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Number Nine

from My Message by Paul Kotheimer

/

lyrics

When I drive a railroad spike, I swing a nine-pound hammer.
When I fill up a coal car, it's number nine coal.
When I get a pretty new pair of shoes for my darling Clementine,
There'll be a great big number "9" on the bottom of the sole.

Number nine, number nine, can't you see that numeral shine
from the hills of Caroline whenever our two dear hearts entwine?
Number nine, number nine, all down the Chatanooga Line--
Mister Switchman, hitch my old caboose to engine number nine.

Now, I rode a runaway railroad train doing ninety-nine miles an hour.
Took me down to the Everglades, where the gators were nine feet long,
so I ran all night and all day 'til I was nine miles from Nashville.
When I get up on the Opry stage, there'll be nine verses to my song.

Number nine, number nine, when you get so low you feel like dyin',
Its love flows just like wine, or a kudzu vine on a Georgia pine.
Number nine, number nine--It will reflect the Light Divine!
Operator, won't you please connect me to station number nine.

Now, when we were young, our Pa would whoop us nine ways from Sunday.
Now I got a wife and nine small children in my family.
And when my payday come, I'm-a go and get me nine shots of whiskey.
Next thing I know, I'm serving ninety days for vagrancy.

Number nine, number nine, like a demijohn of 90 proof moonshine,
it sends shivers on down your spine and leaves you jarred, like a pickle in brine.
Number nine, number nine, all 'cross the Mason-Dixon line,
Mister Switchman hitch my old caboose
with some nine gauge wire so it won't break loose
to Engine Number Nine.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9.

credits

from My Message, released September 1, 2014
Words and music by Paul Kotheimer. Piano, upright bass, and lead vocal by PK. Rhythm acoustic guitar by Andy Gricevich. Acoustic guitar solo by Sam Payne. Bones and backing vocals by Cody Jensen. Banjo by Charlie Harris. Backing vocals by John Coppess and Suzanne Warner.

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Paul Kotheimer Urbana, Illinois

For well over 30 years now, Paul Kotheimer has been writing songs. And then recording them. And then putting them together into albums.
At first, way way back in the actual 1980s, he used a cassette player and a microphone from Radio Shack. Now he's the proprietor of Pillow Monster Home Studio, complete with lots of musical instruments and recording gear and one actual pillow monster. YAY MUSIC! ... more

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