THE BALLAD OF THE MAPLES
(Bill Staines)

I used to go to country bars, sit and watch them play guitar
And I'd order me up six or seven beers
How I'd love to hang around, listen to that country sound
To the band that played sweet heaven in my ears
Little Ray was on guitar, and I'd watch him from the bar
Like lightning did his fingers run the strings
And the people near dropped dead when he played behind his head
Doing crazy licks and lots of other things.
Brother Earl (?) would pick and sing, white lightning was his thing
And he used to tear the place up with that song
But was Johnny led the band, and there ain't no one to stand
When he rolled them over with that yodeling song.
Yodel...
Do that yodelin' song
Yodel...
Do that yodelin' song

Now, I've got one thing to say, it it's to my dying day
I'm gonna learn to do that yodelin'
Take my place down with that tune, and let 'em hear me 'round the moon
Have 'em dancin' in the aisles when I sing
Yodel...
Do that yodelin' song
Yodel...
Do that yodelin' song

More yodeling...

From the 1981 Bill Staines release Rodeo Rose

(transcribed by ear from the Bill Staines First Million Miles CD)

JRO