Tombstone Blues - Take 1, Alternate Take
Lyrics
The sweet pretty things are in bed now, of course ♪ The city fathers they are planning to endorse The reincarnation of Paul Revere's horse But the town has no need to be nervous The ghost of Belle Starr she hands down her wits To Jezebel the nun she violently knits A bald wig for Jack the Ripper who sits At the head of the chamber of commerce Mama's in the factory, she's carrying in a fuse Daddy's in the alley, ain't got no shoes I am in the kitchen with the tombstone blues ♪ The hysterical bride in the penny arcade Screaming she moans, "I've just been made" Then sends out for the doctor who pulls down the shade And says, "My advice is to not let the boys in" And now the medicine man comes and he shuffles inside He walks with a swagger and he says to the bride "Stop all this weeping, swallow your pride You will not die, it's not poison" Daddy's in the factory, ain't got no shoes Mama's in the alley, she's lighing the fuse I'm in the kitchen with the tombstone blues ♪ The blacksmith with frackles after torturing a thief Looks up at his hero, the commander-in-chief Saying, "Tell me great hero, but please make it brief Is there a hole for me to get sick in?" ♪ The commander-in-chief answers him while chasing a fly Saying, "Death to all those who would whimper and cry" And dropping a bar bell he points to the sky Saying, "The sun's not yellow, it's chicken" Mama's in the kitchen, she ain't wearin' no shoes Daddy's in the factory, he's lighting the fuse I'm in the alley, I am not ♪ The king of the Philistines his soldiers to save Puts jawbones on their tombstones and flatters their graves Puts the pied pipers in prison and he fattens the slaves And sends them out to the jungle ♪ Gypsy Davey with a blowtorch he burns out their camps With his faithful slave Pedro behind him he tramps With a fantastic collection of stamps To win friends and influence his uncle Daddy's in the factory, ain't wearin' no shoes Mama's in the alley, she's lighting the fuse I'm in the kitchen with the tombstone blues ♪ The geometry of innocent flesh on the bone It's Galileo's math book to get thrown At Delilah who's sitting worthlessly alone But the tears on her cheeks of the laughter ♪ I wish I could give Brother Bill his great thrill I would set him in chains at the top of the hill And send out for some pillars and Cecil B. DeMille He could die happily ever after Mama's in the kitchen, ain't wearing no shoes Daddy's in the owen, he's lightin' the fuse I'm in the factory with the tombstone blues ♪ Where Ma Rainey and Beethoven once unwrapped their bed roll Tuba players now rehearse around the flagpole And the National Bank sellin' road maps for the soul To the old folks home in the college ♪ I wish I could write you a melody so plain That could hold you, dear lady, from going insane That could cool you and ease you and cease the pain Of your pointless and useless knowledge Daddy's in the kitchen, he ain't got no shoes Mama's in the factory, she's lightin' the fuse I'm in the kitchen with the tombstone blues Alright
Audio Features
Song Details
- Duration
- 07:28
- Key
- 9
- Tempo
- 113 BPM
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