of white.

Ah, I'd love to wear a rainbow every day,
And tell the world that everything's OK,
But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back,
'Till things are brighter, I'm the Man In Black

This was co-written by local Toronto boy John Cody, a great artist.

Bonnie Raitt - Fundamental

Let's run naked through these city streets
We're all captives of captivity
Let's wear madness like a crucifix
Let's tattoo Bible quotes across both our hips
Let's get back to the fundamental things
Let's get back to the elements of style
Let's get back to simple skin on skin
Let's get back to the fundamental things
Let's dance barefoot over broken glass
Slither like a snake does through the wet, cold grass

Howl and tremble in a sleepless grind
Let's do the braindrain, leave it all behind
(Chorus)
You can sit in your room and worry
You can contemplate the end
Or let your house burn down behind you
Run bare-ass through the streets again
You can hide out on your rooftop
Wishing you had never been
Or go down to Hal's bar and grill
Find your innocence again
(Chorus)

Statue of a Fool

Somewhere there should be for all the world to see
A statue of a fool made of stone
An image of a man who let love slip through his hands
And then just let him stand there all alone
And there on his face a gold tear should be placed
To honor the million tears he cried
And the hurt in his eyes would show so everyone would know
Concealed is a broken heart inside
So build a statue and oh build it high so that all can see
Then inscribe the World's Greatest Fool and name it after me

Little Joe the Wrangler


It was Little Joe, the wrangler, he'll wrangle nevermore.
His days with the remuda they are done.
'Twas a year ago last April, he joined the outfit here
Just a little Texas stray and all alone.
Well 'twas long late in the evening when he rode up to the herd
On a little brown pony he called Chaw,
With his broken shoes and overalls, a harder lookin' kid
Well, I never in my life had seen before.

His saddle was a southern kack built many years ago,
And an O.K. spur from one foot idly hung;
While the hot roll in the cotton sack was loosely tied behind,
And a canteen from the saddle horn was slung.
He said he'd had to leave home, his ma had married twice,
And his old man beat him every day or two,
So he saddled up old Chaw one night and "lit a shuck" this way
Thought he'd try and paddle now his own canoe.

Said he'd try and do the best he could if we'd only give him work
But didn't know straight up about a cow.
But the Boss he cuts him out a mount and kinder put him on
'Cause he sorta liked that little stray somehow.
Taught him how to herd the horses and to know them all by name
And to get them in by daylight if he could;
And to follow the chuck wagon and to always hitch the team
And to help the "cocinero" rustle wood.

We was camped down in Red River and the weather she was fine,
We was settin' on the south side in a bend,
When a norther commenced blowin' and we all doubles up our guard
'Cause it took all hands to hold them cattle then.
Well, little Joe the wrangler was called out with the rest,
And hardly had that kid got to that herd,
When them devils they stampeded. Like a hail storm 'long they flew
And all of us was ridin' for the lead.

'Tween the streaks of lightnin' we could see that horse there out ahead
It was little Joe the wrangler in the lead.
He was ridin' old Blue Rocket with his slicker 'bove his head
A-tryin' to check them lead cows in their speed.
Well, we got them kinda millin' and sorta quieted down,
And the extra guard back to the camp did go.
But one of them was missin', and we all saw at a glance
'Twas our little lost horse herder, wrangler Joe.

Next mornin', just at sunup, we found where Rocket fell
Down in a washout forty feet below.
Beneath his horse, mashed to a pulp, his spurs had rung the knell
For our little lost horse rider, wrangler Joe.

THE MARTINS AND THE COYS
Recorded by Gene Autry (with Smiley Burnette)
Words and music by Alan Cameron and Ted Weems

[D] Gather 'round me children and I'll [A7] tell a [D] story
Of the mountains and the days when guns was [A7] law
When two [D] fam'lies got to feudin'
It was [G] bound to end in shootin'
So just [D] listen close, I'll [A7] tell you what I [D] saw.

Oh, the [G] Martins and the Coys they were [D] reckless mountain boys
And they took up family feudin' when they'd [A7] meet
They would [D] shoot each other quicker
Than it [G] took your eye to flicker
They could [D] knock a squirrel's eye [A7] out at ninety [D] feet.

All this fightin' started out one sunday morning
When old grandpa Coy was full of mountain dew
Just as quite as a churchmouse, he stole in the Martin's henhouse
Cause the Coys they needed eggs for breakfast, too.

Oh, The Martins and the Coys, they were reckless mountain boys
Coz old grandpa Coy's gone where angels live
When they found him on the mountain
He was bleedin' like a fountain
Cause they punctured him 'til he looked like a sieve.

After that they started out to fight in earnest
And they scarred the mountains up with shot and shell
There was uncles, brothers, cousins
Why they bumped them off by dozens
Just how many bit the dust is hard to tell.

Oh, The Martins and the Coys, they were reckless mountain boys
At the art of killin' they become quite deft
They all know'd they shouldn't do it
But before they hardly knew it
On each side they only had one person left.

Now the sole remainin' Martin was a maiden
And as purty as a picture was this Grace
While the one survivin' boy was the handsome Henry Coy
And the folks all knew they'd soon meet face to face.

Oh, The Martins and the Coys, they were reckless mountain boys
But their shootin' and their killin' sure played [hob]
And it didn't bring no joy to know that Grace and Henry Coy
Both had sworn that they would finish up the job.

So, they finally met upon a mountain pathway
And young Henry Coy he aimed his gun at Grace
He was set to pull the trigger, when he saw her purty figure
You could see that love had kicked him in the face.

Oh, The Martins and the Coys, they were reckless mountain boys
But they say their ghostly cussin' gives them chills
But the hatchet sure was buried, when sweet Grace and Henry married
It broke up the best durn feud in these here hills.

You may think this is where the story ended
But I'm tellin' you the ghosts don't cuss no more
Cause since Grace and Henry wedded
They fight worse than all the rest did
And they carry on the feud just like before.

The road is long, with many a winding turn
That leads us to who knows where, who knows where
But I'm strong, strong enough to carry him
He ain't heavy - he's my brother

So on we go, his welfare is my concern
No burden is he to bare, we'll get there
For I know he would not encumber me
He ain't heavy - he's my brother

If I'm laden at all, I'm laden with sadness
That everyone's heart isn't filled with gladness of love for one another
It's a long long road from which there is no return
While we're on our way to there, why not share
And the load, it doesn't weigh me down at all
He ain't heavy - he's my brother
He ain't heavy - he's my brother, he's my brother, he's my brother

You Can't Make Peace - by Willie Dixon

You have made great planes to span the sky
You gave sight to the blind with another man's eyes
You even made submarines, they submerge for weeks
But it don't make sense you can't make peace
You take one man's heart and make another one live
u even go to the moon and come back thrilled
Why you can crush any country in a matter of weeks
But it don't make sense you can't make peace
You know it don't make sense- you can't make peace (3x)
When you can't make peace....
You can make a transfusion that will save a life
You can change the darkness into broad daylight
You make the deaf man hear and the dumb man speak
But it don't make sense you can't make peace

You know it don't make sense- you can't make peace (3x)