Webb Pierce ~ Pick Me Up on Your Way Down (original recording: 1959)

Pick Me Up on Your Way Down (12/15/1958)

Writer: Harland Howard

Bradley Film and Recording Studio, Nashville, Tennessee

Studio Musicians: Webb Pierce (vocal), Hank Garland (guitar), Bill Phillips (harmony vocal/guitar), Jimmie Selph (guitar), Don Helms (steel guitar), Floyd Chance (bass), Buddy Harmon, Jr (drums), Allen Dale Porter (fiddle), Owen Bradley (piano/session leader).

You were mine for just a while
now you're putting on a style
and you've never once looked back
at your home across the tracks

You're the gossip of the town
but my heart can still be found
where you tossed it on the ground
pick me up on your way down

Pick me up on your way down
when you're blue and all alone
when the glamour starts to bore you
come on back where you belong

You may be their pride and joy
but they'll find another toy
and they'll take away your crown
pick me up on your way down

They have changed you're attitude
made you haughty and so rude
Your new friends can take the blame
underneath you're still the same

When you learn these things are true
I'll be waiting here for you
As you tumble to the ground
Pick me up on your way down

Pick me up on your way down
when you're blue and all alone
when the glamour starts to bore you
come on back where you belong

You may be their pride and joy
but they'll find another toy
and they'll take away your crown
pick me up on your way down

The song was inspired by an argument Harlan overheard in a honky tonk between a young couple. According to Harlan, the two had worked up quite a fuss before the girl walked away, leaving the guy standing there--to which he yelled,"you can pick me up on your way down." Harlan carried the thought of that lovers quarrel and that line in the back of his mind for several months before deciding to use it as a basis for a song. The song was pitched to Charlie Walker for his first Columbia recording session in 1958. The record opened the door for Charlie Walker as a recording artist and it opened some doors for Harlan Howard as a songwriter. Webb recorded his version for Decca Records (DL7-8899), but it wasn't released as a single.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Somewhere between the greed for money and sound judgment, the legends of country music were tossed aside for the outlandish sound they call country music today.
RJB Nashville, Tennessee.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• movie

[ObscureJude0]

This IMHO is actually a better version than Charlie Walker's. Charlie features a steel guitar while Webb has fiddles and a piano. To you City people, fiddles are violins. For the last 50 years, I've been country before country was cool.

[newholland6610]

The Father of Honky beer drinking music

[yarekhunt]

Real Country! Not that rehashed 70s Southern rock awefullness that has become modern country

[slurpee27]

he swings the shit out of this song.

[volman1946]

I'm 65 years old and it seems like yesterday me and my dad would be riding down the road and listening to old Webb. Great times and memories.



[DixielandBaker]

RJB Nashville, Tennessee i agree you would think the jerks singing the CRAP today could tell the difrence also the fools listing and suporting it might catch on, its all about MONEY not what we want to hear.XMRAIDO lost me i dont like hearing the same songs the crappy ones at that at the same tine every day. I LOVE COUNTRY you know the real kind.

[caveman13888]

this is cool, i first heard a version of this done by GG Allin, on his carnival of excess album, check that out

[glipzik]

This song was made for Webb Pierce. I never ever liked this song until now.

[MrRazorblade999]

One of the greatest country songs ever written. Timeless

[debbycoley]

My fav interpretation of this song.

[jimmylee123able]

That's HONKEY tONKIN'