Ry Cooder

Ry Cooder Ry Cooder Lyrics
1.Alimony

(r. l. jones/w. young/r. higginbotham)
(c) - (f) - (g)

(c) look at this one, look at that one
Tell me do they look like me
All my (f) friends said, don't you worry
Said they'll testify for (c) me
Well, i (g) wonder which of (f) my friends had it in for (c) me
Alimony, alimony, alimony is killing me
I don't (f) want six extra children
When ain't but two that look like (c) me
Please, have (g) mercy, judge your (f)honor
Alimony is killing (c) me

Please, have mercy, judge your honor
I'm as poor as i can be
Ain't had money in my pockets
Since way back in fifty three
Can't you cut down all my payment ?
Alimony is killing me
Alimony, alimony, alimony is killing me
Alimony, alimony, alimony is killing me


2.France Chance

(joe callicott)

Drop down baby, just like showers of rain
I hate to hear my fair brown call my name, yeah
I hate to hear my fair brown call my name
Well, she calls so loud, and the poor girl calls so plain

Walks to the station, tears running down
I got news, my baby, done left town, yeah
I got news, my baby, 'cause he done blow this town
Well, i got great news, my baby, he done blow this town

Blues started calling me like ronny and france
Looks like that other guy won't allow me no chance, yeah
Well, it looks like, to me, that other guy won't allow me all
chance
Hum, hum, hum


3.One Meat Ball

(l. singer-h.zaret)

The little man walked up and down
To find an eating place in town
He read the menu through and through
To see what fifteen cents could do
One meat ball, one meat ball
Well, he could afford but one meat ball

He told the waiter near at hand
A simple dinner he had planned
The guests were startled one and all to hear
That waiter loudly call
One meat ball, one meat ball
Well, this here gent wants one meat ball

Little man felt very bad
One meat ball was all he had
And in his dreams he hears that call
Ya gets no bread with one meat ball
One meat ball, one meat ball
Well, you get no bread with one meat ball
Well, he could afford but one meat ball
One meat ball, one meat ball
All he could afford was one meat ball
One meat ball


4.Do Re Mi

(woody guthrie)
(g) - (c) - (g7) - (d) - (d7) - (bm) - (em)

(g) lots of folks back east they say
(c) leaving home most every day
(d7) beating the hot old dusty way
To the (g) california line
'cross the desert sands they roll
(c) getting out of that old dust bowl
(d) think they're coming to a sugar bowl
But (g) here's (d7) what they (g) find
(d) police at the port of entry say
You're number fourteen thousand for to (d7) day

Hey, if you (g) ain't got the do re mi, boy
If you ain't got the do re (d) mi
Well, you (d7) better go back to beautiful texas
Oklahoma, kansas, georgia, tennes- (g) see
California is the garden of eden
It's a paradise to (g7) live in or (c) see
But be(g)lieve it or (d) not
You won't (bm) find it so (c) hot
If you (em) ain't got the do re (g) mi

You want to buy a home or a farm
That can't do nobody harm
Take your vacation by the mountains or sea
Don't swap your old cow for a car
You better stay right where you are
Better take this little tip from me
Well, i look through the want ads every day
The headlines in the papers always say


5.Old Kentucky Home

(randy newman)
(d) - (g) - (a) - (e7) - (a7) - (bm)

(d) turpentine and dandelion wine
I've turned the corner and i'm (g) doing fine
Shooting at the birds on the (d) telephone line
(a) picking 'em off with this (d) gun of mine
I got a (g) fire in my belly and a (d) fire in my head
Going (a) higher and higher till i'm dead

Sister sue, short and stout
She didn't grow up - she grew out
Papa says she's plain but she's just being kind
Mama says she's pretty but she's almost blind
Don't let her out much 'cept at night
But i don't care 'cause i'm all right

Oh, the (d) sun shines bright on my (g) old kentucky (d) home
And the young folks roll on the (e7) floor (a7)
Oh, the (d) sun shines bright on my (g) old kentucky (d) home
Keep them hard times (g) a (bm)way (a7) from my (d) door

Brother gene, he's big and mean
And he didn't have much to say
He had a little woman that he whupped each day
But now she's gone away
He got drunk last night
Kicked mama down the stairs
But i'm all right so i don't care


6.How Can A Poor Man Stand Such Times And Live ?

(alfred reed)
(g) - (c) - (g7) - (d) - (d7) - (am)

(g) i remember a time when every (d) thing was (g) cheap
Now prices nearly puts a man to (d) sleep
(d7) well, when we (g) get our grocery (g7) bill
We (c) feel like making our (am) will
Tell me, (g) how can a poor man (d7) stand such times and (g)
live ?
Tell me, (g) how can a poor man (d7) stand such times and (g)
live ?

Well, the doctor comes around with his face all bright
And he says, 'in a little while you'll be all right!'
Well, all he gives is a humbug pill
Dose of dope and a great big bill
Tell me, how can a poor man stand such times and live ?
Tell me, how can a poor man stand such times and live ?

Most preachers, well, they preach for gold and not for soul
Well, that's what keeps us poor folks always in a hole
Now, we can hardly get our breath
Taxed and schooled and preached to death
Tell me, how can a poor man stand such times and live ?
Tell me, how can a poor man stand such times and live ?


7.Available Space

(ry cooder)

Instrumental


8.Pig Meat

(huddie ledbetter)
(c7) - (c) - (f7) - (c) - (g7)

(c7) just look here mama
Don't pick pig meat the way you (c) do
(f7) don't pick pig meat the way you (c) do
(c7) don't be (g7) lieve it's pig meat
Ask (f7) anybody in the neighborhood (c)

Don't believe it's pig meat
Kind that you won't regret
Don't believe it's pig meat
Kind that you won't regret
I got something about this pig meat
Sweet mama ain't told you yet

I was born and raised in the country
Mama but i'm staying in town
I was born and raised in the country
Mama but i'm staying in town
You don't believe it's pig meat
Mama from my head on down


9.Police Dog Blues

(arthur blake, adapted by ry cooder)

All my life i've been a travellin' man
All my life i've been a travellin' man
Stayin' alone and doing the best i can

I ship my trunk down to tennessee
Ship my trunk down to tennessee
It's hard to tell 'bout a man like me

I had a gal, i couldn't get her off my mind
I had a gal, i couldn't get her off my mind
She passed me up saying she didn't like my kind

Scared to bother around the house that night
I'm scared to bother around the house that night
Got police dogs cravin' for a fight

His game is rambling when he gets the chance
His game is rambling when he gets the chance
He leaves his mark on everybody's pants

Guess i'll travel, guess i'll let her be
Guess i'll travel, guess i'll let her be
Before she sets that police dog on me


10.Going To Brownsville

(john estes, adapted by ry cooder)

I'm going to brownsville, take that right hand road
Well, i'm going to brownsville, take that right hand road
And i ain't gonna stop walking till i get in sweet mama's door

The girl i'm loving she's got great long curly hair
The girl i'm loving she's got great long curly hair
And her mama and her papa well, they sure don't allow me there

If you catch my jumper (?), babe, hanging upside your wall
Well, if you catch my jumper (?), babe, hanging upside your wall
Well, you know by that i need my ashes hauled

I'm going to brownsville, take that right hand road
I'm going to brownsville, take that right hand road
And i ain't gonna stop walking till i get in sweet mama's door


11.Dark Is The Night

Instrumental