The Songs of Vicki Lawrence
From the album
"The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia"US: Bell 1120 / ©1973 Bell Records, Inc.
Australia: EMI/Stateside SOSL10105 / ©1973 Stateside/EMI Records, Inc.
England/Europe: EMI/Stateside SSL-10314 / ©1973 Stateside/EMI Records, Inc.
Japan: Bell BLPL-14 / ©1973 Bell Records, Inc.
Korea: Bell LM 2556 / ©1973 Bell Records, Inc.
Denmark: Bell 6C 006-94296 / ©1973 Bell / EMI Records
The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia
Bobby Russell
He was on his way home from candletop
Been two weeks gone and he thought he'd stop
At Webb's and have him a drink 'fore he went home to her
Andy Warlo said Hello
And he said Hi what's doin?
Woe said Sit down, I've got some bad news, it's gonna hurt
Said I'm your best friend and you know that's right
But your young bride ain't home tonight
Since you've been gone she's been seeing that Amos boy, Seth
Well he got mad and he saw red
And Andy said Boy don't you lose your head
Cause to tell you the truth, I've been with her myself
(CHORUS)
That's the night that the lights went out in Georgia
That's the night that they hung and innocent man
Well don't trust your soul to no backwoods southern lawyer
Cause the judge in the town's got bloodstains on his hands
Well Andy got scared and left the bar
Walkin' on home cause he didn't live far
See, Andy didn't have many friends and he just lost him one
Brother thought his wife must have left town
So he went home and finally found
The only thing papa had left him and that was a gun
So he ran off to Andy's house
Slippin' through the backwoods quiet as a mouse
Came upon some tracks too small for Andy to make
He looked through the screen at the back porch door
And he saw Andy lying on the floor in a puddle of blood
And he started to shake
Well the Georgia patrol was makin' their rounds
So he fired a shot just to flag 'em down
And a big bellied sheriff grabbed his gun
and said Why'd you do it?
The judge said guilty in a make believe trial
Slapped the sheriff on the back with a smile
Said Supper's waitin' at home and I gotta get to it
(Repeat Chorus - then to bridge)
(BRIDGE)
Well they hung my brother before I could say
The tracks he saw while on his way
To Andy's house and back that night were mine
And his cheatin' wife had never left town
And that's one body that'll never be found
See little sister don't miss when she aims her gun
(Repeat Chorus to fade)
Mr. Allison
Bobby Russell
Won't you come on in
Sit down in the den
Here's some mail that came for you
Love letters from your friend
Dumb of her to send them here, but worse
Didn't she know I would see them first?
Still they remain the same
No, I didn't read her name
There were times I wanted to
It drove me half insane
Wouldn't do no good to know who she is
Cause I've got my hands full just to keep my wits
(CHORUS)
So hold your head up Mr. Allison
Just look at me and say
That you don't need me like yesterday
Then you can go to her Mr. Allison
And not a word I'll say
What puzzles me so
Is the places that you go
Don't know why I brought it up
Cause I really don't want to know
Now you say she didn't mean a thing to you
And just last night you told her you were through
I thought you'd say that Mr. Allison
And that your memory of me was so strong
That you couldn't go along
Just couldn't go through with her Mr. Allison
And you had to come home
What's the matter with me?
Well, it's been a lonely week
I guess I need to go to bed
Cause I really have missed my sleep
Why the turn away tear and what's wrong?
Oh I see you want to come along
So hold your hand out Mr. Allison
I can bend, and so I'll mend
There's a little of you in every man
I understand you Mr. Allison
Welcome home, welcome home
So hold your hand out Mr. Allison
Killing Me Softly With His Song
Gimble / Fox
I heard he sang a good song
I heard he had a style
And so I came to see him
And listen for a while
And there he was this young boy
A stranger to my eyes
(CHORUS)
Strummin' my pain with his fingers
Singin' my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
I felt all flushed with fever
Embarrassed by the crowd
I felt he found my letters
And read each one outloud
I prayed that he would finish
Be he just kept right on
(Repeat Chorus)
He sang as if he knew me
In all my dark dispair
And then he looked right through me
As if I wasn't there
But he just kept on singing
Singing clear and strong
(Repeat Chorus)
Sensual Man
Tucker / Rado
You play a tune on me
Like no one ever played before
Touching every chord in me
Then leave me beggin' you for more
Traces of your touch
Stay warm inside my mind
And late at night I toss and turn
From wanting you I start to yearn yearn yearn yearn yearn
Sensual man
(CHORUS)
You built in me a desire
Much stronger than the sun
I shouldn't be playin' with fire
But into the burning flame I run
You make me love you like
The world is coming to an end
And when I'm through my love
I want the world to start again
Oh, but I belong to him
So all that I can do
While he's lovin' me, I close my eyes
And I pretend I'm lovin' you
Sensual man
(Repeat Chorus Twice)
Little Green Apples
Bobby Russell
And I wake up in the morning with my hair down in my eyes
And he says Hi
And I stumble to the breakfast table
While the kids are goin' off to school, goodbye
And he reaches out and takes my hand, squeezes it
Says How you feelin' hon?
And I look across at smilin' lips
That warm my heart and see my mornin' sun
And if that's not lovin' me
Then all I've got to say
God didn't make little green apples
And it don't rain in Indianapolis in the summertime
There's no such thing as Dr. Seuse
Disneyland or mother goose, no nursey rhymes
God didn't make little green apples
And it don't rain in Indianapolis in the summertime
And when myself is feelin' low
I think about his face aglow
To ease my mind
Sometimes I call him up, knowin' he's busy
And ask if he could get away and meet me
And we could grab a bit to eat
Don't you know that he drops what he's doin'
And hurries down to meet me
And I'm always late
And he sits waitin' patiently
And smiles when he first sees me
Cause he's made that way
And if that's not lovin' me
Then all I've got to say
God didn't make little green apples
And it don't snow in Minneapolis when the winter comes
There's no such thing as make believe
Puppy dogs and autumn leaves, no BB guns
He Did With Me
Sklerov / Lloyd
Look at you girl
Walkin' down the street for all the world to see
And if it seems you walk on air
Well, who wouldn't be ?
You're closer to your brand new love
With every step you take
And I can alsmost tell you
Every little move he'll make
(CHORUS)
Does he hold you till you're sleepin' softly every night?
Does he wake you with a kiss to share the morning light?
And when he loves you, does he close his eyes?
And reach for you each time you rise?
Has he told you yet, he'll never set you free?
He did with me
I used to smile
At how he'd leave his clothes all scattered on the floor
And leave the shower runnin'
And forget to close the door
The way he said each Sunday
Let's have breakfast here in bed
And all the toast that used to burn
While we'd make love instead
(Repeat Chorus to fade)
(For A While) We Helped Each Other Out
Bobby Russell
Remeber when I saw you standin'
Slightly cryin' and emtpy handed
With no one you could call your own?
Lookin' up to somethin', somewhere
Prayin' for life with no dispair
Beggin' that the world leave you alone
Well I guess I shouldn't have butted in
But it looked as though you could use a friend
And I'd lost one myself and was lookin' about
Remember it was kind of crazy
I held my hand out, you took it baby
And for a while we helped each other out
Remember how I dried every tear that you cried
And I gave you love to trust beyond a doubt
Whenever I was down you made me laugh
Brought me around, baby
For a while we helped each other out
Then one day in the mornin' sun
That time came that we knew would come
When in our hearts, there was love no more
I guess were just two of that kind
That look for love, but never find
The love in mind that we were lookin' for
But I'll always have a warm spot for ya
Cause at one time I adored ya
And if I pass this way again I'll shout
It may be a year 'fore I come through
But when I do I'll call on you
Cause at one time we helped each other out
It may be a year 'fore I come through
But when I do I'll call on you
Cause at one time we helped each other out
La la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la baby
For a while we helped each other out
It Could Have Been Me
Sklerov / Lloyd
Organ music softly playin'
Sounds of people's whispers sayin'
She's a pretty bride, you're such a lucky man
I smile and blink the tears away
And find the proper words to say
While achin' with a pain they just can't understand
(CHORUS)
It could have been me wearin' that dress of white
It could have been me holding you close tonight
It could have been me givin' your children life
Why can't it be me, to be your wife?
Now were gathered all together
You vow your love for worse or better
Lift her vail and kiss her with a tender glow
Then leadin' her back up the aisle
I try to meet your eyes and smile
But all the time my heart is breakin' so
(Repeat Chorus)
They toast the lovely bride and groom
And as you leave the noise room
They say that it's my turn to catch the bride's bouquet
And as the crowd goes streamin' past
And someone says He's hers at last
I hold my pretty flowers and slowly walk away
(Repeat Chorus to fade)
Dime A Dance
Bob Stone
I came to the city cause the folks back home
Thought I was pretty enough to make it
They bought me a ticket on a star bound greyhound
I was on my way
But I landed in a dance hall
Part-time money was all I could make
Sayin' Hey mister take a chance
It only costs you a dime a dance
And if you're lookin' for romance I'll be nice to you
Hey mister it's so cold when you don't have someone to hold
I'll do anything I'm told to do
Baby, I want you
At the time he was livin' with his wife and kids
She wasn't giving him the love he needed
He poured out his troubles at the Sleepwell motel
As I poured the wine
He that he was gonna marry me
If she'd only let him go
So a worn-out promise and a party gown keeps me in this town
Sayin' Hey mister take a chance
It only costs you a dime a dance
And if you're lookin' for romance I'll be nice to you
Hey mister it's so cold when you don't have someone to hold
I'll do anything I'm told to do
Baby, I want you
Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves
Bob Stone
I was born in the wagon of a travelin' show
Mama used to dance for the money they'd throw
Papa would do whatever he could
Preach a little gospel
Sell a couple bottles of Dr. Good
(CHORUS)
Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves
We'd hear it from the people of the town
They'd call us
Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves
But every night all the men would come around
And lay their money down
We picked up a boy just south of Mobil
Gave him a ride, filled him with a hot meal
I was sixteen he was twenty-one
Rode with us to Memphis
Papa would have shot him if he knew what he'd done
I never had schoolin' but he taught me well
With his smooth southern style
Three months later I'm a gal in trouble
And I haven't seen him for a while
Oh no, I haven't seen him for a while
She was born in the wagon of a travelin' show
Mama used to dance for the money they'd throw
Grandpa would do what ever he could
Preach a little gospel
Sell a couple bottles of Dr. Good
(Repeat Chorus)
How You Gonna Stand It
Bobby Russell
And you just pulled in your drive way
And you get out of your car
And the next door neighbor's collie
Stomps across the big backyard
And it looks a little different now
When you know it's missing love
And everyone knows how you feel
And no one really does
(CHORUS)
Baby, how you gonna stand it
How you gonna live
When there's no one left to live for
And there's no love left to give
When there's no one to put in with you
Like I did for so long
Baby, how you gonna stand it when I'm gone
Don't forget to taste the wine love
While you're young and it's still warm
Don't forget your sense of humor
In the sunshine and the storm
Don't forget to give the world a smile
As it goes passing by
Don't forget to hide your face, love
When you cry
(Repeat Chorus - Then to Bridge)
You could call them up and have a party
Everybody knows that parties end
Then who will sit with you after the party?
You're gonna find no one that's good a friend
And at four o'clock some mornin'
When the silence wakes your mind
And your eyes see something in the room
That I have left behind
And it's too early then to call a friend
So ya got to sit alone
And reality confronts you that I'm not comin' home
Baby how ya gonna stand it?
Who ya gonna call
When the memories suround you
From the bedroom to the hall
When there's no one there to cling to you
Like I did for so long
Baby, how you gonna stand it
How you gonna stand it
How you gonna stand it when I'm gone...
Lyrics copied from the lyric insert included with the Japanese pressing of the LP. Records pressed in Japan have inserts with the lyrics and other artists information. The lyrics are supplied to the record company directly from the song publishers to prevent any typographical errors.
Fun Fact # 1: "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves" was originally written as: "Gypsys & White Trash" but later changed by the song writer.
Fun Fact # 2: Others who have recorded
"The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia"
Lynn Anderson- 1974
Tanya Tucker (modified version)- 1981
Daniel Selby- 1985
Reba McEntire- 1991Fun Fact # 3: There is no Candletop, Georgia.
Fun Fact # 4: All the recording studio scenes from the film "You Light Up My Life" from 1977 were shot at United Western Studios where Vicki did her 1973 & 1974 recordings.
This entire web site and all contents copyright © 2002-2012 Daniel J. Selby.