To Thread - Forum Home

The Mudcat Café TM
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=156176
5 messages

Lyr Req: Where's My Alimony ('Amilony')

27 Nov 14 - 12:18 AM (#3680375)
Subject: Lyr Req: Where's My Alimony ('Amilony')
From: toadfrog

I consulted duckduckgo to see if Helena Triplett still existed. Apparently so, and singing "Where's My Alimony," among other things, in Wellington, NZ. Link is attached.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9x8pCmxxiyg


Still a great singer, but not a great enunciater.
Anyone know the lyrics of this song?
Or have word whether maybe we will hear more from her?


27 Nov 14 - 12:56 AM (#3680378)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Where's My Alimony ('Amilony')
From: Joe Offer

Hi, Toadfrog - I think i found it here:
http://decoda.com/the-maddox-brothers--rose-pay-me-alimony-lyrics

(PAY ME) ALIMONY
(recorded by the Maddox Brothers and Rose)

Chorus
To pay her alimony, to pay her alimony
She had me up in every court in town to pay her alimony

Come all you young and single men and listen to my story
A man who leads a single life, leads a life of glory
Once I wed a pretty girl because my heart was lonely
Then one day she left me flat and sued for alimony

(Chorus)

I told her that it would never do and that she was just a phony
The first thing she said to the Judge was “I want alimony”
I moved into a rented shack and dined on stale baloney
I cussed and cried and stole and lied to pay that alimony

(Chorus)

One day they brought the word to me that she was slowly sinking
I hurried to her bedside to see what she was thinking
And in this dark and dreary hour her heart was hard and stony
She opened up her bleary eyes and whispered “ALIMONY”

(chorus)

Many years went by and now again my heart was gay
Until one night I happened to pass the graveyard where she lay
And from behind a bush there rose a form so lank and bony
And on the midnight air I heard “EEAA-HA-HA ALIMONY”
(chorus)


But the words Rose Maddox sings are quite different:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TAhpE1x94E

Here's a version by The Sweetback Sisters:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2BDoW0tUW4

I think I like Triplett's version best, but I don't have time to transcribe it tonight.


28 Nov 14 - 12:54 AM (#3680649)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Where's My Alimony ('Amilony')
From: toadfrog

Thanks! I like her version, too, but I'm not sure I could decipher the words!


29 Nov 14 - 04:49 PM (#3681057)
Subject: Lyr Add: (PAY ME) ALIMONY (Maddox Brothers and Ros
From: Jim Dixon

(PAY ME) ALIMONY
As recorded by the Maddox Brothers and Rose, 1951

1. Come all you pretty single girls and listen to my story:
The girl that leads a single life, lives a life of glory.
Once I wed a handsome man because my heart was lonely,
Then one day I left him flat and sued for alimony.

CHORUS: To pay me alimony, to pay me alimony,
I had him up in every court in town to pay me alimony.

2. He said that that would never do; he thought I was a phony.
The first thing that I said to the judge was: "I want alimony."
His pocketbook he threw away; he fed on stale baloney,
For ev'ry time he got a dime, I wanted alimony. CHORUS

3. One day a message came to me that he was slowly sinkin'.
I quickly rushed up to his side to see what he was thinkin'.
In that saddest hour of life, my heart was cold and stony.
He lifted up his mournful head and I whispered "Alimony."

CHORUS: Hooray for alimony! Hooray for alimony!
Just get yourself a handsome man and sue for alimony.


29 Nov 14 - 04:50 PM (#3681059)
Subject: Lyr Add: ALIMONY (Spade Cooley & Les Anderson)
From: Jim Dixon

ALIMONY
As recorded by Spade Cooley & Les Anderson

1. Come all you handsome single men and hear my mournful story:
A man who lives a single life, lives a life of glory.
Now once I wed a pretty girl because my heart was lonely,
But one day she left me flat and sued for alimony.

CHORUS: To pay her alimony, to pay her alimony,
She had me up in every court in town to pay her alimony.

2. Each night I'd always hurry home to see my one-and-only.
She'd black my eyes and scream and cry: "I'll sue for alimony!"
I couldn't eat; I couldn't sleep; I grew thin and bony.
I gave her all I had to give; she wanted alimony. CHORUS

3. I knew that that would never do; that she was just a phony.
First thing she said to the judge was "I want alimony."
My pocketbook I threw away and fed on stale baloney,
For ev'ry time I'd get a dime, she'd want her alimony.

CHORUS: [Fake female voices] To pay us alimony, to pay us alimony,
We had him up in every court in town to pay us alimony.

4. One day a message came to me that she was slowly sinking.
I quickly rushed up to her side to see what she was thinking.
Now in that saddest hour of life, her heart was cold and stony.
She lifted up her mournful head and whispered: "Alimony."

CHORUS: To pay her alimony, to pay her alimony
She had me up in every court in town to pay her alimony