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Label: Columbia/Legacy |
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Epic/Legacy's 2004 The Essential David Allan Coe is the first non-budget line DAC compilation since 1985's double-album/single-CD For the Record: The First 10 Years, and while it shares some considerable overlap with that 20-track overview (11 of the 14 songs on Essential are on For the Record), it's a welcome addition to his catalog. One of the reasons is that it simply sounds better, thanks to a new round of remasterings, but a more important reason is that this compilation distills Coe's work to a lean, mean 14 songs, containing all of his big hits and signature songs, from the heartbreaking "Would You Lay With Me (In a Field of Stone)" through such rough, rowdy, funny outlaw anthems as "You Never Even Called Me By My Name," "Tennessee Whiskey," "If That Ain't Country," and "Take This Job and Shove It." The conciseness of this compilation may mean that it doesn't hint at all the odd detours in his career... if you're looking for that, turn toward For the Record... but it does provide an excellent introduction to this legendary renegade, and for those already acquainted with this longhaired redneck, it's simply one hell of a good time..
Lyrics:
The Ride
Well, I was thumbin' from Montgomery
I had my guitar on my back
When a stranger stopped beside me in an antique Cadillac
Well he was dressed like 1950
Half drunk and hollow-eyed
He said "Its a long walk to Nashville
Would you like a ride, son?"
And well I sat down in the front seat, he turned on the radio
Them sad old songs comin' out of them speakers was solid country gold
And I noticed the stranger was ghost-white pale
When he asked me for a light
And I knew there was something strange about this ride
(Chorus)
He said "Drifter can ya make folks cry when you play and sing?
Have you paid your dues, can you moan the blues?
Can you bend them guitar strings?"
He said "Boy, can you make folks feel what you feel inside?
Cause if you're big star bound let me warn ya, its a long, hard ride"
Then he cried just south of Nashville
And he turned that car around
He said "This is where you get off boy,
Cause I'm goin' back to Alabam'"
As I stepped out of that Cadillac
I said "Mister, many thanks"
He said "You don't have to call me Mister, Mister.,
The whole world called me Hank
Chorus x2
If you're big star bound
Let me warn ya its a long, hard ride
Would You Lay with Me
WOULD YOU LAY WITH ME IN A FIELD OF STONE
IF MY NEEDS WERE STRONG, WOULD YOU LAY WITH ME
SHOULD MY LIPS GROW DRY,
WOULD YOU WET THEM, DEAR
IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR,
IF MY LIPS WERE DRY
WOULD YOU GO AWAY TO ANOTHER LAND
WALK A THOUSAND MILES THROUGH THE BURNING SAND
WIPE THE BLOOD AWAY FROM MY DYING HAND
IF I GIVE MYSELF TO YOU
WOULD YOU LAY WITH ME
IN THE STREAM OF LIFE
WHEN THE MOON IS FULL,
WOULD YOU BATHE WITH ME
WILL YOU STILL LOVE ME,
WHEN I'M DOWN AND OUT
IN MY TIME OF TRIAL,
WOULD YOU STAND BY ME
WOULD YOU GO AWAY TO ANOTHER LAND
WALK A THOUSAND MILES THROUGH THE BURNING SAND
WIPE THE BLOOD AWAY FROM MY DYING HAND
IF I GIVE MYSELF TO YOU
WOULD YOU LAY WITH ME
IN A FIELD OF STONE
IF MY NEEDS WERE STRONG,
WOULD YOU LAY WITH ME
You Never Even Call Me by My Name
Written By Steve Goodman
As Recorded By David Allan Coe
WELL, IT WAS ALL
THAT I COULD DO TO KEEP FROM CRYIN’
SOMETIMES IT SEEMED SO USELESS TO REMAIN
BUT YOU DON’T HAVE TO CALL ME DARLIN’, DARLIN'
YOU NEVER EVEN CALL ME BY MY NAME
YOU DON’T HAVE TO CALL ME WAYLON JENNINGS
AND YOU DON’T HAVE TO CALL ME CHARLIE PRIDE
AND YOU DON’T HAVE TO CALL ME MERLE HAGGARD/ANYMORE
EVEN THOUGH YOU’RE ON MY FIGHTIN’ SIDE
CHORUS:
AND I’LL HANG AROUND AS LONG AS YOU WILL LET ME
AND I NEVER MINDED STANDIN’ IN THE RAIN
BUT YOU DON’T HAVE TO CALL ME DARLIN’, DARLIN’
YOU NEVER EVEN CALLED ME BY MY NAME
WELL, I’VE HEARD MY NAME
A FEW TIMES IN YOUR PHONE BOOK (Hello, Hello)
AND I’VE SEEN IT ON SIGNS WHERE I’VE PLAYED
BUT THE ONLY TIME I KNOW
I’LL HEAR "DAVID ALLAN COE"
IS WHEN JESUS HAS HIS FINAL JUDGMENT DAY
REPEAT CHORUS
RECITATION:
WELL, A FRIEND OF MINE NAMED STEVE GOODMAN WROTE THAT SONG
AND HE TOLD ME IT WAS THE PERFECT COUNTRY & WESTERN SONG
I WROTE HIM BACK A LETTER AND I TOLD HIM IT WAS NOT THE PERFECT COUNTRY & WESTERN SONG BECAUSE HE HADN’T SAID ANYTHING AT ALL ABOUT MAMA,
OR TRAINS,
OR TRUCKS,
OR PRISON,
OR GETTING’ DRUNK
WELL HE SAT DOWN AND WROTE ANOTHER VERSE TO THE SONG
AND HE SENT IT TO ME,
AND AFTER READING IT,
I REALIZED THAT MY FRIEND HAD WRITTEN THE PERFECT
COUNTRY & WESTERN SONG
AND I FELT OBLIGED TO INCLUDE IT ON THIS ALBUM
THE LAST VERSE GOES LIKE THIS HERE:
WELL, I WAS DRUNK THE DAY MY MOM GOT OUT OF PRISON
AND I WENT TO PICK HER UP IN THE RAIN
BUT BEFORE I COULD GET TO THE STATION IN MY PICKUP TRUCK
SHE GOT RUN NED OVER BY A DAMNED OLD TRAIN
CHORUS:
AND I’LL HANG AROUND AS LONG AS YOU WILL LET ME
AND I NEVER MINDED STANDIN’ IN THE RAIN
NO, A’ YOU DON’T HAVE TO CALL ME DARLIN’, DARLIN’
YOU NEVER EVEN CALL ME
WELL I WONDER WHY YOU DON’T CALL ME
WHY DON’T YOU EVER CALL ME BY MY NAME
Longhaired Redneck
Written By David Allan Coe/ Jimmy Rabbit
COUNTRY DEEJAYS KNOWS THAT I'M AN OUTLAW
THEY'D NEVER COME TO SEE ME IN THIS DIVE
WHERE BIKERS STARE AT COWBOYS
WHO ARE LAUGHING' AT THE HIPPIES
WHO ARE PRAYING' THEY'LL GET OUT OF HERE ALIVE
LOUDMOUTH IN THE CORNER'S GETTING' TO ME
TALKIN' 'BOUT MY EARRINGS AND MY HAIR
I GUESS HE AIN'T READ THE SIGNS THAT SAY I'VE BEEN TO PRISON
SOMEONE OUGHT TO WARN HIM
'FORE I KNOCK HIM OFF HIS CHAIR
'CAUSE MY LONG HAIR JUST CAN'T COVER UP MY REDNECK
I'VE WON EVERY FIGHT I'VE EVER FOUGHT
AND I DON'T NEED SOME TURKEY TELLING' ME THAT I AIN'T COUNTRY
SAYING' I AIN'T WORTH DAMNED
OLD TICKET THAT HE BOUGHT
'CAUSE I CAN SING ALL THEM SONGS ABOUT TEXAS
AND I STILL DO ALL THE SAD ONES THAT I KNOW
THEY TELL ME I LOOK LIKE MERLE HAGGARD
AND SOUND A LOT LIKE DAVID ALLAN COE
AND THE BARMAID IN THE LAST TOWN THAT WE PLAYED IN
KNEW THE WORDS TO EVERY SONG I'D WROTE
SHE SAID JIMMY RABBIT TURNED HER ON TO MY LAST ALBUM
JUST ABOUT THE TIME THE JUKE BOX BROKE
YEAH, JOHNNY CASH HELPED ME GET OUT OF PRISON
LONG BEFORE RODRIGUEZ STOLE THAT GOAT
I'VE BEEN THE RHINESTONE COWBOY FOR SO LONG I CAN'T REMEMBER
AND I CAN DO YOU EVERY SONG
HANK WILLIAMS EVER WROTE
AND I CAN SING ALL THEM SONGS ABOUT TEXAS
AND I STILL DO ALL THE SAD ONES THAT I KNOW
I CAN'T HELP IT, I LOOK LIKE MERLE HAGGARD
AND I SOUND A LOT LIKE DAVID ALLAN COE
BUT THE COUNTRY D.J.'S ALL THINK I'M AN OUTLAW
AND THEY'D NEVER COME TO SEE ME IN THIS DIVE
WHERE BIKERS STARE AT COWBOYS
WHO ARE LAUGHING' AT THE HIPPIES
WHO ARE PRAYING' THEY'LL GET OUT OF HERE ALIVE
THE LOUDMOUTH IN THE CORNER'S GETTING' TO ME
TALKIN' 'BOUT MY EARRINGS AND MY HAIR
If That Ain't Country
The old man was covered with tattoos and scars
He got some in prison and others in bars
The rest he got workin' on old junk cars in the daytime
They looked like tombstones in our yard
And I never seen him when he wasn't tired and mean
He sold used parts to make ends meet
Covered with grease from his head to his feet
Cussin' the sweat and the Texas heat and mosquiters
And the neighbors said we lived like hicks
But they brung their cars for pa to fix anyhow
He was veteran-proud tried and true
He'd fought till his heart was black and blue
Didn't know how he'd made it through the hard times
He bought our house on the GI Bill
But it wasn't worth all he had to kill to git it
He drank pearl in a can and Jack Daniels black
Chewed tobacco from a mail pouch sack
Had an old dog that was trained to attack sometimes
He'd get drunk and mean as a rattlesnake
And there wasn't too much that he would take from a stranger
There were thirteen kids and a bunch of dogs
A house full of chickens and a yard full of hogs
I spent the summertime cuttin' up logs for the winter
Tryin' like the devil to find the Lord
Workin' like a nigger for my room and board
Coal-burin' stove no natural gas if that ain't country I'll kiss your ass
If that ain't country it'll hairlip the pope
If that ain't country it's a damn good joke
I've seen the Grand Ole Opry and I've met Johnny Cash
If that ain't country I'll kiss your ass
[ steel ]
Mama sells eggs at a grocery store my oldest sister is a first-rate whore
Dad says she can't come home anymore and he means it
Ma just sits and keeps her silence
Sister she left cause dad got violent and he knows it
Mama she's old far beyond her time
From chopping tobacco and I've seen her cryin'
When blood started flowin' from her calloused hand and it hurt me
She'd just keep workin' tryin' to help the old man
To the end of one row and back again like always
She's been through hell since junior went to jail
When the lights go out she ain't never failed
To get down on her knees and pray because she loves him
Told all the neighbors he was off in the war
Fightin' for freedom he's good to the core and she's proud
Now our place was a graveyard for automobiles
At the end of the porch there was four stacks of wheels
And tires for sale for a dollar or two cash
There was fifty holes in an old tin roof
Me and my family we was livin' proof
The people who forgot about poor white trash
And if that ain't country I'll kiss your ass
If that ain't country...
I'm thinking tonight of my blue eyes concerning the great speckled bird
I didn't know God made honky tonk angels and went back to the wild side of life
Take This Job and Shove It
Chorus: TAKE THIS JOB AND SHOVE IT/ I AIN’T WORKING’ HERE NO MORE MY WOMAN DONE LEFT AND TOOK ALL OF THE REASONS I WAS WORKING FOR YOU BETTER NOT TRY TO STAND IN MY WAY/ WHEN I WALK OUT THE DOOR TAKE THIS JOB AND SHOVE IT/ I AIN’T WORKING’ HERE NO MORE
I BEEN WORKING IN THIS FACTORY/ PRETTY CLOSE TO 15 YEARS I’VE SOME OF MY BEST FRIENDS’ WOMEN/ STANDING IN A POOL OF TEARS I’VE SEEN A LOT OF KINFOLKS DYING/ I HAD A LOT OF BILLS TO PAY LORD, I’D GIVE THE SHIRT RIGHT OFFING’ MY BACK/ IF I HAD THE NERVE TO SAY:
Repeat Chorus
THE FOREMAN IS A REGULAR SOB. AND THE NIGHT BOSS, HE’S A FOOL HE GOT HIMSELF A BRAND NEW FLATTOP HAIRCUT LORD, HE REALLY THINKS THAT’S COOL ONE OF THESE DAYS I’M GONNA BLOW MY TOP AND THERE’S GONNA BE HELL TO PAY I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE THEIR FACES WHEN I GET THE NERVE TO SAY
Repeat Chorus
If I Could Climb The Walls Of This Bottle
If I could climb the walls of this bottle oh darlin' I'd come home to you
Another night for me is just beginning soon the wine will wash away all my shame
With every drink one more mem'ry will leave me come closing time I won't feel a thing
Here I am on my way to the bottom it's a shame the things a man will do
If I could climb the walls of this bottle oh darlin' I'd come home to you
It's been a long long time and I miss you but this world I'm living in won't let me go
And it's too late to say that I'm sorry and why I left you for this God only knows
If I could climb the walls of this bottle
Jack Daniels If You Please
JACK DANIELS IF YOU PLEASE KNOCK ME TO MY KNEES
YOUR THE ONLY FRIEND THERE HAS EVER BEEN
THAT DIDN'T DO ME WRONG
JACK DANIELS IF YOU PLEASE KNOCK ME TO MY KNEES
YOU CAN KILL THIS PAIN THAT'S DRIVING ME INSANE
SINCE MY BABIES GONE
CIGARETTES AND WHISKEY CALM MY SHAKING HANDS
I JUST LOST A LOVER TO A ONE NIGHT STAND
SOMETHING TEMPORARY TO LATE I HAD TO LEARN
IT WASN'T MEANT TO LAST, I LOST HER TO THE PAST
A BRIDGE SHE COULDN'T BURN
PROMISES WERE BROKEN DREAMS WERE TO DIE
EMPTY WORDS WERE SPOKEN TEARS WERE IN OUR EYES
SOMETHING TEMPORARY THOSE FEARS WILL FADE AWAY
PLEASE DO THE BEST YOU CAN TO HELP ME UNDERSTAND
THESE GAMES THAT PEOPLE PLAY
Tennessee WhiskeyTexas Lullaby
By: David Allan Coe and Ann McGowan
SEE THOSE TUMBLEWEEDS A-BLOWING'
LORD, IT MAKES ME WANT TO CRY
IT REMINDS ME OF MY DADDY
AND THAT TEXAS LULLABY
SEE THOSE CACTUS FLOWERS BLOOMING'
LIKE THE TWINKLE IN HIS EYE
EVERY TIME HE STARTED SINGING' THAT OLE TEXAS LULLABY
YIPPEE YI LITTLE DOGGIE ROLL ALONG ROLL ALONG
YIPPEE YI LITTLE DOGGIE TAKE ME HOME, TAKE ME HOME
IT'S SO COLD ON THE DESERT, I'M CHILLED TO THE BONE
YIPPEE YI LITTLE DOGGIE, YIPPEE YI
LOOK YONDER THERE'S A DUST CLOUD PAINTING PICTURES IN THE SKY
DADDY TOLD ME ALL ABOUT IT, IN THAT TEXAS LULLABY
THEM OLE LONGHORNS ARE A BALLWIN', LORD I KNOW I MUST BE HIGH
WISH MY DAD COULD HEAR ME SINGING' THIS OLD TEXAS LULLABY
DADDY LEFT ME THIS OLD GUITAR, THOUGH I NEVER QUITE KNEW WHY
HE SAID SOMEDAY I'D BE FAMOUS LIKE THAT TEXAS LULLABY
BUT IT'S BEEN A MONTH OF SUNDAYS SINCE I SEEN THAT EAGLE FLY
AND NOBODY WANTS TO LISTEN TO A TEXAS LULLABY
I used to spend my nights out
In a bar room
Liquor was the only love I'd known
But you rescued me from reaching for the bottom
Brought me back from being too far gone
You're as smooth as Tennesee whiskey
You're as sweet as strawberry wine
You're as warm as a glass of Brandy
And I stay stoned on your love all the time
I looked for love
In all the same old places
Found the bottom of the bottle's
Always dry
But when you poured out your heart
I didn't waste it
Cause there's nothing like your love
To get me high
You're as smooth as Tennesee whiskey
You're as sweet as strawberry wine
You're as warm as a glass of Brandy
And I stay stoned on your love all the time
I stay stoned on your love all the time
Now I Lay Me Down to Cheat
Now I lay me down to cheat
On the woman I love so
And if I die between these sheets
I pray to God she'll never know
She's the best thing in this life
Why she worships the ground that he walks on
She waits up for him at night and worries
Until he's safely home
And she always believes his stories about working overtime
And in 20 years beside him cheatins never crossed her mind
Aw but it crossed his
Early last summer
In a person of a neighbor that she still calls her friend
And with a little push from drinkin one too many one night in the fall he gave in
And now he wishes he could stop himself
But theres no easy way
So he lays down with his lover
And silently he prays
Now I lay me down to cheat
On the woman I love so
And if I die between these sheets
I pray to God she'll never know
In his heart and soul
He knew he was playing a game he could never win
But ya know, forbidden fruit is sweet
Why it was sweet enough to make him risk it all again
And now he's givin up on lookin for a way
To fight the feeling
So he prays this simple pray
And hope it makes it past the hotel ceiling
Now I lay me down to cheat
On the woman I love so
And if I die between these sheets
I pray to God she'll never know
Mona Lisa Lost Her Smile
Chorus:
Mona Lisa lost her smile
The painter's hands are trembling now
And if she's out there running wild
It's just because I taught her how
The masterpiece that we had planned
Is laying shattered on the ground
Mona Lisa lost her smile
And the painter's hands are trembling now
Verse I:
And the eyes that used to burn for me
Now they no longer look my way
And the love that used to be
Why, it just got lost in yesterday
And if she seems cold to the touch
Well there used to burn a flame
I gave too little, took too much
'Til I erased the painter's name
Chorus
Chorus instrumental
Chorus