Do Re Mi

Album: Dust Bowl Ballads (1937)
Play Video
  • Lots of folks back East, they say, is leaving home every day,
    Beating the hot old dusty way to the California line.
    Cross the desert sands they roll, getting out of that old dust bowl,
    They think they're going to a sugar bowl, but here's what they find
    Now, the police at the port of entry say,
    "You're number fourteen thousand for today."

    [Chorus]
    Oh, if you ain't got the do re mi, folks, you ain't got the do re mi,
    Why, you better go back to beautiful Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Georgia, Tennessee.
    California is a garden of Eden, a paradise to live in or see
    But believe it or not, you won't find it so hot
    If you ain't got the do re mi.

    You want to buy you a home or a farm, that can't deal nobody harm,
    Or take your vacation by the mountains or sea.
    Don't swap your old cow for a car,
    You better stay right where you are,
    Better take this little tip from me.
    Cause I look through the want ads every day
    But the headlines on the papers always say

    [Chorus] Writer/s: WOODY GUTHRIE
    Publisher: BMG Rights Management
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Bob Daisley

Bob DaisleySongwriter Interviews

Bob was the bass player and lyricist for the first two Ozzy Osbourne albums. Here's how he wrote songs like "Crazy Train" and "Mr. Crowley" with Ozzy and Randy Rhoads.

Max Cavalera of Soulfly (ex-Sepultura)

Max Cavalera of Soulfly (ex-Sepultura)Songwriter Interviews

The Brazilian rocker sees pictures in his riffs. When he came up with one of his gnarliest songs, there was a riot going on.

Steely Dan

Steely DanFact or Fiction

Did they really trade their guitarist to The Doobie Brothers? Are they named after something naughty? And what's up with the band name?

Daniel Lanois

Daniel LanoisSongwriter Interviews

Daniel Lanois on his album Heavy Sun, and the inside stories of songs he produced for U2, Peter Gabriel, and Bob Dylan.

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino EditionMusic Quiz

Whether he's splitting ears or burning Nazis, Quentin Tarantino uses memorable music in his films. See if you can match the song to the scene.

Rupert Hine

Rupert HineSongwriter Interviews

Producer Rupert Hine talks about crafting hits for Tina Turner, Howard Jones and The Fixx.