Lyr Req: Sometimes I Can't Help Myself (J Koerner)

Subject: Lyr Req: Sometimes I Can't Help Myself
From: GUEST,SVS
Date: 25 May 14 - 04:18 AM

I can't understand what he says, my ears are not that trained.
I'm giving you all the details I know:

· Sometimes I Can't Help Myself ;
· by "Spider" John Koerner and Willie Murphy ;
· from the 1969 album Running, Jumping, Standing Still.

Thanks.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sometimes I Can't Help Myself
From: GUEST
Date: 26 May 14 - 02:16 AM

Subject: Lyr Add: SOMETIMES I CAN'T HELP MYSELF
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 27 May 14 - 04:18 PM

Fortunately, Spotify had this so I was able to listen to it and make this transcription; unfortunately there are a few phrases that I still find unintelligible (indicated by ellipsis), or have doubts about (indicated by "(?)").


SOMETIMES I CAN'T HELP MYSELF
As sung by John Koerner (with Willie Murphy on piano) on "Running, Jumping, Standing Still" (1969)

Every time I think about
What will be my destiny,
The answer comes with little doubt:
It leans toward catastrophe.

When I stay somewhere for a week or two,
You should see the change that takes place.
The whole night-time we talk a zoo(?)
Without a sign of the human race.

I smoke all the time; I stay inside.
I keep away from public places.
It's difficult to take any pride
Being one of the nation's major disgraces.

Woe is me; what can I do?
All this trouble; is there nothing new?
I'm gonna get out of town.
I'm back again.
I won't fail this time; I got a special plan.
I'm gonna be cool—no fool—
Ah, but sometimes I can't help myself.

Girls to me are a thing of wonder.
I think about them all the time.
Every time I meet a girl, she looks like someone's thunder,
Then says, "I'll see you by and by—
By and by and by and by."

Having money don't help me much,
Even when I spend it freely.
They never take my ... as such.
They always think about make a little deal-y.

Woe is me; what can I do?
All this trouble; is there nothing new?
I'm gonna get out of town.
I'm back again.
I won't fail this time; I got a special plan.
I'm gonna be cool—no fool—
Ah, but sometimes I can't help myself.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sometimes I Can't Help Myself
From: GUEST,SVS
Date: 04 Jun 14 - 10:44 AM

So many thanks! You can't even image how difficult is to understand songs in a foreign language!