as printed in Sing Out!, V42#2, (Fall 1997) page 114,
Ain't nothing in the world That I like better Than bacon and lettuce And homegrown tomatoes. Up in the mornin' Out in the garden Get you a ripe one, Don't get a hard one. Plant 'em in the spring, Eat 'em in the summer, All winter without 'em's A culinary bummer. I forget all about The sweatin' and diggin' Every time I go out and Pick me a big one.
CHORUS Homegrown tomatoes, Homegrown tomatoes, What'd life be without Homegrown tomatoes? Only two things that Money can't buy and That's true love and Homegrown tomatoes.
Well you can go out to eat And that's for sure But it's nothin' a homegrown Tomato won't cure. Put 'em in a salad, Put 'em in a stew, You can make your Very own tomato juice. Eat 'em with eggs, Eat 'em with gravy. Eat 'em with beans, Pinto or navy. Put 'em on the side, Put 'em in the middle Put a homegrown tomato On a hotcake griddle.
CHORUS
Now if I's to change This life I lead, Well, I'd be Johnny Tomato Seed 'Cause I know what This country needs, It's homegrown tomatoes in Every yard you see. When I die Don't bury me In a box in A cemetery. Out in the garden Would be much better. I could be pushin' up Homegrown tomates
CHORUS
Note: The tune, as notated, has some pretty "twisty" rythms, and rolls around (in C) on C, F7, and G7 chords.
Sing Out! Makes reference to Guy Clarks recordings: "originally appeared on Better Days, and now on the two-CD release Craftsman (Philo #1184/54) and the live Keepers (Sugar Hill #1055)"