WITH PEN IN HAND
(Bobby Goldsboro)
Recorded in 1968 by:
Johnny Darrell; Roger Miller; Jerry Vale; Ferlin Husky; Conway Twitty;
Jack Greene; Henson Cargill; Bobbi Martin; Billy Vera; Arlene Harden;
Jerry Wallace; Frankie McBride; Bobby Goldsboro; Al Hirt (Instr.);
Gerhard Wendland (German title "Du Fragst So Oft Was Liebe Wär'");
Corry Brokken (Dutch title "Pen In Je Hand")
Recorded in 1969 by:
Nat Stuckey; Vikki Carr; Jeannie Seely; Dottie West; Brooke Benton;
Wayne Newton; Della Reese; Dinah Shore; Des O'Connor; Lord Bryner.
Eddy Arnold - 1970
Country Fever - 1970
Sammi Smith - 1970
Peter Vee - 1971
Jim Nabors - 1971
Ace Cannon (Instr.) - 1972
Lena Martell - 1972
Ray Sanders - 1972
Ronnie Tober - 1973
Aretha Franklin - 1974
Barracudaz - 1975 (Swedish title "När du läser mitt brev")
Dorothy Moore - 1977
As recorded by BOBBY GOLDSBORO:
With pen in hand you sign your name
Today at five I'll be on that train
And you'll be free and I will be alone
So alone
If you think we can't find the love we once knew
If you think I can't make everything up to you
Then I'll be gone and you'll be on your own
You'll be on your own
Can you take good care of Johnny
Can you take him to school everyday
Can you teach him how to catch a fish
And keep all those bullies away
Here what I say
Can you teach him how to whistle a tune
Can you tell him about the man in the Moon
If you can do these things, then maybe he won't miss me
Maybe he won't miss me
And tonight as you lay in that big lonely bed
Can you look at the pillow where I laid my head
With your heart on fire, will you have no desire
To kiss me and to hold me
And if you can forget the good times we had
If you think that the good times don't outweigh the bad
Than sign your name and I'll be on my way
I'll be on my way
Hm-hm-hm-hm-hm-hm-hm-hm
Hm-hm-hm-hm .......... FADE
********************
As recorded by VIKKI CARR:
With pen in hand you sign your name
Today at five I'll be on that train
And you'll be free and I will be alone
So alone
If you think we can't find the love we once knew
If you think I can't make everything up to you
Then I'll be gone and you'll be on your own
You'll be on your own
Can you take good care of Jennie
Can you take her to school everyday
Can you teach her how to play all the games
That little girls play
Here what I say
Can you teach her how to roll up her hair
Can you make sure each night that she says her prayers
Well if you can do these things, then maybe she won't miss me
Maybe she won't miss me
And tonight as you lay in that big lonely bed
And you look at that pillow where I laid my head
With your heart on fire, will you have no desire
To kiss me or to hold me
And if you can forget the good times we had
If you don't think the good times, they outweigh the bad
Well, then go ahead, sign your name and I'll be on my way
I'll be on my way
La-da-da-la-da-la-da-da-da-da
La-da-da-la-da-la-da ...... FADE
*********************
As recorded by DOROTHY MOORE:
SPOKEN:
I just can't believe it, baby
You know, I can't believe it would go this far
I mean like last month when you said you didn't love me anymore
I could've died
I would've thought it was just talk
Oh, I know about her and what she means to you
But, but what about our dreams and plans
I mean all the plans that we made together
And what about our little Susie
Have you stopped to think about her
With pen in hand you sign your name
Today at five I'll be on that plane
And you'll be free and I will be alone
So alone
If you think we can't find all the love we once knew
If you think I can't make everything up to you
Then I'll be gone, oh, then you'll be on your own
You'll be on your own
Can you take good care of Susie
Can you take her to school everyday
And can you teach her how to play all the games
That little girls play, hear what I say
Can you teach her how to roll up her hair
Can you make sure each and every night that she says her prayers
If you can do these things, oh, then maybe she won't miss me
Maybe she won't miss me
And tonight as you lay in that big lonely bed
And you look at that pillow where I laid my head
And with your heart on fire, oh, will you have no desire
To kiss me or to hold me
Do you think of all the good times that we've had
And if you think all those good times, they just don't outweigh the bad
Then sign your name, oh, then I'll be on my way
I'll be on my way
SPOKEN:
(Are you comin' with us?)
No, I, I can't come with ya, baby
But I'll be here on the weekend
And we'll have a good time then, okay?
(But Mama, I don't understand ya)
Well, it's hard to explain and things are different now
But, but I'll see you often
(But I'm scared, Mama)
Uh, don't worry, baby, everything will be alright
So, you just go on with Daddy
(Do you still love me, Mama?)
Darlin', Mama will always love ya
(Mama, don't leave)
Well, I got to go
(Please don't leave)
Ah, baby
(Please don't leave)
(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - April 2017)
