The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #64616 Message #1057594
Posted By: Joe Offer
20-Nov-03 - 04:03 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: A Dollar Down and a Dollar a Week
Subject: Lyr Add: A DOLLAR DOWN AND A DOLLAR A WEEK
The Woody Guthrie version is on a CD called Struggle.
This is from the lyrics sheet from Lee Murdock's CD, Fertile Ground. Murdock calls the song traditional, but I find that hard to believe.
-Joe Offer-
A Dollar Down and a Dollar a Week
(traditional)
A friend of mine bought a radio for
A dollar down and a dollar a week
Said he it's the easiest trap I know
A dollar down and a dollar a week
So he bought a rug a fountain pen
A run about car out here and then
A collection of the lives of some famous men
For a dollar down and a dollars week
Dollar down and a dollar a week
Dollar down and a dollar a week
It's the easiest trap I know says he
A dollar down and a dollar a week
Now he bought a suit, hat and shoes
With a dollar down and a dollar a week
He joined the lodge, paid his dues
It was a dollar down and a dollar a week
Then he bought a ring that was fair to see
For the lovely hand of his bride to be
When he got married the minister's fee
Was a dollar down and a dollar a week
Dollar down...
When the baby came the doctor got
A dollar down and a dollar a week
My friend he clothed and fed that tot
With a dollar down and a dollar a week
At last said his wife I must be free
These weekly payments are ruining me
She got a divorce and the alimony
Was a dollar down and a dollar a week
Dollar down...
Murdock's Notes: This one I also learned from John Blame and was sung by Chris Bouchillion, the Arkansas wood chopper. Upon singing it, a number of people have told me they remember hearing it on the old WLS barn Dance Radio Program years ago.
The Limeliters also recorded a song called "A Dollar Down," but I don't have that one. There's a sound clip here (click)... ...he kept it full of gasoline
For a dollar down and a dollar a week.
Just a dollar down
And a dollar a week
You can get all the things you seek
For a dollar down and a dollar a week.
Well, he went speedin' on down the road
And kissin' his gal upon her cheek
They took him in jail, but he put up bail,
For a dollar down and a dollar a week.
The judge did fine him fifty bucks,
And asked if he like to speak
He said, "Judge...