Gene Watson

From somewhere outside, I hear a
Street vendor cry "filet gumbo"
From my window I see him, going
Down the street and he don't know
That we fell right to sleep
In the damp tangled sheets so soon
After love in the hot afternoon

Now the bourbon street lady,
sleeps like a baby in the shadows
(in the shadows)
She was new to me, full of mystery,
But now I know (but know I know)
That she's just a girl,
And I'm just a guy, in a room
Full of love in the hot afternoon

We got high in the park,
This morning and we sat, without talkin'
Then she came back here,
In the heat of the day, tired of walkin'
Where under her breath,
She hummed to herself a tune
Of Love in the hot afternoon

I got troubles, you got troubles
All God's children got troubles
Livin' in bad water, (bad water)
(Tryin' to roll all over me)
(Bad water, bad water ooooh)
(Tell me why won't you set me free)

You know I'm tryin' to make it
But it's so hard to take it
I don't mind tellin' you
Well, I don't mind tellin' you
Taxes are overated
My money's disentergrated
And, right now, I'm just goin' through
Nothin' but, bad water, bad water
Tryin' to roll all over me, oooh
(Bad water, bad water ooooh)
Tell me why won't you set me free

I need some consolation
To ease my situtation
You know, the confusion just won't stop
I find myself alone
With the shoes that I have on
I'm all wet, from bottom to top
I'm walkin' through, bad water, (bad water)
Tryin' to roll all over me, help me
(Bad water, bad water ooooh)
Tell me why won't you set me free

We started this decision
To find a quick prevention
Why don't ya'll lend a helping hand
Instead of shoutin' and screamin'
Let's plan instead of dreamin'
So the world will understand
Oh, stop with this bad water, (bad water)
Tryin' to roll all over me, I'll fix it
(Bad water, bad water ooooh)
Tell me why won't you set me free
Oh, let's stop and fish
(Bad water, bad water)
fade (Tryin' to roll all over me)

Come in, pretty lady, you've just made my night
I wasn't too sure that you'd call
Sit down and I'll fix you a drink if you like
It's late but the morning's still young
I'm glad you could make it, I hoped you'd get by
I thought about this all week through
What's that, what's the matter, what's making you cry
You say it'e the first time for you

Leave if you'd rather not lose what you came for
Walk out the same door that I let you in
Leave if you'd rather not lose what you came with
Stay and you'll find this is where love begins

It's not like we're strangers I've kissed your warm lips
But someone was always right there
But now we're alone so there's no buts or ifs
Come here, let me take down your hair

Leave if you'd rather not lose what you came for
Walk out the same door that I let you in
Leave if you'd rather not lose what you came with
Stay and you'll find this is where love begins

Our bodies lay here side by side
But our thoughts have turned the other way
We make the conversation of two people
Who have nothing left to say
We're so accustomed to each other
We no longer care or bother
And there lies the danger
You know the size of clothes I wear
And you know how I comb my hair
But you could know as much about a stranger

I can't remember the last time
That I really wanted you
And we both say nothing's wrong
But it's here in everything we do
So we get up from our beds
Leaving many things unsaid
And there lies the danger
Many of my words you don't hear
You seldom notice if I'm near
You could know as much about a stranger

What went wrong, I can't name it
Find the fault, I can't blame it
On any one thing
We're so used to things this way
Tomorrow's just like yesterday
And there lies the danger
You know the colour of my eyes
You know the things I despise
But you could know as much about a stranger
Yes, you could know as much about a stranger

The sun goes down in Calvin county
Neon lights from an old beer sign
Shown through the window out on the sidewalk
As I walked in to pass the time;
I looked around, sat down at a table
Ordered beef on rye and a glass of wine
And through the door came a little old lady
She was selling paper roses and they only cost a dime.

Paper Rosie, Paper Rosie
She sold you Paper Roses, But they only cost a dime.

Silver hair that's lost its' Gold
Trembling hand as she passed the rose
Red Crepe paper, made nature's bouquet
Help a little old lady buy a rose today;
I took the rose from her trembing hand
With eyes of age, she smilled and walked away
Like a breath of spring I could smell the rose
It came alive and I heard her say.

Buy my Roses, pretty roses
They're only made of paper
But they only cost a dime.

I went to look for her outside
A spray of roses lay by her side
The sky lit up and the choir sang
A thousand voices as the church bells rang.

They sang Rosie (Rosie), paper Rosie (Rosie)
She sold you Paper Roses
But they only cost a dime.

Paper Rosie (Rosie), Paper Rosie (Rosie)
She sold you paper roses
But they only cost a dime.

Well just before sunrise in the morning,
I'll be on the highway headed home.
Home is just a little bit east of Nashville,
Where the Tennessee River winds along.

Im' a gonna hear the roosters crowing,
Sourwood Mountains.
I've got that home sick feeling in my bones.
I'll trade some of these travelin blues for some Tennessee Sunshine
Tennessee Sunshining blues, lovin you.

I worked in the Texas sand picking cotton,
and I tried rodeo'in last fall.
I worked in a Catipillar factory in Peoria Illinois,
and travelled Canada east of Montreal.

Im' a gonna hear the roosters crowing,
Sourwood Montains
I've got that home sick feeling in my bones.
I'll trade some of these travelin blues for some Tennessee Sunshine
Tennessee Sunshining blues, lovin you.

Wondering if folks back home will know me.
since they've saw me, I've lost 30 pounds.
I sure have missed my Mama's country cooking,
And the Sunday singing's better on the ground.

Im' a gonna hear the roosters crowing,
Sourwood Montains
I've got that home sick feeling in my bones.
I'll trade some of these travelin blues for some Tennessee Sunshine
Tennessee Sunshining lovin you.
Tennessee Sunshining lovin you.
Tennessee Sunshining lovin you.
Tennessee Sunshining lovin you.