i keep the radio on most all night long listen to the songs they play
sometimes i hum tap along with my thumb listen to the words they say
and i have to admit those yesterday hits take me back a year or two
i get those 1953 dear john honky tonk blues for you
i get those 1953 dear john honky tonk blues
well i need help when i hear no help wanted
remembering where we first heard lovesick blues
old songs make me wonder what you’re doing
i get those 1953 dear john honky tonk blues

gonna play this song for rollin’ john the wild side of life
it’s rolly polly a golden oldie for carl and his brand new wife
makes me feel sad but it ain’t half bad rememberin’ the things i’d do
i get those 1953 dear john honky tonk blues for you
i get those 1953 dear john honky tonk blues
well i need help…

well i went to a turkey roast down the street
the people down there are eatin’ like wild geese
so i’m on my way goin’ back to alabam
talkin’ about your people havin’ a lot of time
eatin’ up their chickens and drinkin’ their wine
i’m on my way goin’ back to alabam
some folks say that a tramp won’t steal but i cought three in my corn field
i’m on my way i’m a goin’ on back to alabam
well one had a bushel and one had a peck one had a roast’near tied around his neck
i’m on my way i’m a goin’ back to alabam
[ guitar ]
hey there comes sal walkin’ down the street with the run down shoes tied on her feet
mornin’ honey i’m on my way to alabam
hey hello sal now how are you with the run down slipper and tore up shoe
i’m on my way goin’ back to alabam
when i get ready to leave this earth i’m a goin’ back to my money’s worth
i’m on my way i’m a goin’ on back to alabam i’m a goin’ on back to alabam

mosquitos buzzin’ round my head spanish moss for my bed
i sail them sea dried land cause i’m an alligator man
i hunt the gator all night long sell his hidin’ then i’m gone
i pick all the bells i can they love the alligator man
this country is my home from this place i’ll never roam
i’m the leader of the clan i’m the alligator man
when i bring my hides to town all the people gather round
they just want to shake the hand of the top gator man
[ guitar ]
some people search this world for fame but fightin’ gators is my game
see the scars on my hand i’m the alligator man
top gator man until i die if i marry by and by
a pretty belle from the clan i’ll still be top gator man
this country is my home…
i’m the alligator man i’m the alligator man i’m the alligator man

my baby is an angel don’t tell me she can’t fly
cause when i’m with her i’m way off the ground
but hear lately they say angel has been flyin’ kind of line
and i think some devil brought my angel down
i can’t imagine angel just leaving me behind
she said the world was hers with me around
and all the things i’ve planned always with her in mind
but i think some devil brought my angel down
i’m gonna keep on looking high and low for her i can’t let her fly away from me
if i can’t find her i can’t show her love can grow
cause the way i love her she will plainly know
that my angel is my baby and i need her oh so much
but she’s lost and i’m afraid that she’s been flown
but maybe she’ll remember and fly back to my arms
but i think some devil brought my angel down
yeah i think some devil brought my angel down

the place i would like to see i know but not the place where you told me to go
so anything that moves will be ok i’ll take anything leaving town today
you may think that i’m joking when i’m talking
but to get away from you i may try walking
i want something that’s moving right away i’ll take anything leaving town today
i got a sudden urge to get away
i’d like to cut my time away from town
but i know there ain’t no airport in this bitty town
don’t think i’m leaving just for what i think of you
but i’d even crawl not knowing where i’m crawling to
don’t think it has it hasn’t leave it lay i’ll take anything leaving town today