home

 concerts

 lyrics

 shop

 gallery

 contact

The Jesse Winchester Collection

Anthology of Lyrics

Compiled by Alan Freeman

"The Best Of Jesse Winchester"

Tell Me Why You Liked Roosevelt

Tell me why you liked Roosevelt, poor man's friend
That's why I liked Roosevelt, poor man's friend
That's why I liked Roosevelt, poor man's friend
Good God almighty, he's the poor man's friend

Cause in the year of nineteen and thirty-two
We had no idea just what we would do
All our finances had flowed away
Till my dad got a job with the WPA

That's why I liked Roosevelt, poor man's friend
That's why I liked Roosevelt, poor man's friend
That's why I liked Roosevelt, poor man's friend
Good God almighty that's the poor man's friend
Good God almighty that's the poor man's friend

Tell me why you like Lester B
Tell me why you like Lester B
Tell me why you like Lester B
Good God almighty that's the poor man's friend
Good God almighty that's the poor man's friend

Cause in the year of nineteen and sixty-seven
I was a somewhat younger man
The call came to bloody glory came
And I would not raise my hand
Cause I'm baptized by water
So I'll pass on the one by fire
If you want to fight
Go on and fight if that be your desire

That's why I like Pierre Trudeau
That's why I like Pierre Trudeau
That's why I like Pierre Trudeau
Good God almighty that's the poor man's friend
Good God almighty that's the poor man's friend

Back to the top

Mississippi, You're On My Mind

I think I see a wagon rutted road
With the weeds growing tall between the tracks
And along one side runs a rusty barbed wire fence
And beyond that sits an old tar paper shack

Mississippi you're on my mind
Mississippi you're on my mind
Oh, Mississippi you're on my mind

I think I hear a noisy old John Deere
In a field specked with dirty cotton lint
And below the field runs a shady little creek
And there you'll find the cool green leaves of mint

Mississippi you're on my mind
Mississippi you're on my mind
Oh, Mississippi you're on my mind

I think I smell the honeysuckle vine
The heavy sweetness like to make me sick
And the dogs, my God, they're hungry all the time
And the snakes are sleeping where the weeds are thick

Mississippi you're on my mind
Mississippi you're on my mind
Oh, Mississippi you're on my mind

I think I feel an angry oven heat
The Southern Sun just blazes in the sky
In the dusty weeds a fat grasshopper jumps
I want to make it to that creek before I fry

Mississippi you're on my mind
Mississippi you're on my mind
Oh, Mississippi you're on my mind

©1974 Jesse Winchester
From the LP "Learn To Love It"

Back to the top

Yankee Lady

I lived with the decent folks
In the hills of old Vermont
Where what you do all day
Depends on what you want
And I took up with a woman there
Though I was still a kid
And I smile like the sun
To think of the loving that we did

She rose each morning and went to work
And she kept me with her pay
I was making love all night
And playing guitar all day
And I got apple cider and homemade bread
To make a man say grace
And clean linens on my bed
And a warm feet fire place

Yankee lady so good to me,
Yankee lady just a memory
Yankee lady so good to me,
Your memory that's enough for me

An autumn walk on a country road
And a million flaming trees
I was feeling uneasy
Cause there was winter in the breeze
And she said, "Oh Jesse, look over there,
The birds are southward bound
Oh Jesse, I'm so afraid
To lose the love that we've found."

Yankee lady so good to me,
Yankee lady just a memory
Yankee lady so good to me,
Your memory that's enough for me

I don't know what called to me
But I know that I had to go
I left that Vermont town
With a lift to Mexico
And now when I see myself
As a stranger by my birth
The Yankee lady's memory
Reminds me of my worth

Yankee lady so good to me,
Yankee lady just a memory
Yankee lady so good to me,
Your memory that's enough for me

©1971 Jesse Winchester
From the LP "Jesse Winchester"

Back to the top

Talk Memphis

Listen to you move your mouth
I bet you come from way down South
Please don't tell me let me guess
You're from the town that I love best

Talk Memphis, I wish you would
Talk Memphis, you sound so good
Talk Memphis, high on the bluff
I swear I can't get enough
Listening to you talk that stuff
Talk Memphis, oh yeah, talk Memphis

Now let's discuss some barbecue
We'll talk about the Tigers too
Every little sweet thing that you say
Just turns me on like 'DIA

Talk Memphis, I wish you would
Talk Memphis, you sound so good
Talk Memphis, high on the bluff
I swear I can't get enough
Listening to you talk that stuff
Talk Memphis, oh yeah, talk Memphis

I bet you bought some blue suede shoes
I bet you know West Memphis too
Cross that bridge on just two wheels
I bet you know how good that feels

Talk Memphis, I wish you would
Talk Memphis, you sound so good
Talk Memphis, high on the bluff
I swear I can't get enough
Listening to you talk that stuff
Talk Memphis, oh yeah, talk Memphis

(repeat chorus)

Where were you when Elvis died
A lot of folks sat and cried
Well, I don't mind telling you
That I did a little cryin too

Talk Memphis, I wish you would
Talk Memphis, you sound so good
Talk Memphis, high on the bluff
I swear I can't get enough
Listening to you talk that stuff
Talk Memphis, oh please, talk Memphis

©1981 Jesse Winchester
From the LP "Talk Memphis"

Back to the top

The Brand New Tennessee Waltz

Oh my, but you have a pretty face
You favor I girl that I knew
I imagine that she's back in Tennessee
And by God, I should be there too
I've a sadness too sad to be true

But I left Tennessee in a hurry dear
In same way that I'm leaving you
Because love is mainly just memories
And everyone's got him a few
So when I'm gone I'll be glad to love you

At the Brand New Tennessee Waltz
You're literally waltzing on air
At the Brand New Tennessee Waltz
There's no telling who will be there

When I leave it will be like I found you love
Descending Victorian stairs
And I'm feeling like one of your photographs, girl
Trapped while I'm putting on airs
Getting even by saying Who cares

At the Brand New Tennessee Waltz
You're literally waltzing on air
At the Brand New Tennessee Waltz
There's no telling who will be there

So have all your passionate violins
Play a tune for a Tennessee kid
Who's feeling like leaving another town
But with no place to go if he did
Cause they'll catch you wherever you're hid

At the Brand New Tennessee Waltz
You're literally waltzing on air
At the Brand New Tennessee Waltz
There's no telling who will be there

©1971,1976 Jesse Winchester
From the LP "Let The Rough Side Drag"
Previously Released On Jesse's First Album 1971

Back to the top

Biloxi

Down around Biloxi
Pretty girls are swimming in the sea
Oh they look like sisters in the ocean
The boy will fill his pail with salted water
And the storms will blow from off towards New Orleans

The sun shines on Biloxi
The air is filled with vapors from the sea
And the boy will dig a pool beside the ocean
He sees creatures from a dream under the water
And the sun will set from off towards New Orleans

The stars can see Biloxi
The stars can find their faces in the sea
We are walking in the evening by the ocean
We are splashing naked in the water
And the sky is red from off towards New Orleans

©1971 Jesse Winchester
From the LP "Jesse Winchester"

Back to the top

All Of Your Stories

You sorry old soldier, go home
You sorry old bad girl, go home
Cause by now you've seen it all
Just relax now and recall
All your stories forever and ever

Who will stand by you, no one
No brother no cousin, no one
But, by now you know it all
So relax now and recall
All your stories forever and ever

Oh now, goodness knows you might have done better
But then, Heaven knows you might have done worse
If you lit up the occasional candle
You're allowed the occasional curse

Oh you are a strange one, you are
You're betting on nothing, you are
But, by now you've won it all
So relax now and recall
All your stories forever and ever
All your stories forever and ever.

©1972 Jesse Winchester
From the LP "Third Down, 110 To Go"

Back to the top

Do La Lay

Baby do la lay my child
One and one made you
So right away we make you cry
To show you who is who

Oh, little child of love
I won't get in your way
Let the sun shine from above
Over you lovely do lay lay

(Hum chorus)

Oh, I am a father now
I can't get out of that
And you are my child now
You can't get out of that

And oh little child of love
I won't get in your way
Let me look out from above
Over you lovely do lay lay

©1972 Jesse Winchester
From the LP "Third Down, 110 To Go"

Back to the top

Skip Rope Song

I used to know a pretty girl
Who cut off all her hair
The scissors flew among the curls
And curls went everywhere

I gathered up her fallen locks
And carried them away
And put them in silver box
And keep them to this day

Song, sing, birdy with the wing
Perfect circle sun
The grown ups get to make the rules
And we have all the fun
Yes, we have all the fun

But now I am in love with you
And I hope that you will stay
And to prove that my love is true
I'll throw the curls away

Song, sing, birdy with the wing
Perfect circle sun
The grown ups get to make the rules
And we have all the fun
Yes, we have all the fun

©1971 Jesse Winchester
From the LP "Jesse Winchester"

Back to the top

Say What?

Hey girl say hey say what,
What you say
Hey girl say hey say what

The latest news is somewhat depressing
The latest figures are a little bit distressing
So what you say girl
We let it slide for a day darling
What you say

I get the word from Authur my broker
He says Sell it all, son and stick to poker
So what you say girl we let it slide for a day darling
Now what you say?

What's the big rush
What's the big hurry
We've all the time in the world
For the worry
We'll tell the world that we'll meet em on Sunday
Then we don't show up until Monday

Hey girl say hey say what,
What you say?
Hey girl say hey say what

Now I don't sweat it that much as a rule
But lately it's been rough keeping cool
Say what you say we let it slide for a day
Darling what you say?

What's the big rush
What's the big hurry
We've all the time in the world
For the worry
We'll tell the world that we'll meet em on Sunday
Then we don't show up until Monday

The daily grind is getting me frantic
I see myself as a laid back romantic
So, oh, what you say if
We just let it slide for a day girl
What you say?

Hey girl say hey say what,
What you say?
Hey girl say hey say what,
What you say?
Hey girl say hey say what,
What you say?
Now darling
Listen girl you tell me what you say
Darling oh tell me what you say
Lover won't you tell me what you say?

©1981 Jesse Winchester
From the LP "Talk Memphis"

Back to the top

Rhumba Man

I'm the same old guy that I used to be
I haven't changed at all
I got the same old walk and the same old talk
That would run you up the wall
The same old face and the same old smile and
The same old baby blues
And I'm still doing the rhumba, baby
So I'm still the man for you

I'm still doing the rhumba baby
I can't seem to quit
If my mama catches us doing the rhumba
Mama would just pitch a fit
But I can't help myself, it's much bigger than me
If I were you, I'd hang onto a rhumba man like me

There's lots of guys on the floor tonight
With a lot slicker steps than me
The boogaloo and the funky broadway
Are such a pretty sight to see
My step might be old fashioned
But it's just fine with me
I got a couple of rhumba steps
You might like to see

I'm still doing the rhumba baby
I can't seem to quit
If my mama catches us doing the rhumba
Mama would just pitch a fit
But I can't help myself, it's much bigger than me
If I were you, I'd hang onto a rhumba man like me

©1977 Jesse Winchester
From the LP "Nothing But A Breeze"

Back to the top

A Showman's Life

A showman's life is a smokey bar,
The fevered chase of a tiny star,
It's a hotel room and a lonely wife
From what I've seen of a showman's life

Nobody told me about this part
They told me all about the pretty girls and wine
The money and good times
No mention of the wear and tear on an old honkey-tonker's heart
Well, I might have known it
But nobody told me about this part

A boy will dream as children do
Of a great white way, 'til the dream comes true
And a phoney smile in a colored light
Is all it is to a showman's life

Nobody told me about this part
They told me all about the pretty girls and wine
The money and good times
No mention of the wear and tear on an old honkey-tonker's heart
Well, I might have known it
But nobody told me about this part

©1978 Jesse Winchester
From the LP "A Touch On The Rainy Side"

Back to the top

Do It

If the wheel is fixed
I would still take a chance
If we're treading on thin ice
Then we might as well dance
So I play the fool
But I can't sit still
Help me get this rock
To the top of this hill

Do it
'Til we're sick of it
Do it 'till you can't do it no more

Friends will pity you
I guess that's what they're for
But they just take you like they find you
When they find you on the floor

But you do it
Til you sick of it
Do it til you can't do it no more

©1972 Jesse Winchester
From the LP "Third Down, 110 To Go"

Back to the top

Defying Gravity

I live on a big round ball
I never do dream I may fall
And even one day if I do
Well, I'll jump off and smile back at you

I don't even know where we are
They tell you we're circling a star
Well, I'll take their word, I don't know
But I'm dizzy so it may be so

I'm riding a big round ball
I never do dream I may fall
But one day the high must lay low
So when I do fall I'll be glad to go
Yeah, when I do fall I'll be glad to go

©1974 Jesse Winchester
From the LP "Learn To Love It"

Back to the top