Johnny Cash - Songwriter Album Lyrics

Hello out there, this is planet Earth
Calling (calling, calling, calling, calling)
Hello out there, our net worth
Is falling (falling, falling, falling, falling)

We're the third from the sun
We are blue and white
Spinning (spinning, spinning, spinning, spinning)
If you wish upon a star, wish upon us tonight
We're dimming (dimming, dimming, dimming, dimming)

Hello out there, we're in the Milky Way
Sailing (sailing, sailing, sailing, sailing)
In this final fight for life and peace
We're failing (failing, failing, failing, failing)

Hello out there, you'll see a morning star
Gaining (gaining, gaining, gaining, gaining)
And the alpha and the omega will be
Reigning (reigning, reigning, reigning, reigning)

And the die is cast and the lines are drawn
And the time is soon to be
When the angels sound their seven trumpets
'Cross the land and the sea

And the King will come and reign a thousand years
And restore His earthly realm
And there will be no night, for He will be our light
Throughout eternity with Him

Hello out there, hello out there
Hello, hello, hello, hello, hello

Spotlight, don't let it show
That my heart went with her when I let her go
Don't let anybody see deep within the soul of me
Or they'll see that something there is not quite right
Tonight, spotlight

Spotlight, that's way too much
Let there be upon the air, a tender touch
Let your magic velvet hue bathe me in a gentle blue
Softly so there's not a single tear in sight
Tonight, spotlight

Spotlight, the tears are gone
Blind me 'til I'm standing here alone
Don't let me recall again anything that might have been
Let me feel that losing her will be alright
Tonight, spotlight
Tonight, spotlight
Tonight, spotlight

I got a friend named Whiskey Sam
He was my boonierat buddy for a year in Nam
He said is my country just a little off track
Took 'em twenty-five years to welcome me back
But, it's better than not coming back at all
Many a good man
I saw fall And even now,
every time I dream I hear the men
and the monkeys in the jungle scream

Drive on, don't mean nothin'
My children love me , but they don't understand
And I got a woman who knows her man
Drive on, don't mean nothin', drive on

I remember one night,
Tex and me Rappelled in on a hot L.Z.
We had our 16's on rock and roll
But, with all that fire,
was scared and cold
We were crazy, we were wild
And I have seen the tiger smile
I spit in a bamboo viper's face
And I'd be dead , but by God's grace

Drive on, don't mean nothin'
My children love me, but they don't understand
And I got a woman who knows her man
Drive on, don't mean nothin', drive on

It was a real slow walk in a real sad rain
And nobody tried to be John Wayne
I came home, but Tex did not
And I can't talk about the hit he got
I got a little limp now when
I walk Got a little tremolo when
I talk But my letter read from Whiskey Sam
You're a walkin' talkin' miracle from Vietnam

Drive on, don't mean nothin'
My children love me, but they don't understand
And I got a woman who knows her man
Drive on, don't mean nothin', drive on

It sure has been a party, hasn't it, baby?
We've really been down that road a time or two
We checked into the best hotels from San Francisco to Paris
And lived like royalty, me and you

But remember years ago in that church in Ottawa?
We told God of our love and asked for His care
And so He made us happen and He blessed us
So if we were in the fold or out, He was always there

And I love you tonight
Even more than I loved you in the sixties
And I know that we are right
Even more than I knew it in the seventies
Oh, baby, ain't we a sight?
Can you believe we made it through the eighties?
And will we make the millennium? Well, we might
I love you tonight

It's funny how we never settle down
Though we love our home and sittin' by the fire
But we can't be at home for three days till we get itchy feet
And people always ask, "When are you gonna retire?"

But your people have always been my people
And you have always gone wherever I go
And when it's all over, I hope we will go together
I don't want you to be alone, you know

And I love you tonight
Even more than I loved you in the sixties
And I know that we are right
Even more than I knew it in the seventies
Oh, baby, ain't we a sight?
Can you believe we made it through the eighties?
And will we make the millennium? Well, we might
I love you tonight

Have you ever been to Little Rock?
Have you ever been to Little Rock?
Those Arkansas women
Born with beauty and grace

Up in the Ozark Mountains
The one they call Betty Jean
You can see God's country
Put a smile on your face

It's the land of my family
Down in Cleveland County
It's where my mama and daddy were born
Where the singing pines grow

They got some hot spring water
Down in the Ouachita country
Wash away your misery
You feel like Henry Ford

Right off the scenic highway
Shake the hand of a farmer
Have a cool watermelon that weighs a hundred pounds
And in the Mississippi Delta land
They're growing rice and cotton
In the fields all week long
Saturday night in town

Yes, I love my people
And I'm proud of my raisin'
Sweet Arkansas memories until they leave me down

Have you ever been to Little Rock?
Have you ever been to Little Rock?
Those Arkansas women
Born with beauty and grace

I met her at the laundromat, she was washing extra hot
I said, "Don't you need a little help with that big load you got?"
She said, "No," but did a double take and then she smiled and said, "I might"
As I rolled up my sleeves, I said to myself, "Well, alright, well, alright"

I put it on automatic and she sat down on the floor
She said, "Just keep it on medium hot," I said, "I've done this before"
Then I opened up the dryer and I set it on soft and light
She said, "Be gentle with my silk and lace," and I said, "Well, alright"

Mm-hm-hm
Mm-hm-hm
Mm-hm-hm
Well, alright

Her clothes werе in the basket folded down, so nicе and warm
She headed for the door and I said, "I will take you home"
She said, "I just live up the street," I said, "It's a dangerous night"
Take my arm and I'll carry the basket," and she said, "Well, alright, well, alright"

The world's half full of women and the world's half full of men
And sometimes one or the other opens up to let one in
But the one I met at the laundromat that dangerous beautiful night
Said, "Yes, I do, and yes, I will," and I said, "Well, alright"

Mm-hm-hm
Mm-hm-hm
Doodle-doodle-do
Well, alright

She had a heart full of love
For her baby, for life and James Taylor
She nursed her baby and she closed her eyes
She was a cowgirl, truck driver and sailor

In her mind, she wasn't abandoned
Though the baby was all that she had
She was lonely at night when the babe was asleep
But when singin', it wasn't so bad

And she sang, Sweet Baby James
And she flew over the turnpikes, the mountain and sea
And she looked to the skies, where heaven should be
Said, could it be there's no heaven for me?
The only difference in my life and hell are the flames
So she sang, Sweet Baby James

She had to work for a livin'
And her mom kept the babe every day
The drivin' paid minimum wages to all
And was so little carry-home pay

But she'd take her own flights of fancy
Each time she found herself alone
She'd get on her dream song and she'd sail away
With her baby to find that new home

And she sang Sweet Baby James
And she flew over the turnpikes, the mountains and sea
And she looked to the skies, where heaven should be
Said, could it be there's no heaven for me?
The only difference in my life and hell are the flames
So she sang, Sweet Baby James

The only difference in my life and hell are the flames
So she sang, Sweet Baby James

She could never give up the homestead on the farm
Where they handed off tobacco in the big tobacco barn
And the long straight rows that ran
From the house down to the road
That went to AP Carter's door down the logging truck she rode

Oh, she'd sit and she'd gaze at the foggy mountain top
Where the swift hawk circled 'round the clinch mountain rocks
At the school down in Hiltons she would read about the world
Created to be conquered by this poor valley girl

Her mother was an Addington from over Copper Creek
Her father was of sturdy stock, she was royal but meek
Her laughter was infectious, her music was pure joy
She'd win the hearts of many men as she had many a boy

Her mother became famous, Maybelle and her guitar
With sisters Helen and Anita, the family was four star
She gave the world two daughters
And a son with auburn curls
And I thank God that He gave me
This sweet poor valley girl

Oh, she'd sit and she'd gaze at the foggy mountain top
Where the swift hawk circled 'round the clinch mountain rocks
At the school down in Hiltons she would read about the world
Created to be conquered by this poor valley girl

Here comes the boy with a backpack on
He's going anywhere but home
Be some changes while he's gone
He's got a job to carry on

Here comes a boy in a dark green suit
Size eleven combat boots
He can run and he can shoot
He's got a gun, it goes root-toot-toot

Here's comes a jet with a tail of white
He'll be there before daylight
Got some wrongs to be made right
May not return but I think he might

Here comes a ship sailing out to sea
Boys on deck for all to see
Wavin' bye to you and me
Keep the land and the water free

Solider boy, walkin' boy, sailor boy and flyin' boy
You won't be no boy no more
After what you're going for
And all you women, thanks to you
Doing what you have to do
Praying for you till you're through
Doodle, doodle, doo, doodle, doo, doo, doo

Here comes the boy with a backpack on
He's going anywhere but home
Be some changes while he's gone
He's got a job to carry on

Solider boy, walkin' boy, sailor boy and flyin' boy
You won't be no boy no more
After what you're going for
And all you women, here's to you
Doing what you have to do
Peace because of all of you
Doodle, doodle, doo, doodle, doo, doo, doo

So you gave up all between us for a glamorous carear
And with all your talent you should be the big star of the year
Then you'll be public property so I release my claim to you
Go on and give 'em all you've got sing it pretty Sue
I can't take just part of you and give the world a half
So Smile for all the papers and give 'em autographs
Go on to all the cities so your public can see you
But I'll watch on television so sing it pretty Sue
[ guitar ]
I hope you'll soon be on the top of every hitparade
I'll try to be excited bout the progress that you've made
I'll collect your pictures like any fan would do
And I'll buy all your records so sing it pretty Sue
But I won't ever tell a soul that we have ever met
I'll just be one of millions who'll give the praise you get
And maybe every year or so I'll drop a card to you
To tell you I'm still listening so sing it pretty Sue

With the twilight colors falling
And the evening laying shadows
Hidden memories come stealing from my mind
As I feel my own heart beating out
The simple joy of living
I wonder how I ever was that kind

But the wild road I was rambling
Was always out there calling
And they said a hundred times I should have died
But now my present miracle
Is that you're here beside me So,
I believe they were roads that I was meant to ride

Like a soldier getting over the war
Like a young man getting over his crazy days
Like a bandit getting over his lawless ways
Every day is better than before
I'm like a soldier getting over the war

There were nights I don't remember
And there's pain that I've forgotten
Other things I choose not to recall
There are faces that come to me
In my darkest secret memory
Faces that I wish would not come back at all

In my dreams parade of lovers
From the other times and places
There's not one that matters now, no matter who
I'm just thankful for the journey
And that I've survived the battles
And that my spoils of victory are you