Songs
Earl Vickers
Demos for many of the following songs are available from iTunes and other online song vendors.
Sad Songs, etc.
Novelty
Kid's SongsNocturne in E-flat (melody by Chopin, lyrics by Earl Vickers)
Misc.Long Black Veil (by M.J.Wilkin and D.Dill, additional lyrics by Earl Vickers)
Was I her piano student or a friend from long ago?
Her weary eyes were lost inside a memory
I tried to tell her who I was, but she would shake her head
“What a thing to say, don’t play a trick on me.”She remembered every detail of her wedding day
And she could tell the same old stories
three or four times in a row
“Remind me dear,” she would say, “Which One Are You?”
I said “It’s me,” then she seemed to knowOne day she looked right at me, “Grace, my friend, I’m glad you’re here
I have to tell someone, I’m feeling so alone
It’s John and I,” and she began to cry, “We’re so afraid
we’ll never have any children of our own.”I took her hand and said, “Listen to me,
I’m sure that you’ll have children, wait and see.”She remembered every detail of her wedding day
And she could tell the same old stories
three or four times in a row
“Remind me dear,” she would say, “Which One Are You?”
I said “It’s me,” then she seemed to know
“Gramma, it’s me,” then she seemed to know
What I Don’t Like:
That icy cold look in your eyes
That distant tone of voice
Total silence, or the battle cries
I guess I can have my choiceWhat I Don’t Like:
You’re the cop and I’m the criminal
Another dishwashing mistake
Your contempt is not subliminal
All you do is bellyacheYou don’t give a damn What I Don’t Like
You don’t give a damn, ‘bout what used to be
But I’ll tell you right now, tell you anyhow
I just don’t like the way you don’t like meWhat I Don’t Like:
My jokes aren’t funny any more
Everything I say is wrong
You think love is just another chore
You used to love me all night longNow you don’t give a damn What I Don’t Like
You don’t give a damn, ‘bout what used to be
But I’ll tell you right now, tell you anyhow
I just don’t like the way you don’t like meYou used to wake up laughing in the morning
Your eyes lit up just like a child, the sunlight in your hair
You saw me there and then you smiled, but now you just don't careYou don’t give a damn
You don’t give a damn, ‘bout what used to be
I’ll tell you right now, tell you anyhow
I just don’t like the way you don’t like me, any more
I just don’t like the way
Just don’t like the way
Just don’t like the way you don’t like me
Guess there’s some guy
Who looks just like me
I never met him but I bet he’s out there
He’s who I should beHe’s got my job
My beautiful bride
He’s got my 2.3 kids and a dog
and a mistress or two on the sideHe didn’t leave me nothing
Didn’t leave me jack
I’m gonna find that guy
Take my stuff backHe must have lots of money
’cause I sure ain’t got none
He must have lots and lots of women
’cause I ain’t got a oneI turned around
Just for a minute
That guy took my whole life, took my whole life
and everything in itHe didn’t leave me nothing
Didn’t leave me jack
I’m gonna find that guy
Take my stuff backWhen I meet a woman
Don’t know what to say
’Cause I know sooner or later
That same guy’ll come along
Take her awayHas he left any joy?
Has he left any hope?
Has he left me just one big nasty near-sighted bow-legged old lady?
NopeIf I ever find him
He’s gonna wish he was dead
’cause I’m gonna Take My Life Back,
Take My Life Back
Give him this one insteadI ain’t gonna leave him nothing
Ain’t gonna leave him jack
I’m gonna find that guy
Take My Life BackAin’t gonna leave him nothing
Ain’t gonna leave him jack
I’m gonna find that guy
Take My Life Back
I’m gonna find that guy
Take My Life Back
Grandpa worked in the coal mine, he looked old at 21
Seldom saw the sunshine, then he got that ole black lung
I still hear him fairly often, underneath the ground
Coughin’ in his coffin, not makin’ any soundHe told my daddy, “Son, don’t you work down in the mine
Go out and have some fun, while you still have the time
We worked hard to make a living, me and my wife
Damn near killed ourselves, so you could have A Better Life”Daddy worked in the factory, worked his fingers to the bone
Caught his arm in the machinery, he had no leg to stand on
But he made out like a one-armed bandit, on the disability plan
when he lost all five fingers, on the other handMy daddy told me, “Son, don’t you work in the factory
Go out and have some fun, you don’t wanna end up like me
We worked hard to make a living, me and my wife
Damn near killed ourselves, so you could have A Better Life”I got calluses on my fingers, from playing this guitar
Got a touch of carpal tunnel, if I bend a string too far
My ears are always ringing, got a pain in my right knee
This guitar playin’ gonna be the death of meTold my son, “Jed, don’t matter what you do
You’re gonna wind up dead, so you might as well be you
Work hard to make a living, find yourself a wife
Don’t got nothin’ else to do, so have... A Better Life”
Do me all day and you can do me all night
Do me all wrong and you can do me all right
You can do me in the moonlight, do me in the sun
You can do me until I’m well doneI’ll do you all day, and I will do you all night
Do you okay, and I will do you all right
I will do you in the moonlight, do you in the sun
I will do you until you’re well doneI do if you do, I don’t if you don’t
I will if you will, I won’t if you won’t
You know and I know, we know what we want to do
That’s me and you, yeahWe’ll do us all day, and we will do us all night
Do us all wrong, and we will do us all right
We will do us in the moonlight, do us in the sun
We will do us until we’re well doneBut if you find something that you’d rather do
And if you find someone to do it with you
And if you and someone don’t want to do something with me, yeahI’ll do me all day and I will do me all night
Do me all wrong and I will do me all right
I will do me in the moonlight, do me in the sun
I will do me until I’m well
do me until I’m well
do me until I am well done
Do me do me
Remember me
and you know you’ll never be alone
If you’re ever scared
think of all we’ve shared
I know life can be unfair
but I’m not going anywhereI’ll Be Watching Over You
I’ll Be Watching Over YouDon’t cry for me
Let the rain
wash away the pain
May the days and years
take away your tears
Love is stronger than your fears
And my love will be hereI’ll Be Watching Over You
I’ll Be Watching Over YouAll you have to do is
Look up in the sky
Spread your wings and fly
set your sights high(inst)
May the days and years
take away your tears
Love is stronger than your fears
And my love will be hereI’ll Be Watching Over You
I’ll Be Watching Over You
Now you've got a new girlfriend
and she's almost perfect
She's all that you wanted
and that's why you're worriedShe’s too nice and too pretty
and one day she'll wake up
It's only a matter of
time 'til the break-upch)
So I Think You Should Dump Her
She’s no good for you
She’s nothing but trouble
You know that it’s trueYes, I Think You Should Dump Her
Oh it’s plain to see
I Think You Should Dump Her
and introduce her to meShe drags you downtown
always buying you presents
French kissing in public
So adolescentShe annoys you all day
always doing you favors
You can’t sleep at night
Nor can the neighborsch) Oh I Think You Should Dump Her...
Well you took my advice
and gave her away
Took my advice
Best I ever gaveIt’s been three years since she and I
moved in together
We’ve had a few problems
seen all kinda weatherBut you know I don’t buy
what my friends try to sell me
They all say the same thing
and here’s what they tell me:Ch) Oh I Think You Should Dump Her...
and introduce her to me
Bag City (Streaming Playback)
If you spy it
Wanna buy it
Better snag it
You better bag it, babyWhen you shop it
Don’t you drop it
Don’t you drag it
You better bag it, babyBags inside of bags
Bag City, Bag City
Bags inside of bags inside of bags inside of bags inside of
Bags inside of bags
Bag City, Bag City
Lost His Sense of Humor in the War
Deadly wordplay at point-blank range had no effect
Laughter-seeking missiles never found him
If comedy were torture, he would not confess
Jokes exploded harmlessly all around himLost his sense of humor in the war
Lost his sense of humor in the war
Ain’t nothing funny any more
Lost his sense of humor in the warHe told us stories and poetry he knew by heart
but his laughter stayed hidden in some dark place
Even memories of enemies blown apart
could barely bring a painful smile to his faceIn the mountains of Greece, 1941
a country animal doc against the Nazi machine
He never said too much when we were young
When we grew older, Mother proudly explained:He brought donkeys and pack mules back to health again
Three winters he survived, no supplies left
He fed starving horses to starving men
Don’t take him wrong, he just forgot how to laughLost his sense of humor in the war
Lost his sense of humor in the war
Ain’t nothing funny any more
Lost his sense of humor in the war
Lost his sense of humor in the war
I once had no food to eat
Then I met a man who had no teeth
I once had no shoes to wear
Then I met a man who had no feetI once had no shirt to wear
Then I met a man who had no pants
I once had no lady friend
Then I met a man with no right handWhen you’re down on your luck
and you just spent your last buck
There’s always someone else
who has it even worseWhen you’ve gone completely mad
and you’ve lost everything you had
Look around and you’ll be glad it isn’t worse
Your life could be an endless curseI once had no house to live in
Then I met a man who had no skin
I once had an iron lung
Then I met a man whose lung was tinI once had no energy
Then I met a man who had no mass
I once had no toilet paper
Then I met a man who had no assWhen you’re down on your luck
No matter how bad your life sucks
There’s always someone else
who has it even worseWhen you’ve gone completely mad
and you’ve lost everything you had
Look around and you’ll be glad it isn’t worse
Your life could be an endless curse
Your other car could be a hearse
I could sing another verseI once had a mirror on the wall
Then I met a man
who was lucky after all
I took one glance at you
and in advance I knew
I didn’t stand a chance with you
& that was the end of this song.
But in my heart I knew
I was in love with you
Still at night I dream of you
You’ve lived inside of my soul for so longNothing in this world I would not give
Give you all my love, long as I live
Nothing in this world I would not do
Darling for youI’d learn to dance for you
Make romance for you
Iron my underpants for you
You are the one I adoreI’d move to France for you
Fall in a trance for you
Learn about finance for you
You make me want to become something moreNothing in this world I would not do
except for other women, them I would not do
There is nothing else I would not do
Darling for you(inst.)
I would freelance for you
Apply for grants for you
Get bit by army ants for you
I’d love you all my life longI’d face a fer-de-lance or two
Learn names of plants for you
So won’t you give your answer true
You know this can’t be the end of this songNothing in this world I would not give
Give you all my love, long as I live
Nothing in this world I would not do
Darling for you
Ole Joe fell off the roof
it knocked him out and broke his back
Some girl gave him mouth-to-mouth
Joe’s wife didn’t like the looks of thatSo she took his house and pickup truck
and lived high on the hog
When his dog bit his finger off
She gave him the finger and she took the dogThat’s Gotta Hurt
I guarantee
When someone else hurts like hell
Glad it ain’t meThat’s Gotta Hurt
Such misery
What a shame, but all the same
Better him than meThe cops arrested Joe
He fixed his roof with no permit
The judge was Joe’s ex-wife
and you know she did not acquitOle Joe died in prison
But you know he’s heaven bound
They’ll let him out of hell
soon as his paperwork is foundThat’s Gotta Hurt
I guarantee
When someone else hurts like hell
Glad it ain’t meThat’s Gotta Hurt
Such misery
I’m just glad nothing bad’s
ever gonna happen to meLike suffering and sighing
and crying all night long
Growing old and dying
and listenin' to this songThat’s Gotta Hurt
(inst)
That’s Gotta Hurt
Such misery
Hurts so bad, makes me sad
‘Cause you know your pain hurts me
The lives of men are short and brutal
Women’s lives, long and cruel
Oh baby, won’t you spend the night with meIt’s cold outside, the winds are blowing
Lots of time to sleep alone
Oh baby, won’t you spend the night with meOh won’t you take my hand
Take me to the promised land
You know I’ll do what I can for youC’mon and hold me tight
Look for that bright spot in the night
Where everything will be all right
Fight the dying of the light with me
Spend the night with meWhen you die, the bugs will eat you
Tell me why we live like we do?
Oh baby, won’t you spend the night with meMisery, pain and sorrow
Swear I’ll be a better man tomorrow
Oh baby, won’t you spend the night with meI may not mend your broken heart forever
Or make all your dreams come true
But I will spend this night with you
foreverIf you take my hand
I’ll take you to the promised land...Misery, pain and sorrow
Swear I’ll be a better man tomorrow
Oh baby, won’t you spend the night with me
Video found on youtube:
Don’t want to tiptoe ’round your tantrums any more
Put on my shoes, each time you run out the door
Don’t want to argue, I don’t want to fight
You think I’m stupid, I think you’re rightI think I’m Stupid for You
Stupid for You
Stupid for, stupid for, Stupid for YouSo many tears, my glasses need a windshield wiper
You treat me like a disposable diaper
The things you say, they cut my heart like a knife
Might as well kill me ’cause you’ve ruined my lifeI’m Stupid for You
I must be Stupid for You
I must be stupid for, stupid for, Stupid for YouYou get a sad look in your eyes
when you apologize
You’re sorry you were cruel
Sad you fell in love with such a foolYou treat me nice and then you act like you don’t care
You put me down, then you kick me when I’m there
You’ve changed your mind so many times I’ve gone numb
I just don’t get it, maybe I’m dumbStupid for You
I must be Stupid for You
I must be stupid for, stupid for, Stupid for You
There once was a kid, looked just like you
Everything you did, that kid would do
Who do you think that kid could be?
It’s not you and it’s not meIt’s the Kid in the Mirror
Stuck behind the glass
Does what you do, no better, no worse
Can’t do anything unless you do it firstOh, the Kid in the Mirror
Knows the way you feel
Whenever you’re sad, the kid is sad too
Smile and the kid’ll be smilin’ at youOh, the Kid in the Mirror
The kid that looks like youThere in the glass, who do you see?
Who do you think that kid wants to be?
Life is something that you do
It’s not something that just happens to youYou can make the Kid in the Mirror
Do anything you please
Stick out your tongue, and make funny faces
The kid in the mirror would love to swap placesOh, the Kid in the Mirror
Wants to be like you
Able to be whoever you wanna be
No one but you can say who you’re gonna beNot even the Kid in the Mirror
The kid that looks like youOne day the kid looks back, same as before
But you see the kid is not one any more
Life is short, it goes by fast
But of course it always lasts a lifetimeSee the Kid in the Mirror
Lookin’ back at you
You could be friends for life, might as well make the best of it
You’re stuck together for all of the rest of itOh, the Kid in the Mirror
Watches what you do
Knows everything that you’re thinkin’ of
Might as well treat the kid like somebody you loveOh, the Kid in the Mirror
The kid that looks like you
The kid that looks like you
The kid that looks like you
I’ve got Three Lullabies
for your sleepy little eyes
That makes one and a half lullaby
for each eye
in case you’re countingCounting sheep
in hopes of boring yourself to sleep
to go exploring the dreams that leap
out when you’re snoring the night away
Hey, hey, heyI’ve got two lullabies
for your pretty little eyes
that blink on and off even though
we both know
you’re not sleepyBut bedtime will be here any minute
I’m sure your bed hopes you’re in it
when it decides to
go to sleepI had one more lullaby
Something ‘bout a butterfly
But I guess you won’t mind
about what I forgot
since you’re sleeping
Nocturne in E-flat
Op. 9, No. 2
Music by Frederic Chopin, Lyrics by Earl Vickers(Capo up 3 semitones)
Good night little baby C fm C C/b Good night, sleep tight, and maybe A7 — g°/d dm when day wakes tomorrow G7 E7/g# am f#°7 A whole new world will open up to you Gsus4,7 G7 C — Good night little baby C fm C It's time to go to bed C/b A7 though I know you really really really don’t wanna A7 g°/d dm Your momma is sleepy G7 E7/g# am f#°7 so knock it off you knucklehead and sleep Gsus4,7 G7 C — You’re so tiny and shiny G — D/f# — Soft little heinie F fm C — So tired and whiny c#°7 A7/c# D7 em Dream time would be fine am D7 G G#/F# C#/E# A7/E D7 G7 Don’t cry little critter C fm C It’s time for eyes to close C/b A7 though you’d rather keep us all awake than surrender A7 g°/d dm Remember, we love you G7 E7/g# am f#°7 We love you even more when you’re asleep Gsus4,7 G7 C — fm/C — C — fm — C — G7 — C D7/f# G7sus4 G7 C — fm — C — fm — C D7/f# G7sus4 E7/G# am D7/f# G7 G7sus4 G7 C
Long Black Veil
by M.J.Wilkin and D.Dill, additional lyrics by Earl VickersTen years ago on a cold dark night
There was someone killed ‘neath the town hall light
There were few at the scene but they all did agree
That the man who ran looked a lot like meThe judge said “Son, what is your alibi?
If you were somewhere else then you won’t have to die”
I spoke not a word though it meant my life
I had been in the arms of my best friend’s wife(chorus)
She walks these hills in a long black veil
She visits my grave when the night winds wail
Nobody knows, nobody sees
Nobody knows but meThe scaffold was high and eternity near
She stood in the crowd and shed not a tear
But sometimes at night when the cold wind moans
In a long black veil she cries over my bones(chorus)
She walks these hills...(Additional lyrics by Earl Vickers)
In the cold morning air of the very next day
By her husband’s side, she knelt down to pray
With her head bowed low and her face so pale
In a voice like the wind, the truth she did tellHer husband replied, “Woman tell me why
You spoke not a word and let my best friend die”
“Oh my husband dear, I knew your heart would break
when the truth was told, your own life you would take”(chorus)
She walks these hills in a long black veil
She visits our graves when the night winds wail
Nobody knows, nobody sees
Nobody knows but meOn a cold dark night, without a soul to save
She wanders these hills and stands by my grave
She pulls back her black veil, her true love to see
and she kisses a man who looks a lot like me(chorus)
She walks these hills in a long black veil
She visits my grave when the night winds wail
Nobody knows, nobody sees
Nobody knows but me