I’m going back
Carson Robison, approx. 1935-1945· Novelty / Silly / Funny Songs · p.441
D A
I’M GOING BACK TO WHERE I COME FROM
D
WHERE THE HONEYSUCKLE SMELLS SO SWEET IT DARNED NEAR MAKES YOU SICK
A
I USED TO THINK, MY LIFE WAS HUMDRUM,
D A D
WELL, I FINALLY LEARNED A LESSON THAT IS BOUND TO STICK,
G D
THERE AIN’T NO USE, IN MY PRETENDING
E A
‘CAUSE THE CITY SURE AIN’T NO PLACE FOR GUY LIKE ME TO END IN
D A
GOING BACK TO WHERE I COME FROM,
D A D
WHERE THE MOCKINGBIRD IS SINGING IN THE LILAC BUSH,
I USED TO GO, DOWN TO THE STATION
EVERY EVENING JUST TO WATCH THAT PULLMAN TRAIN COME ROLLING IN.
AND THEN ONE NIGHT, THAT GREAT TEMPTATION
GOT THE BEST OF ME AND LED ME TO A LIFE OF SIN,
I TOOK MY HAT, AND FOURTEEN DOLLARS,
AND I WENT TO ALL THAT TROUBLE OF THAT LIFE THAT ALWAYS FOLLOWS WHEN YOU’RE RICH,
AND HUNTING ROMANCE. WELL, MY HUNTING DAYS ARE OVER, I CAN TELL YOU THAT.
I MET A GAL, IN KANSAS CITY,
SHE WINKED AT ME AND ASKED ME IF I’D LIKE TO STEP AROUND,
AND I SAID, “YUP, THAT’S WHAT I’M HERE FOR”
SO, SHE SAID SHE’D TAKE ME TO THE HOTTEST SPOTS IN TOWN,
BUT THERE WERE THINGS SHE HAD TO FIX UP
SO, SHE TOOK MY FOURTEEN DOLLARS, BUT THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A MIX-UP
SHE’S BEEN GONE, SINCE THURSDAY EVENING,
AND I GOT A HUNCH I’LL NEVER SEE THAT GAL NO MORE
WHEN I GROW UP, AND HAVE A GRANDSON
WELL, I’LL TELL HIM ‘BOUT MY ROMANCING AND WATCH HIS EYES BUG OUT
BUT CHANCES ARE – HE WON’T BELIEVE ME,
AND HE’LL DO THE SAME DARNED THING WHEN HE GROWS UP, NO DOUBT.
BUT HE CAN’T SAY, I DIDN’T WARN HIM,
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN WHEN HE MEETS UP WITH THEM CITY GALS GOL DURN ‘EM
GOING BACK TO WHERE I COME FROM,
WHERE THE MOCKINGBIRD IS SINGING IN THE LILAC BUSH