In my transcription, I have put the spoken patter in italics; the rest is sung. See Arkie's initial post for the link.


TOO MUCH SUGAR FOR A DIME
Words and music by Merle Travis.
As sung as a duet by Judy Hayden and Merle Travis with the Westerners in a 1951 "Soundie."

[MT:] Well, look who's here! If it ain't Judy Hayden! Hello, honey!
[JH:] Oh, hello, Travis. What's the big boast today? Have you bought the London Bridge?
[MT:] Aw, that little ol' thing? I just purchased Fort Knox. Now, if you'd like a new mink coat, some'n' like that—
[JH:] Wait a minute! Wait a minute!

That's too much sugar for a dime.
You're always handin' me a line. [MT:] That happens in the best convertibles.
[JH:] Always braggin' 'bout all you got—
Swimmin' pool and a fancy yacht—
I bet you don't know nothin' about a boat. [MT:] They float!
[JH:] That's too much honey for my hive. [MT:] What's your buzzin', queen bee?
[JH:] All you do is pitch a lot o' jive. [MT:] See what I mean?
Well, I know, honey, I've done you dirt,
But you you can wipe your shoes on my silk shirt.
[BOTH:] That's too much sugar for a dime.

[JH:] You've got too much sugar for a dime. [MT:] I got barrels o' that stuff.
[JH:] Yak yak, yak, all o' the time! [MT:] Yak-along Travis, that's me.
[JH:] Now if you could sing like Gordon Macrae,
King Cole, and Mel Torme,
Then maybe I would come down off the shelf. [MT:] I'm a Tex Ritter man myself.
[JH:] That's too much candy for the cost. [MT:] Ha ha! I wouldn't say that.
[JH:] So do me a favor. [MT:] What's that? [JH:] Get lost.
[MT:] Well, I guess I'll give the devil his due.
[JH:] No, no, Travis! I might refuse.
[BOTH:] That's too much sugar for a dime.

[MT:] Hey, this ol' dime ain't no good no way!
[JH:] What's the matter with it?
[MT:] It's got a picture of Dave Barber on it.
[JH:] Well turn it over; there's a picture of Peggy Lee on the other side.
[BOTH:] That's too much sugar for a dime.


[Tennessee Ernie Ford also recorded this with Judy Hayden. The words vary somewhat from the above. There are other songs with the same title.]