Liner Notes

Remember Aladdin? We may figure him to be a bit out of his skull, but we love him for his crazy lamp! We still quote what "Confucius say," and shake our heads. But doesn't he put us on beautifully with that fortune-cookie wisdom? You realize, too, that the Pied Piper gained his popularity and gathered crowds because he was hung up on parades.

You don't have to dig into an encyclopedia, reference book or your librarian's memory to understand that screwballs have a timeless, universal appeal. And now, in a captivating collection of fun songs, Johnny Cash steps forward to remind us that EVERYBODY LOVES A NUT.

Johnny doesn't need history to prove the eternal popularity of lovable nuts, but he does have much to contribute to our understanding of the world today. His philosophical comments are offbeat, personal and often devastating. Listen, for example, to The One on the Right Is on the Left, a laugh-provoking look at a politically mixed-up folk group.

Johnny Cash is a wise wayfarer who sings about foibles that strike his fancy. Most of the songs are about man and his environment; some are about unusual occupations: A Cup of Coffee is the saga of a genial truck driver; A Singing Star's Queen is about

just that; Austin Prison concerns a jailbird and his escapades; Take Me Home describes the woes of a sick-and-tired traveler, and Please Don't Play Red River Valley tells the story of an amateur harmonica player. Joe Bean is the tragicomic story of a hanging. The Bug That Tried to Crawl Around the World is about an itinerant insect; there is a musical warning to a Dirty Old Egg-Sucking Dog, and an appeal to a Boa Constrictor, complete with the first sound of a snake's satisfaction ever recorded. Johnny Cash sees laughter and life all around him!

Although these are not folk songs, like them they tell the tales of people and places and things. They're way out! full of surprises and just plain funny. Johnny Cash knows that EVERYBODY LOVES A NUT. Listen, and you'll agree. Only a nut wouldn't!

Mort Goode

Info

Personnel

• Johnny Cash - Vocals
• Luther Perkins, Norman Blake - Guitar
• Bob Johnson - Guitar/Flute/Banjo
• Marshall Grant - Bass
• W.S. Holland - Drums
• Bill Pursell - Piano
• Jack Elliott - Yodel
• The Carter Family, The Statler Brothers - Background Vocals

Recorded:
March 12/1965, Columbia Studio, Nashville (3)
Nov 29/1965, Columbia Studio, Nashville (2)
Jan 11/1966, Columbia Studio, Nashville (4,7,8)
Jan 12/1966, Columbia Studio, Nashville (9)
Jan 25/1966, Columbia Studio, Nashville (5,6)
Jan 28/1966, Columbia Studio, Nashville (1,10)
Jan 29/1966, Columbia Studio, Nashville (11)

Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)

Singles - Billboard (North America)

Info

Supposedly at odds with this country artist's image as the somber Man in Black, this collection of humorous songs actually isn't that much of a departure for Johnny Cash. Listeners who may have grown up during his days as a Top Ten artist will recall his steady stream of singles that always seemed to have a clever gimmick or catchy twist; why, some of those aren't even on this collection, meaning there ought to be a second volume! More than three decades later, Cash would release concept CDs collecting songs based around particular themes — Love, God, and Murder — so perhaps this album is a thematic link, or a theme he could return to. The songs are just basically nutty. If one could imagine a project combining Cash with the cartoon character Screwy Squirrel, then this would be it, meaning not all the material is in good taste all the time. There are some real choice roasted nuts here, especially the duet with Ramblin' Jack Elliot, in which for once it is OK that the performers get drunk while playing. There is no credit for Elliot in the original liner notes. Some of these songs were favorites of Cash, including "Dirty Old Egg Sucking Dog," which, as a highlight of his career, he performed on The Muppet Show. Cash's sense of humor is really great, and although he certainly makes brilliant music when totally in a dark mood, there is something to be said for a project like this, where he gives free rein to that side of his personality that has always made him popular with children, for example. And incidentally, this album has proven to be a very popular item with younger listeners. Cash's romping, stomping buddy Jack Clement actually has a large hand in the proceedings, although one has to read the fine print on the label to know it. He wrote practically all the best songs, except for the hilarious "Please Don't Play Red River Valley," which is a request from the Man in Black himself.

Lyrics

1.
EVERYBODY LOVES A NUT
(Jack Clement)
« © '66 Songs Of PolyGram, BMI »

Everybody loves a nut the whole world loves a weirdo
Brains are in a rut but everybody loves a nut
[ piano ]
There was a hermit named Fred who kept the dead horse in his cave
And everyone said to Fred
Fred how come you keep a dead horse in your cave and he said well

(Everybody loves a nut the whole world loves a weirdo)
Brains are in a rut but everybody loves a nut
[ piano ]
A columbia man named Frank had a tiger named Hank
He tried to put Hank in his tank guess what happened to ol' Frank
When they picked up the teets there and eyeballs
And erected a tombstone that read

(Everybody loves a nut...
[ piano ]
Another Columbia fella told queen Isabella
I don't think the world is flat and now what do you think about that
And she said you don't and he said no ma'm
And she said he'd get out of my queendom and he said yes ma'm

(Everybody loves a nut...
Everybody loves a nut...
**********

2.
ONE ON THE RIGHT WAS ON THE LEFT
(Jack Clement)
« © '65 Songs Of PolyGram, BMI »

There once was a musical troop a pickin' singin' folk group
They sang the mountain ballads and the folk songs of our land
They were long on musical ability folks thought they would go far
But political incompatibility led to their downfall
Well the one on the right was on the left
And the one on the middle was on the right
And the one on the left was in the middle
And the guy in the rear was a methodist
[ ac.guitar ]
This musical aggregation toured the entire nation
Singing traditinal ballads and the folk songs of our land
They performed with great virtuosity and soon they were the rage
But political animosity prevailed upon the stage
Well the one on the right was on the left
And the one on the middle was on the right
And the one on the left was in the middle
And the guy in the rear burned his driver's licence
[ ac.guitar ]
When the curtain had ascended a hush fell on the crowd
As thousand there were gathered to hear the folk songs of our land
But they took their politics seriously and that night at the concert hall
As the audience watched deliriously they had a free for all
Well the one on the right was on the bottom
And the one on the middle was on the top
And the one on the left got a broken arm
And the guy on his rear said oh dear
[ ac.guitar ]
Now this should be a lesson if you plan to start a folk group
Don't go mixing politics with the folk songs of our land
Just work on harmony and diction play your banjo well
And if you have politicial conviction keep 'em to yourself
Now the one on the left works in the bank
And the one on the middle drives a truck
The one on the right's an all night DJ
And the guy in the rear got drafted
**********

3.
CUP OF COFFEE
(Jack Elliott)
« © '66 House Of Cash, BMI »

[ yodel ]
Man it sure is good to hear you singin' and yodelin' and pickin' again Jack Elliot
I been drivin' haulin' load of grain all day long
Got about three more hundred miles to go
And well I just dropped in to have a cup of coffee friend
Yeah I just dropped in to have a cup of coffee friend
Don't you offer me none of that whiskey don't need no wine
Gotta get that semi down the line
Sure good to see you again Jack been a long time now
How's Flo you still married to old Flo ain't you ha ha ha
Well just coffee thank you thank you very much
Whoa whoa well well it will cool it down a little bit what is it man
D'you make it yourself I like to hear you yodel
Just dropped in to have a cup of coffee friend
[ yodel ]
Sound good on that man that's the best part right there hope we ain't wakin' up Flo
Hey Flo old Flo she's a good 'un boy no I didn't mean nothin'
I just you know I knew Flo a long time ago we went to school together you know
Well I just dropped in to have a cup of coffee friend
Yeah dropped in to have a cup of coffee friend
In don't in the glass you gonna pour it in the glass whoa whoa whoa that's enough
Man put ice in and it's gonna run over whoa whoa
Man you got it all over the tablecloth makin' that stuff yourself
If that's what makes you yodel it's good to me
Just dropped in to have a cup of coffee friend
Dropped in to have a cup of coffee friend
Don't give me none of your liquor I don't want no wine
Gotta get that semi down the line I gotta haul a load of grain
Bout three hundred more miles I gotta get up and get out of here
If I can just find my cat my hat get outa here cat darn cat
No that's alright I can make it I can make it
I can make it alright mama say I can make it leave me alone
Whoa stepped right in her flowerbed oh she gonna raise cain tomorrow
Where's my truck at cause I thought I had it cross the street
Or on this side of the street alright you got an extra room
She won't mind okay you sure now put the blanket down around my feet
Get me up by six o'clock cause I don't want Flo catch me sleepin' in here
Boy she can flat raise your nose ha ha just let my arms hang loose
Warm as I can be I wants just to get me up about eight o'clock
And I'll have a cup of coffee cause you know Flo too
Yeah just dropped in to have a cup of coffee friend
Jack yodel for me one more time fore I go to sleep
[ yodel ]
I sure like to hear you yodel Jack Elliot
**********

4.
BUG THAT TRIED TO CRAWL AROUND THE WORLD
(J.R. Hall)
« © '66 Copper Creek Music, BMI / House Of Cash, BMI / Unichappell Music, BMI »

Now you've heard of folks with a lot of ambition
But I believe just about the biggest case of ambition I ever saw
Was in a bug that I saw crawlin' along the beach one day
He was a mighty ambitious bug
On the beach one early mornin' as a day was newly dawnin'
And the sun again was warmin' all the chill thru'out the land
I saw me a bug a walkin' and at first I thought he was quakin'
Then I found out he was talkin' while he crawled across the sand
He was crawlin' mighty straight at a slow but a steady gait
And when I asked him to wait he said oh come on crawl with me
But I said where you goin' and he said you'll be knowin'
For I'm gonna make a showin' and you'll someday see
Well I stood there by the ocean I suddenly had the notion
That I start this big promotion so this challenge I enfirled said the bug
So I gave my wife a hug and I left my confy rug
So I could be the only bug that ever crawled around the world
Well he seemed mighty small and it was a long way to crawl
And I'm sure he couldn't swim at all so I try to discourage my friend
I said you know the world is round and there's mighty lotta ground
And there some water to be found before you reach your journey's end
And he said now don't you fret there's problems to be met
But I'll make it you can bet and this deed will bring glory to my name
You know they said man would never fly now he's soarin' in the sky
Cause he had the will to try so let me win my fame
So he crawled on out of sight as he sought that splendoured height
Neither lookin' left nor right but slowly marchin' toward his goal
And my knowin' he had started on his journey as we parted
Kept me from feelin' too down hearted for he was a mighty ambitious soul
Well I've looked everywhere I've been and seen a lotta bugs since then
But not one quite like my little friend when I think of him I'm filled with pride
Did he make it I don't know he was crawlin' mighty slow and he had a long way to go
And all I can tell you folks is that he tried he sure was an ambitious bug
**********

5.
SINGING STAR'S QUEEN
(Waylon Jennings - Bill Mack)
« © '66 Waylon Jennings Music, BMI »

Twinkle twinkle little star who's the greatest star what are (Waylon)
[ piano - ac.guitar ]
Now Waylon is a singer a record sellin' star the ladies love him and his band
Oh he sings like a bird and he plays a fine guitar
But I doubt that he's a home lovin' man
You oughta see his woman she's really a queen he buys her the finest of clothes
For you talk about beauties like none you ain't seen
When Waylon's gone she lets me know

When he's gone a singing I'm gone with his queen spreadin' his money around
But if you'll look for me and I can't be seen you'll know that Waylon's back in town
[ piano - ac.guitar ]
When Waylon's gone a singing I'm wearin' his suit I smoke his imported cigars
I like his woman wear out his boots I chauffeur his limousine cars
When he's making money he has to stay gone but if you should hear that he's around
Go buy his latest record or go see his show help me keep ol' Waylon out of town

When Waylon's out singing I'm gone with his queen...

Starkle starkle little twink Waylon's the greatest star I think
Bring him to your town join his fan club the journal you get the journal every year
A dollar is about all is costs don't you dare miss it come see Waylon
**********

6.
AUSTIN PRISON
(Johnny Cash)
« © '66 Anne Rachel Music, ASCAP / Song Of Cash Music, ASCAP »

They had a warrant out for me all over the country
And I was trying to beat the raps in Idaho
I was breaking into a schoolhouse Sunday morning without warning
When I saw the sheriff coming for me slow from down below

His steel grey eyes were blazing when he saw me
His hand was on his gun when he rode up
He said you killed that woman I know you shot her why'd you do it
I'm taking you to Austin then I'm gonna lock you up

Well he tied me with a plow line the next morning
And he had me deep in Texas the next day
A crazy screaming lynch mob waited in the streets of Austin
But he put me in the jailhouse and he threw the key away
[ ac.guitar ]
A jury found me guilty three months later twelve evil men with murder in their eyes
They even took me out and said now show us where you killed her
And that wicked judge said now I here by sentence you to die
But here I am far away from Austin prison my friend the jailer handed me a file
Now all I want between me and there are a lot of friendly people
And miles and miles and miles and miles and miles and miles and miles
**********

7.
DIRTY OLD EGG-SUCKING DOG
(Jack Clement)
« © '66 Songs Of PolyGram, BMI »

Well he's not very handsome to look at aw he's shaggy and he eats like a hog
And he's always killin' my chickens that dirty old egg-sucking dog

Egg-sucking dog I'm gonna stamp your head in the ground
If you don't stay out of my henhouse you dirty old egg-sucking hound

Now if he don't stop eatin' my eggs up though I'm not a real bad guy
I'm goin' to take my rifle and send him to that great chicken house in the sky

Egg-sucking dog you're always a hangin' around
But you better stay out of my henhouse you dirty old egg-sucking hound
**********

8.
TAKE ME HOME
(Jack Clement - Allen Reynolds)
« © '63 Songs Of PolyGram, BMI »

Well I've been from Boston to LA seen Boulder Dam and Frisco Bay
I seen New York City and Washington
Seen Montreal and Saskatchewan and Rhode Island
And I've worked in three all night service stations and I drove a truck

Take me home my heart is heavy and my feet are sore
Take me home I don't wanna roam no more

Well I slept all night in a water trough
Had the flu and the croup and the whoopin' cough
Had the mumps and the measles and the seven years itch
And I can't count the times that I've had a cold and a sore throat
Not to mention all the times that I cut my fingers on a sardine can

Take me home my heart is heavy...

Well I can just see 'em all now just a gatherin' round
Mama's supper table when the sun goes down
And my good old pappy when the blessing is said
Fillin' up his plate with black eyed peas and all that stuff and side meat
And a great big hunk of my dear sweet mama's hot buttered cornbread

Take me home my heart is heavy...
Take me home my heart is heavy...
**********

9.
PLEASE DON'T PLAY RED RIVER VALLEY
(Johnny Cash)
« © '66 Anne Rachel Music, ASCAP / Song Of Cash Music, ASCAP »

Well I see you got yourself a brand new harmonica
Mail ordered from the Steagal's catalogue
Boy I hope you can learn to play it like Lonnie Glossom
And while you added you to oughta learn a verse or two
Of Red River Valley Oh My Darling Clementine or Salty Dog
Oh but please don't play Red River Valley
And how about Polly Wolly doodle all day and see
You know the only song I ever learned to play on my 2 dollar and 98 cent harmonica
That I got from Wayne Raney in Clint Texas
C-L-I-N-T Clint Texas was Red River Valley
Then she said farewell to my french harp and me
[ harmonica ]
Well I see you're doin' pretty good on your new harmonica
But don't you think you oughta learn about one more tune you know
See you hold it like you's gonna eat a handful of popcorn
And sometime you suck in and sometimes you blow
But friend now please don't play Red River Valley
And how about Polly Wolly doodle all day
Like I said the only song I ever learnd
On my 2 dollar and 98 cent harmonica that I got from Clint Texas
From Wayne Raney in Clint Texas was Red River Valley
Oh then she said farewell to my french harp and me
**********

10.
BOA CONSTRICTOR
(Shel Silverstein)
« © '66 Hollis Music, BMI »

I'm getting swallowed by a Boa Constrictor
By a Boa Constrictor by a Boa Constrictor
I'm getting swallowed by a Boa Constrictor and I don't like snakes one bit
What do you know he's swallowed my toe oh gee he's up to my knee
Oh my he's up to my thigh oh yummy he's up to my tummy
Oh fiddle he's up to my middle oh glum he's mashing my lungs
Now look here snake I don't look good with this long tail on me
It's all about I can say sneak except give me a break sneak
My torso's cold and it's startin' to mould Boa Constrictor how much can you hold
Oh yes he's up to my chest oh heck he's up to my neck
Nearly all in he's up to my chin oh dread he's swallowed my...excuse me
**********

11.
JOE BEAN
(Bud Freeman - Leon Pober)
« © '63 Vickers Music, ASCAP »

Well they're hangin' Joe Bean this mornin' for killin' a man in Arkansas
Funny thing about it Joe Bean never even heard of the man
In fact Joe Bean never has been to Arkansas
And to top that all today is Joe Bean's 20th birthday

See where the gallows stand Joe Bean see where the gallows stand
Just twenty short years from the day you were born you'll die by the hangman's hand
They're hangin' Joe Bean this mornin' for a shootin' that he never did
He killed twenty men by the time he was ten he was an unruly kid
But they're hangin' Joe Bean for the one shootin' that he never did
See through the prison bars Joe Bean see where the gallows stand
Just twenty short years from the day you were born you'll die by the hangman's hand
Well your mother's in capitol city asking Governor Simms for a stay
And it's really hard on her cause she knows
Where you were on that particular day
You were workin' Joe Bean hard workin' robbing the Santa Fe
Well the telegraph wires're hummin' hear the Governor's words come through
I can't set you free cause it's not up to me but this much Joe Bean I'll do
I'll join your mother in extending birthday greetings to you

Happy birthday Joe Bean happy birthday Joe Bean
Happy birthday dear Joe happy birthday to you

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