Porter Wagoner Album

I was in a lonely cafe by the roadside all unfriendly people no one said a word
When in there stepped a starry eyed old stranger
He sat down threw up his arms and then I heard
Let me have about me lots of words and music
Gather round and tell me anything you know
Let's talk and sing and let's have words and music
Give me lots of words and music till I go

Then with spirits high and the conversation livens
The old man told us all where he'd come from
He said where I've been it's dark and lonely and you know I hardly ever see the sun
The kids all said the place would be best for me
And they took all the money they said to pay the bills
But you know I haven't heard a word from 'em and I sorta think I never will
And words're so important when you're lonely
And music has always been so good for me
So let's talk and sing and let's have words and music
Cause they'll come find me and they'll see that I got free
Then the old man's starry eyes grew cold and lifeless
When he saw the men in white suits standin' at the door
He turned and shouted please don't take me back there
And then he fell down to his knees upon the floor
Then stepping from a corner of the cafe a mask of teardrops streaming down his face
A young man came to claim his long lost daddy
And soon their happy voices filled the place
Let me have about me...
Give me lots of words and music till I go

I got back in town a day before I'd planned to
I smiled and said I'll sure surprise my wife
I don't think I'll phone I'll just head on home
For I didn't know the cold hard facts of life
I passed a little wine store on the corner
I pictured pink champagne by candlelight
I stopped the car right then got out and hurried in
My mind not on the cold hard facts of life
A stranger stood there laughing by the counter
He said I'll take two bottles of your best
Her husband's out of town and there's a party
He winkled as if to say "You know the rest"
I left the store two steps behind the stranger
From there to my house his car stayed in sight
But it wasn't till he turned into my drive that I learned
I was witnessing the cold hard facts of life
I drove around the block till I was dizzy
Each time the noise came louder from within
And then I saw our bottle there beside me
And I drank a fifth of courage and walked in
Lord you should've seen their frantic faces
They screamed and cried please put away that knife
I guess I'll go to hell or I'll rot here in the cell
But who taught who the cold hard facts of life
Who taught who the cold hard facts of life

Sleep sweet and deep visit me for awhile
Sleep come over me let me rest and dream awhile
Of two young lovers making plans of dreams I dreamed when dreams began
Of things that could and should have been before the eternal sadness moved in
Sleep take over me set me free to dream awhile
Of sunlight shining in her hair of days with laughter in the air
Of my world of sweetness again before the eternal sadness moved in
Sleep sweet and deep let me rest and dream awhile let me rest and dream awhile

With one nickel in his pocket and a pack of cigarettes
There were no tears of sorrow no tears of regrets
In a plain wooden casket the county laid him away
Just a hundred dollar funeral with no loved ones to pray
There must be a mother who loves him somewhere
Perhaps she had gone home and was waiting up there
Where there's no disappointments around God's great throne
No hundred dollar funerals unloved and unknown

No pretty marble headstone not one friend came
He was lowered by four strangers that didn't know his name
A loser on this earth a death so many must pay
Just a hundred dollar funeral with no loved ones to pray
There must be a mother...

Now if I could only start over and have a new life to begin
Oh I wouldn't live like a rover and drift like a leaf in the wind
Cause I'm dreaming tonight of old sweethearts and believe me I've had quite a few
But I never dreamed of old sweethearts the way that I dream about you
[ fiddle - el.banjo ]
Yes I let you slip through my fingers while foolishly searching around
But if I could only start over I know you could settle me down
Cause I'm dreaming tonight...
But I never dreamed of old sweethearts the way that I dream about you

Nestled in the heart of the Tennessee Hills
There neat the pines midst the rocks and the rills
There stands my old homestead of long long ago
It brings back sweet memories of the one I loved so
I'll tell you the reason why I left her there
To roam this old world with its sorrow and care
I saw her one night in the arms of a man hugging and kissing as two lovers can
I went to my home with a heart full of woe packed my belongings determined to go
For many long years this old world I did roam
With thoughts of my sweetheart my darling my own
[ fiddle ]
While dining one day in a little country town
A stranger walked in and he chanced to sit down
While talking of loved ones I happened to find
That his sister was that old sweetheart of mine
When he heard my story to me then he said
The one you left there has a long time been dead
She waited so long for the day you'd return
And why you had left her she never did learn
Now I was the one who you saw that fatal night
Wrapped in the arms of my sister so tight
She loved you so dearly but you broke her heart
Stranger from her ever more you must part

Just try being lonely and you'll know just how I feel
I saw you with your new love and oh it hurt me so
Funny how I see your face everywhere I go
You smiled and looked to be so happy as you passed by
So I stepped around the corner so you wouldn't see me cry
Supposed you wanted someone the way I want you
Just imagine your body mind and soul breaking in two
Walk the floor each night shed tears you can't conceal
Just try being lonely and you'll know just how I feel
Just try being lonely and you'll know just how I feel

I'LL GET AHEAD SOMEDAY
Writer Mack Magaha


I'll get ahead someday I'll get ahead someday
If the sun comes up and my wife cuts down I'll get ahead someday
Well I get up early work hard all day listen to the troubles of my friends
But I don't realize till I get home what an awful shape I'm in
The car's wore out kids need shoes got a bill from doctor today
And the landlord said you'll get out tomorrow if you don't get me some pay
But I'll get ahead someday...
All I can hear there's a sale downtown I gotta have some money today
But there's things at home that's never been used you bought last bargain day
Well I tell hurt we'll have to cut down here is what you said
What's mine is mine what's yours is mine that's how I got this mess
But I'll get ahead someday...
If the sun comes up and my wife cuts down I'll get ahead someday

I had not planned on seeing you I was afraid of what I'd do
But pride is strong and here am I I just can't let you say goodbye
Please have no fear you're in no harm as long as you're here in my arms
But you can't leave so please don't try I just can't let you say goodbye
What force behind your evil mind can make your lips speak so unkind
The one who loves as much as I I just can't let you say goodbye
The fresh around your throat is pale intended by my fingernails
Please don't scream please don't cry I just can't let you say goodbye
Your voice is still now it speaks no more you'll never hurt me anymore
You know death is a friend to love and I cause now you'll never say goodbye

Shopworn and aged what's left of a man
Will never be useless for he's part of God's plan
Did you ever think of life as just a shop along the street
And yourself as a product displayed in easy reach
And you laid there for some quite some time now and pondered at your fate
Then you begin to wonder if maybe you'd hit the market late
Wealth had looked you over once and seen you at your best
But somehow you didn't fit his needs so he took one of the rest
Love had read your label and you lingered in her mind
But the competition caught her eye and she left you there behind
Fame had brushed the edges or the counter where you lay
And she pondered for a moment but then she walked away
Lady Luck had even picked you up but then you heard her say
I just can't afford you so I'll have to let you lay
Then one day they marked you down put you up on sale
And you got looked over once again but all to no avail
Now stained with yellow marked with age you heard a salesman state
Boss I guess I'll throw this out it's old and out of date
The keeper of the shop came then and he seemed to understand
He smiled and looked you over and out a caring hand
Give me that I'll take it home don't throw it on the street
It's old and gray but in its way it'll help my shop complete

When I married Julie she was just seventeen pretty as the answer to any man's dream
From the start I gave Julie all the love that I had
But everyone told me that Julie was bad
For Julie liked parties and clothes that fit tight
Drinking and dancing and out late at night
She was everything evil with the face of a child
And I sat home and waited while my Julie went wild
I built an empire with my own two hands power and money to break any man
But with all my possessions power and gold Julie was one thing I couldn't control
Though I gave Julie all my money could buy
And begged her to love me but she wouldn't try
For she'd only laugh as she'd walk out the door
And each time she'd hurt me made me love her more
I couldn't sleep until Julie got home last night she came in but wasn't alone
The things that I heard I could hardly believe
As her and the stranger made plans to leave
Without my Julie why I just couldn't live
And this is one thing I know I could never forgive
So I wait with a pistol the bullets just three one for the stranger Julie and me
One for the stranger Julie and me