BESOTTED BALLADS VOLUME ONE: Poetry by Larry Eugene Meredith

Poems of Youth  1956 - 1959

LYRICS FROM YA-HA-WHOEY!

My Little White Lamb

She came into my life

Like a little white lamb,

But she went out

Like a big roarin’ lion.

Why did she double-cross me

At the crossroads of life?

Why, oh why, did she leave me?

I will just walk along the streets

Alone and weary.

All alone in this world without her.

Or ending it down by the river

Because I feel so lowdown and blue.

Was I ever so down right untrue

Or unfaithful,

To her in our attempt at true love,

To make her sad, my little white lamb,

Or has love just flown like a dove?

When they lay me in that big cold coffin,

And when that black hearse starts on its slow way,

Then will you remember how I loved you

Right until that end, my dying day?

You came into my life

Like a little white lamb,

But you went out like a big roaring lion.

There on the doorstep you left me,

All alone and cryin’.

Yum Ye Ye Yum

Yum ye ye yum, Yum ye ye yum,

I love you, you ou ou you.

I never thought that I would fall,

But here I am, I love you all.

Yum ye ye yum, Yum ye ye yum,

I love you, you ou ou you.

You’re muh ever lovin’ baby,

You’re muh bread, butter and gravy.

Yum ye ye yum, Yum ye ye yum,

I love you, you ou ou you.

Just like the moon lights up the night.

Just like the stars shine down so bright.

Yum ye ye yum, Yum ye ye yum,

I love you, you ou ou you.

Let’s stay together for e’er more.

Let’s get mated by half-past four.

For I make this love to be our’s

For every day and every hour.

For I love ya each single day,

Till the time June comes ‘fore May.

Lonely Boy

He lost his baby,

He’s weary and tired.

She was the only girl

He ever admired.

Lonely boy

Is in a whirl.

Going around

Mourning for a girl.

He runs everywhere,

No peace to be found,

Lonely boy

Is going around.

No other one

Can understand

The working of

His new plan

To write a suite

And save the world

From war, from death

And love in peril.

Sometimes in this world

A fool must dream,

And other times

A crook must scheme,

But there is little hope

To find happiness

And help the lonely boy

In his loneliness.

So the music plays

Soft and sad,

But tears won’t wash away

What is bad.

The snows fall down

And it gets cold.

Poor lonely boy

And his story so old.

Ya-Ha-Whoey

written by Larry and Stuart

Grandpa was driving down the mountain on an icy day,

When his car hit the curve, it began to sway.

Off of the road it found its way

And as he went over you could hear him say:

“Ya-ha-whoey!

Ya-ha-ya-ha-whoey!  Ya-ha-ya-ha-whoey!”

And they lay him away that day.

As up the first hill the scenic started to creep,

A lady stood up to see how steep.

When she saw she began to leap

And as she fell out you could hear her speak:

“Ya-ha-whoey!

Ya-ha-ya-ha-whoey!  Ya-ha-ya-ha-whoey!”

And they lay her away that week.

A man went up into a tower that’s tall.

He took a wrong turn and started to fall.

Though he had a voice what’s small,

As he went you could hear his call:

“Ya-ha-whoey!

Ya-ha-ya-ha-whoey!  Ya-ha-ya-ha-whoey!”

And they laid him away in a hole.

A man went up to tie a noose.

He did not know the ladder was loose

And as he fell from his roost,

You heard him call like a stricken moose:

“Ya-ha-whoey!

Ya-ha-ya-ha-whoey!  Ya-ha-ya-ha-whoey!”

And six men gave him a boost.

A man went up to a scaffold real high,

A way to roofs simplify.

Got too near the edge, sweet old guy,

And as he slipped, you could hear his cry:

“Ya-ha-whoey!

Ya-ha-ya-ha-whoey!  Ya-ha-ya-ha-whoey!”

And they laid him away to lie.

It Is Christmas Next Week

It’s snowing in the country,

Coming down in white flakes.

Piling up by the kitchen door,

While Christmas cookies bake.

We don’t care if

The drifts get real deep.

Christmas is coming next week.

It’s fine for sledding

And throwing snowballs.

The kids are having fun

Just watching the snow fall.

White snowmen with silk hats

Upon their head.

With songs of Santa

And his suit of bright red.

Toys are thought of.

Lists are being made.

Children are extra good,

Much more behaved.

Manners better

And spirit hard to beat,

For they know

It’s Christmas only next week.

It’s snowing in the country,

Coming down in white flakes,

Piling on the highway

And there’s ice upon the lakes,

We don’t know when

It’ll end. Gee, it’s deep.

Christmas is coming next week.

The adults are shopping.

Worries are leaving.

The rich are giving.

The poor are receiving.

While carolers are singing

Songs of our Savior

Or peace on earth

And love of neighbor.

The mothers are baking.

The fathers are joking.

The children are playing.

The chimney is smoking.

Trains are set up.

Trees are trimmed bright

And towns are lit up

With rows of Christmas light.

Walks are shoveled

And cards are sent out.

Children telling Santa

What they want while on his lap.

The children are restless,

At night they can’t sleep

For they know

It’s Christmas only next week.

It’s snowing in the country,

Coming down in white flakes.

We will get out our sleds

And put on our old ice skates,

Then we will slide

And ride home to sleep

And Christmas is coming next week.

Christmas is A-Comin'

Oh, Christmas is a-comin’

Amid joy and good cheer.

Christmas is a time

When families meet

With traditional tales

And lots of food to eat.

Ach! Jawohl!

Weinhnachten ist ein zeit

Wenn familie treffen

Mit erzablung traditione’ll

Und viel bissen zu essen!

Like Christmas is cool

Amid carols so sweet.

On Christmas Eve night

Santa flies through the air

To the top of the roof

With many gifts to bear

For Christmas is a-comin’

And sadness is rare.

Wella, Wella, Wella

Well-a, well-a, well-a hon-eeee!

Well-a, well-a, well-a babe!

I’m gonna tell you truly.

You’re muh little sugar cane!

Cause I like that way you look/

Uh hun, I like what I see.

Ah tru-leeee hope, muh baby,

You will play with me!

Yeah!

A Great Big World

There is a great big world

Waitin’ for us,

Waitin’ for us

Is a great big world out there.

There are long roads

Covered with dust.

Covered with dust

That we got to kick in the air.

Lot’s of ways to wander,

To wander, wander alone.

Will Sally be there

When I get home?

Photograph from NASA

Rain Bitten Earth

I’m just a rebel,

A rolling pebble

Who’s rollin’ along

The rain-bitten earth.

My clothes are dirty

And I’m far from pretty

As I roll along

The Rain-bitten earth.

The rain-bitten earth

And the cloudy gray sky.

Lookin; fer the sun

‘Til the day I die.

There ain’t any fun

An’ there ain’t any mirth

Anywhere I’ve looked

On the rain-bitten earth.

What would I ‘come,

If I wasn’t a bum

Travellin’ along

The rain-bitten earth?

Got nothin’ to my name

But a sack on a cane

And my voice in song

On the rain-bitten earth.

How Romantic Can It Be?

They say I am too young.

When you are young

Can’t true love come?

Or must you wait?

And if you wait

Will it be too late?

My friend says forget.

I try to, but yet

I seem to remember

The day she stepped out.

I ask why is that

With so much beauty about?

I seem to get the impression

That my heart’s in a depression.

I sit and ask many a question.

When I think of the fun we had

I get sorrowful and mad and sad

When it’s beautiful to see.

            How romantic can it be?

            When she’s far away from me

            And the moon is bright

            And the night

            Is beautiful to see,

            How romantic can it be?

When all is quiet and still

With fog o’re the meadows ‘til

Cows are asleep

Sound and deep

In the midnight dew,

How romantic can it be?

The silver of the lake

Reminds me of her hair,

Liquid and shimmering

And wavy in the air.

A bird in the meadow

Reminds me of her voice,

Clear and perfect

And beautiful and choice.

When ice covers the stream.

Winter clouds shroud my dream.

Nothing e’er goes right

But the night

Is beautiful to see;

How romantic can it be?

How romantic can it be?

Every little breeze

Blowing through the trees

Brings back a memory.

Whether the moon

Or the sun at noon,

It means misery

When it’s beautiful to see.

How sad is sweet parting,

My heart is still carting

Love’s ache and pain,

And my brain

Is asking thee,

How romantic can it be?

Runnin' Away

My baby done up and left me,

I’m runnin’ away.

Ran right out the back door, you see,

I’m runnin’ today.

I Do Love Him

Does he believe me like he says;

Or does he doubt I am truthful?

But I am truthful and I am true

When I said I do love him.

He isn’t famous.

He’s not well known.

He is stubborn,

But he can be shown.

I do love him.

I never thought I’d realize

That I’d find a true love

Who’s not any older than I.

I said he must be

Much older than me

If his love is more than a lie.

Yet I have now found

That I really love him.

His age is no more than mine.

At first I didn’t know

That he really would go

When he said he would that time.

You can never trust the feelings

When you first go with them,

For true love comes a-sneaking

No matter how you though it’d been.

One time a girl saw a boy

And once he saw her

And in that one time

They both discovered

True love was here.

I do love him.

Yet, at first, it did not bloom,

For he knew his heart,

But she not her own.

She left him alone

Not letting it start.

I do love him.

That girl was I, I’ve come back.

It’s goin’ to be swell,

For I can see

This was meant to be,

All’s well that ends well.

I do love him.

But just as you said before,

Love comes more than one way.

Mine came differently than yours.

It all came about in one day.

One day a girl saw a boy

And once he saw her,

Right away they knew

It was to be love,

And she told him, “Sir,

I do love you.”

They have embraced and they’ve kissed,

Love is now complete

Through all time to grow,

Forever they know.

They were meant to meet.

I do love him.

We have found the love for us.

It won’t leave us now.

We’ll have days of fun.

If some problems come,

Solve them one by one.

When all of our days are done

We’ll still be together somehow.

Forget the bad that could have been.

We do love them.

Sally

After all, you are beautiful

And you’re smart.

I love you, it’s true.

I know my own heart.

Dear Sally,

You are beautiful,

More beautiful than anything.

That is why

My heart still cries

When you’re far away.

But some day

A star may fall

Down from the skies

To guide us to our new love.

I keep asking

Why I love you,

Why I care?

She left me little.

Yet I have love to spare.

But then

She made my life full.

A little more full of everything.

It was mine

Once upon a time,

This I shall always keep

Oh so deep

Within my heart,

A heart, which I lost.

Re-win her I will

No matter what the cost.

I keep asking

Why I left her?

Why I left?

She didn’t love me,

My skins thin, I guess.

Sally,

You are delightful.

More delightful than anything.

That is why

I’d live or die

To have you stay

On some day.

Because I love you

Far beyond words.

I was foolish with it.

Yours very truly,

George.

Don't Fall in Love

Don’t fall in love,

It’ll only make you sad.

It’ll only make you mad

That you make him so glad.

Though he won’t quite convince you.

Remember though he’s the first and only one,

Though he says you’re the most and the lonely one,

Don’t fall in love.

Don’t fall in love.

You will always remember

This time in December

When love came,

But what about January,

When the year is new,

Will love be through?

Don’t fall in love.

Jean, I wish I had never fallen in love. I was naïve.

I didn’t know true love and I didn’t know false love.

Don’t fall in love,

No matter what you dream,

It’ll make you worry,

It’ll make you sorry,

It’s not what it may seem.

It’s not a game,

So don’t fall in love.

Your young heart’s to blame.

But his is not the same

Love that you’re dreaming of.

Don’t fall in love

‘Til the common link is found,

And love is older

And love is bolder,

When you know it’s sound.

When all is rosy and pink

And you don’t just sit and grieve,

Nor can you forget him,

Nor do you regret him.

Then you’ll know what to believe.

Otherwise,

Don’t fall in love,

For a girl’s love comes slower.

A boy, he learns faster

And his love can pass her.

Don’t let love be your master,

Don’t fall in love.










Illustration: Photo from iriox.com

Don't Fall in Love

Don’t fall in love,

It’ll only make you sad.

It’ll only make you mad

That you make him so glad.

Though he won’t quite convince you.

Remember though he’s the first and only one,

Though he says you’re the most and the lonely one,

Don’t fall in love.

Don’t fall in love.

You will always remember

This time in December

When love came,

But what about January,

When the year is new,

Will love be through?

Don’t fall in love.

Jean, I wish I had never fallen in love. I was naïve.

I didn’t know true love and I didn’t know false love.

Don’t fall in love,

No matter what you dream,

It’ll make you worry,

It’ll make you sorry,

It’s not what it may seem.

It’s not a game,

So don’t fall in love.

Your young heart’s to blame.

But his is not the same

Love that you’re dreaming of.

Don’t fall in love

‘Til the common link is found,

And love is older

And love is bolder,

When you know it’s sound.

When all is rosy and pink

And you don’t just sit and grieve,

Nor can you forget him,

Nor do you regret him.

Then you’ll know what to believe.

Otherwise,

Don’t fall in love,

For a girl’s love comes slower.

A boy, he learns faster

And his love can pass her.

Don’t let love be your master,

Don’t fall in love.

I Like to Feel This Way

But who am I

To ask why

Some mighty force

In nature’s course

Makes me feel this way?

If it’s love

It’s clear as mud

And I don’t understand

But who cares, it’s grand.

I like to feel this way.

I’ll just wait for tomorrow,

Wait for happiness or sorrow

Before I cry or laugh

At whichever crosses my path,

But I still like to feel this way.

If it’s love

It’s bright above,

And I’ll take my stand

To lead the brass band,

‘Cause I like to feel this way.

Never Trust a Smith

Never trust a Smith,

You know the name is made up.

If you trust a Smith,

You’re gonna end up laid up.

Never trust a Smith,

They scheme and they plan.

You can’t trust a Smith,

They’re a much too shifty clan.

For what do you know of love?

Take it from me, an expert.

Never trust a Smith,

They’ll only do you dirt.

Never trust a Smith,

They just can’t be trusted.

If you trust a Smith,

Your heart will be busted.

Never trust a Smith.

You never know what they’ll do,

But you can be sure

The worse’ll come to you.

So never trust a Smith.

No matter what you do.

They just can’t be trusted,

They’re a much too shifty crew.

Never trust a Smith,

The name just isn’t real

And you can be sure

You’ll get a raw deal.

Take it from me, an expert.

I trusted a Smith.

Now what have I to show for it?

Not even a tiny ‘if’.

Never trust a Smith,

You know the name is made up.

Never trust a Smith,

Your love won’t be paid up.

For they are worse than bombs,

They suck you in,

Then they wave bye-bye,

It’s just a sin.

Never trust a Smith,

They’ll only make you blue.

They’ll find another

And forget all about you.

So never trust a Smith

What ever you may do.

They just can’t be trusted,

They’re a much too shifty crew.

She’ll leave you after all,

When all your dough is gone.

Leave you alone and crying,

Alone without no one.

So never trust a Smith.

It’ll be better to slit your wrist.

Never trust a Smith,

It’s just too great a risk.

Never trust a Smith.

You know the name is made up.

Never trust a Smith,

You’ll only end up laid up.

So never, ever, but or if,

Trust a Smith.

Illustration: The Kid with a trusted friend named Smith, 1945.