Lyr Req: Petticoat Fever (sung by Merle Travis)

Subject: Lyr Req: petticoat fever
From: manu
Date: 25 Feb 05 - 02:14 AM

Hello! I'm looking for the lyrics, and if possible chords, to "Petticoat fever", as sung by Merle Travis.Thanks

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: petticoat fever (sung by Merle Travis)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 Feb 05 - 03:13 AM

Hi, Manu - If you can give us what you recall of the lyrics, that would help a lot. I searched under the title of the song, and got taken to a number of sites that wanted to install adware on my computer. I got past one through a back door, and it didn't even have the lyrics it claimed to have. It's not at Cowpie, the best place for country lyrics - and it wasn't on the three Merle Travis CD's I have.
A couple of distinctive phrases from the song will help us find it.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: petticoat fever (sung by Merle Travis)
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 25 Feb 05 - 12:56 PM

Go to this site at allmusic.com to play a bit of the song. All Music list four recordings by Travis of the song and Travis and Cliffie Stone as composers.

Merle Travis

Subject: Lyr Add: PETTICOAT FEVER (Merle Travis)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 11:14 PM

Here's my transcription from this video, which looks like it could be either a "Soundie" or an excerpt from a film.

PETTICOAT FEVER
Cliffie Stone/Merle Travis
As recorded by Merle Travis

Well, my appetite, it ain't a-working right,
And my heart keeps skippin' time.
Oh, misery! It's killin' me, in this old soul of mine.
One thing I'm sure: penicillin won't cure.

And I've got it—I got the petticoat fever,
And it's makin' a believer—out of me.

I get it—ever' time I leave 'er,
And the petticoat fever—boy, it's killin' me.

I sent for the doctor to come,
And he took one look at my tongue,
But when I told him what I had done,
He said to me:

Said, boy, you've got it—you got the petticoat fever,
And it's makin' a believer—out o' me.

[Instrumental break]

Well, I've got it—I got the petticoat fever,
An' ever' time I leave 'er—I get a brand new case.

When I'm with her—I walk the streets of glory,
But this petticoat story—that's like that other place.

I spent my very last cent
That I'd saved for payin' my rent
Just to buy me an oxygen tent.
Here's what I learned:

You can't cure it—not the petticoat fever,
And it's makin' a believer—out o' me,

[Instrumental break]

Well, I've got it—I got the petticoat fever,
And it's makin' a believer—out o' me.
Man, that petticoat fever—it's killin' me!

Subject: Lyr Add: PETTICOAT FEVER (C Stone/Merle Travis)
From: Gene
Date: 03 Mar 05 - 11:14 AM

The version I have sounds like this to me...

PETTICOAT FEVER
(Cliffie Stone/Merle Travis)

Well, my appetite - it ain't a-working right
And my heart - keeps a-skipping time
Oh, misery is killin' me - in this old soul of mine
One thing I'm sure - penicillin won't cure
And I've got it - I got the petticoat fever
And it's makin' a believer - out of poor old me

I get it - ever' time I leave her
And the petticoat fever - it's a-killin' me

BRIDGE:
Well, I sent for the doctor to come
And he took one look at my tongue
But when I told him what I had done
He said to me - - -
Travis you-'ave got it - you got the petticoat fever
And it's making a believer - out of me

Well, I've got it - I got the petticoat fever
[n'] ever' time I leave her - I get a brand new case
When I'm with her - I walk the streets of glory
But this petticoat story - that's like that other place

I spent my very last cent - that I've saved fer payin' the rent
Just to buy me an oxygen tent - here's what I learned - - -
You can't cure it - not the petticoat fever
And it's makin' a believer - outta me
Man, that petticoat fever - it's killin' me

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: petticoat fever (sung by Merle Travis
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 Mar 05 - 01:13 PM

Gene sent me a copy of this recording and asked me to transcribe and post it - but this is the week I'm doing taxes and dealing with a cold, and I didn't get to it. Looks like Gene did a perfect transcription. In the second-last verse, I hear:

Now ever' time I leave her - I get a brand new case

-but that's hardly worth quibbling about. Thanks, Gene.
-Joe Offer-