WATERMELON MAN
(Don Wayne)

Dick Curless - 1970


We loaded all our melons in the wagon Monday evenin'
Day break Tuesday me and Pa was Springfield bound
Papa took along a great big gallon jug of white corn whiskey
To quench his thirst and wash the road dirt down

Halfway to Springfield we came to a place called Ruby's tavern
Papa said we'd better rest the mule a while
So I hitched Sam to a shady tree, Papa grabbed a watermelon
And walked in the tavern with a great big smile

I stayed by the wagon waitin' and it sure got aggravatin'
When Pa staggered outside holdin' Ruby's hands
And when he gave her more watermelon I heard miss Ruby tell him
That he was her favorite watermelon man

Then we got back on the wagon and we headed out toward Springfield
Pa was singin'a mean Mule Skinner Blues
Then we came upon a lady pickin' berries by the roadside
Papa said, "Whoa Sam, hello Ma'am, how are you?"

Then he said, "My name is Dan, Ma'am, and I'm a Watermelon man, Ma'am
Got melons for sell and would you care for a few"
She said, "Well I might like some, but tell me, do you plug 'em?"
Pa winked at me and said, "Indeed I do"

I was just a boy of thirteen and nobody's fool by no means
I went huntin' for some drinkin' water for me and Sam
And when I got back to the wagon Pa was laughin' and a braggin'
Of the women callin' him Watermelon man

When we came to Johnson's Long Hill ol' Sam got kinda lazy
Pa said, "Come here mule", but Sam he refused
So he grabbed his black snake whip and brought it hard down on Sam's hind side
And done another verse of the mean Mule Skinner Blues

We rolled on into Springfield with Pa singin' and a-yellin'
The Sheriff met us there, but Papa showed no fear
He said, "Why, hello Sheriff, grab yourself a watermelon
Like the big one that I gave your wife last year"

The Sheriff stood there slack-jawed with Pa's words stuck in his craw
He grinned real big and shook my father's hand
He said, "I like you're way of tradin', could I join in your operatin'
And be your partner, Watermelon man"

Yeah, ev'rybody loved the Watermelon man







(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - May 2011)