Ryland Peter "Ry" Cooder (born March 15, 1947) is an American guitarist, singer and composer. He is known for his slide guitar work, his interest in roots music from the United States, and, more recently, his collaborations with traditional musicians from many countries.
His solo work has been eclectic, encompassing folk, blues, Tex-Mex, soul, gospel, rock, and much else. He has collaborated with many musicians, including Larry Blackmon, The Rolling Stones, Van Morrison, Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Randy Newman, Earl Hines, Little Feat, Captain Beefheart, The Chieftains, John Lee Hooker, Pops and Mavis Staples, Flaco Jiménez, Ibrahim Ferrer, Freddy Fender, Vishwa Mohan Bhatt and Ali Farka Touré. He formed the band Little Village with Nick Lowe, John Hiatt, and Jim Keltner.
Ry Cooder produced the Buena Vista Social Club album (1997), which became a worldwide hit. Wim Wenders directed the documentary film of the same name (1999), which was nominated for an Academy Award in 2000.
He was ranked eighth on Rolling Stone magazine's 2003 list of "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time". A 2010 ranking by Gibson placed him at number 32.
Now I received your letter saying you were sorry
And you wanted to come on home to me
(And this is my answer ooh ooh)
So I decided to answer and tell you baby
Things ain't what they used to be
(Cause' I was hurt, hurt, hurt)
You see I found me someone else
That I believe appreciate my loving good
(And this is my answer ooh ooh)
And I'm not gonna mistreat them for you because
Things didn't go the way you thought they would
(Cause' I was hurt, hurt, hurt)
Now all I can say, hey, hey, hey
(Ooh who I'm sorry for you, ooh...)
For forty days and nights you made me suffer
Before you called back on the telephone
(That really hurt, hurt, hurt)
But I know you was just brainwashed baby
And you couldn't give it up and come on home
(And here is my answer)
So I finally fell on my knees when I realized
Your love, you didn't want me to have it
(Cause' I been hurt, hurt, hurt)
And I felt so close to you love
I felt like I could just reach and grab it
(And this is my answer, ooh ooh)
Now all I can say, hey, hey, hey
(Ooh who I'm sorry for you, ooh...)
Guitar/Sax Solo (ooh's...)
Now you said right here in your letter
That you lied and said I did you wrong
(And this is my answer, ooh ooh)
You know you didn't care if I lived or died baby
Or worried about how I got along
(That really hurt, hurt, hurt)
So just before I close my letter
Remember I said one day you'd be
(You would be crying)
Broken-hearted and worried baby
Without a love just like me
(And this is my answer, ooh ooh)
Now all I can say, hey, hey, hey
(Ooh who I'm sorry for you, ooh...)
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
I don't want the city woman, she all too fast
Give me a slow country girl with a lot of class
So I'm going, it's just a hop a skip and a jump
Arkansas here I come, it's just a hop a skip and a jump
Now if I can't live independent, why live like a bum
It's just a hop a skip and a jump
Now when I get to the country gone build me a house and fence
Me and my country girl won't pay no rent
So I'm going, it's just a hop a skip and a jump
Arkansas here I come, it's just a hop a skip and a jump
Now if I can't live independent, why live like a bum
It's just a hop a skip and a jump
Piano Solo
Now when I get to the country, where I made my start
I'll take my girl and love her to her heart
I'm going, it's just a hop a skip and a jump
Arkansas here I come, it's just a hop a skip and a jump
Now if I can't live independent, why live like a bum
It's just a hop a skip and a jump
Now when I get to the country, gone buy a house and fence
Me, my little girl won't pay no rent
I'm going, it's just a hop a skip and a jump
Arkansas here I come, it's just a hop a skip and a jump
Now if I can't live independent, why live like a bum
It's just a hop a skip and a jump
Vamp
It's just a hop a skip and a jump (4x)
Now if I can't live independent, why live like a bum
It's just a hop a skip and a jump
Now if you don't know what it's all about
And you want to rock I'll show you how
I want to show you how to do the wobble
Just get set baby and grab your partner
Now all you do is what you're told
Cause' the wobble ain't nothing but a shake and roll
Now when you do the wobble you take your time
Cause' it ain't nothing better you can do or find
Everybody can do it why can't you
Just dig this beat and you can too
If you can't wobble get on the floor
Stay here baby nobody will know
Horn Solo
Now the old can do it and young can too
Cause' the old can't do it like the young folks do
The young folks wobble the way it go
And the old just do it the way they know
When you do the wobble you take off your shoes
Then spin your partner and turn them loose
You're the one, you're the one that I adore
You're the one, you're the one that I adore
And the way I love you baby
Only me and the good Lord knows
I'm gonna copyright your kisses and all your hugs
And I'll put a claim baby on all your love
Cause' you're the one, you're the one that I adore
And the way I love you baby
Only me and the good Lord knows
Organ Solo
All my friends tell me including my kin folks
You ain't no good for me
But I don't worry about it, I wonder why should they be
You're the one, you're the one I adore
And the way I love you baby
Only me and the good Lord know
Adlib till end
I want to know, I just got to know
Why do you always play around
If you have the same feeling for me
Then why don't you settle down
I want to know, I want to know I just got to know
I think you want me for conveniency
If I'm wrong please tell me right
I know I been in the dark a long time
But one day I will see the light
I want to know, I want to know I just got to know
Sax Solo
It takes you to prove you love me
You can prove it sure as the world is round
But I know from your ways and actions
I have a feeling you have let me down
I want to know, I want to know I just got to know
Vamp
I don't even want to talk about it
It's just one of those things
Trouble and more heartache, is all it will bring
So let's think of our future, and leave bygones alone
And talk about tomorrow, yesterday is gone
I know just how you feel baby (I know, I know)
But it's all said and done
You said yourself there was nothing (I know, I know)
Love can't overcome (ooh's)
So let's think of our future, and leave bygones alone
And talk about tomorrow (ooh's)
Yesterday is gone (yesterday is gone)
Short music break
Bridge
(I just can't forget the past) (Although it's been so long)
All I really want to do, is just love you from now on
(I just can't forget the past) (What should we do from now on)
Baby let me tell you, we should think of tomorrow
Yesterday is gone (yesterday is gone)
Now there's some lies to what you say
Although I'll admit some things are true
But what does that got to do with
You loving me and my loving you
So let's think of our future (do do's)
And leave bygones alone (do do's)
And talk about tomorrow (ooh's)
(Double dealing on me, double dealing on me)
Good things come to them who wait baby
You say you waited a long time
Now you have yourself a good thing
But please bear this in mind
Never let it go to your head baby
Treat me right like you should
Once I know you're double dealing on me
I can be as mean as I been good
Now you wearing $50 shoes and $75 slacks (ooh's)
A $2,000 mink coat baby, I put it on your back (ooh's)
But don't let it go to your head baby
Treat me right like you should
Once I know you're double dealing on me (ah's)
I can be as mean as I been good (ah's)
(Double dealing on me, double dealing on me)
Horn and piano solo
Now I keep money in your pocket baby (ooh's)
You wearin' a ten carat diamond ring (ooh's)
I gave up my whole life earning for ya (ooh's)
But I don't feel no pain (ooh's)
But don't let it go to your head baby
Treat me right like you should
Once I know you're double dealing on me (ah's)
I can be as mean as I been good (ah's)
(Double dealing on me, double dealing on me)
Double dealing on me, double dealing on me
Double dealing on me, double dealing on me
Be nice but be wise (ah ah)
And don't let temptation control your pride (ooh's)
You can rule a throne a king has lost
Just remember the bridge that you took across
Be friends to everyone (ah ah)
And don't let faith go to your head (ooh's)
You can rule a throne a king has lost
Just remember the bridge that took you across
Bridge
Life, is what you make it (ah's)
You just can't be, you just can't be what you're not (ah's)
So don't pretend and at the end (ah's)
You will always come out on top whoa (ooh's)
I, I'm looking back (ah's)
At the mistakes I have made (ooh's)
You can rule a throne a king has lost
Just remember the bridge that took you across
Yes remember the bridge darling
Now way down south where I made my start
They do a dance down there called the Georgia Slop
They all hang out at pet leg Lee's
And they don't give a hoop about no police
Peg leg Lee's where I'm talking about
Where they knock down kick and drag them out
The get paid on Friday when they work all done
And they all do it up until Monday come
When they do that flop they turn loose hands
And do they feet like a chicken when they scratching in sand
Peg leg Lee's where I'm talking about
Where they knock down kick and drag them out
On Saturday night they all get knocked out
And when Sunday come they all would shout
Monday morning when the sun is bright
They all talk about what happened Saturday night
Peg leg Lee's where I'm talking about
Where they knock down kick and drag them out
Sax Solo
I stopped to get a soda and see fat jive
I met a chick she weighed about 385
I started to look and I couldn't stop
And she and I got together and did the Georgia Slop
Peg leg Lee's where I'm talking about
Now Richmond CA is a, great little town
And I live there and jack I, gets around
If you ever go there and you want to, jump for joy
I'll tell you where to go that's the, Club Savoy!
Now Club Savoy's where the, fine chicks make it
From 8 to eighty, triple cross-eyed blind and crazy
If you ever go there and you want to, shake your fanny
If things don't go right just, call granny!
Now when you walk in if you, look around
You'll see a big bartender about, 200 pounds
If you start some jive out, on the floor
That big bartender's gonna, show you the door!
Music Solo
Now you can bring your friends, along when you come
Everybody let their hair down and, have some fun
If you start some jive there, ain't no doubt
That big bartender's gonna, throw you out!
Music Solo
Now everybody go there to, have some fun
Cause' the joint really jumps from, 9 to one
Around midnight everybody's high and in the mood
Cause' the band starts playing them, dirty blues
Now if you don't know what it's all about
And you want to rock I'll show you how
I want to show you how to do the wobble
Just get set baby and grab your partner
Now all you do is what you're told
Cause' the wobble ain't nothing but a shake and roll
Now when you do the wobble you take your time
Cause' it ain't nothing better you can do or find
Everybody can do it why can't you
Just dig this beat and you can too
If you can't wobble get on the floor
Stay here baby nobody will know
Horn Solo
Now the old can do it and young can too
Cause' the old can't do it like the young folks do
The young folks wobble the way it go
And the old just do it the way they know
When you do the wobble you take off your shoes
Now I received your letter saying you were sorry
And you wanted to come on home to me
(And this is my answer ooh ooh)
So I decided to answer and tell you baby
Things ain't what they used to be
(Cause' I was hurt, hurt, hurt)
You see I found me someone else
That I believe appreciate my loving good
(And this is my answer ooh ooh)
And I'm not gonna mistreat them for you because
Things didn't go the way you thought they would
(Cause' I was hurt, hurt, hurt)
Now all I can say, hey, hey, hey
(Ooh who I'm sorry for you, ooh...)
For forty days and nights you made me suffer
Before you called back on the telephone
(That really hurt, hurt, hurt)
But I know you was just brainwashed baby
And you couldn't give it up and come on home
(And here is my answer)
So I finally fell on my knees when I realized
Your love, you didn't want me to have it
(Cause' I been hurt, hurt, hurt)
And I felt so close to you love
I felt like I could just reach and grab it
(And this is my answer, ooh ooh)
Now all I can say, hey, hey, hey
(Ooh who I'm sorry for you, ooh...)
Guitar/Sax Solo (ooh's...)
Now you said right here in your letter
That you lied and said I did you wrong
(And this is my answer, ooh ooh)
You know you didn't care if I lived or died baby
Or worried about how I got along
(That really hurt, hurt, hurt)
So just before I close my letter
Remember I said one day you'd be
(You would be crying)
Broken-hearted and worried baby
Without a love just like me
(And this is my answer, ooh ooh)
Now all I can say, hey, hey, hey
(Ooh who I'm sorry for you, ooh...)
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Now if I give up, my friends I know
And in return, you give up yours, before we think
What would we do later on
What kind of life would we have, just in case we both were wrong
I could give up my woman, you could give up your man
But it don't make sense to, take the chance, before we think
What would we do later on
What kind of life would we have, just in case we both were wrong
Horn Solo
They say love is a gamble, and we know that's true
So why gamble on me and and, why should I on you before we think
What would we do later on
I don't want the city woman, she all too fast
Give me a slow country girl with a lot of class
So I'm going, it's just a hop a skip and a jump
Arkansas here I come, it's just a hop a skip and a jump
Now if I can't live independent, why live like a bum
It's just a hop a skip and a jump
Now when I get to the country gone build me a house and fence
Me and my country girl won't pay no rent
So I'm going, it's just a hop a skip and a jump
Arkansas here I come, it's just a hop a skip and a jump
Now if I can't live independent, why live like a bum
It's just a hop a skip and a jump
Piano Solo
Now when I get to the country, where I made my start
I'll take my girl and love her to her heart
I'm going, it's just a hop a skip and a jump
Arkansas here I come, it's just a hop a skip and a jump
Now if I can't live independent, why live like a bum
It's just a hop a skip and a jump
Now when I get to the country, gone buy a house and fence
Me, my little girl won't pay no rent
I'm going, it's just a hop a skip and a jump
Arkansas here I come, it's just a hop a skip and a jump
Now if I can't live independent, why live like a bum
It's just a hop a skip and a jump
Vamp
It's just a hop a skip and a jump (4x)
Now if I can't live independent, why live like a bum
I was born on a farm, belonged to a man named Jack (do we ooh's)
Down in Arkansas, my home was a run down shack (do we ooh's)
People would work all week, waiting for Saturday to come (do we ooh's)
Cause' they could take $10 and have a weekend of fun (do we ooh's)
Friday night we'd fish fry, Saturday we'd dance(ooh, Sat...)
Sunday we'd go to church and Monday right back to work(ooh, right...)
That was the good old days (the good old days)
Now there was 3 boys and 7 girls, in our family (do we ooh's)
We never went a day hungry cause' we always had plenty to eat (do we ooh's)
Speaking of soul cooking Mama, really new how (do we ooh's)
And we had plenty milk and butter
Cause' Papa had his own milking cow (do we ooh's)
Friday night we'd fish fry, Saturday we'd dance (ooh, Sat...)
Sunday we'd go to church and Monday right back to work (ooh, right...)
That was the good old days (the good old days)
Bridge
No fancy cars to drive, ride or use (ooh's)
The only ride we had was a wagon and mule (ride that mule)
There's a town called Helena and 2 places I used to go (do we ooh's)
One was a Chinese cafe
And the other one was called Papa Joe's (do we ooh's)
Saturday night we'd party, and party from 8 to 8 (do we ooh's)
At Papa Joe's in the alley
And the Chinese cafe (do we ooh's)
Friday night we'd fish fry, Saturday we'd dance(ooh, Sat...)
Sunday we'd go to church and Monday right back to work(ooh, right...)
That was the good old days (the good old days)
Music Solo
Repeat bridge and 3rd verse
Vamp
Friday night we'd fish fry, Saturday we'd dance(ooh, Sat...)
Sunday we'd go to church and Monday right back to work(ooh, right...)
Well I know you heard of Suzy-Q
And I know you heard of the chicken too
I know you heard of the cha-cha-choo
Cause the walk is a dance that you can do
You just walk, you just walk,
Oh you walk, yes you walk,
Yeah you walk, it has to walk
Well I know you heard of the Texas Hop
I know you heard of the old Fox Trot
But when you do The Walk
You ride each car
You just shake your hips and close your eyes
And then you walk, yeah you walk,
Then you walk, oh you walk, ah you walk,
Oh yes you walk
Do the walk, boys!
[Instrumental]
Well I know you heard of the old mambo
And I know you heard of the old congo
But when you do the walk
You're startin to get close
And don't step on your partners toes!
You just walk, yeah you walk, then you walk,
Yes you walk, oh you walk, just the walk
Now if you don't know what it's all about
Come to me and I'll show you how
Well do it fast, well do it slow
Then you'll know the walk everywhere you go
You can walk, and you walk, now you walk
You gonna walk, you gotta walk it,
Just a walk
Just a walk
Just a walk
You're the one, you're the one that I adore
You're the one, you're the one that I adore
And the way I love you baby
Only me and the good Lord knows
I'm gonna copyright your kisses and all your hugs
And I'll put a claim baby on all your love
Cause' you're the one, you're the one that I adore
And the way I love you baby
Only me and the good Lord knows
Organ Solo
All my friends tell me including my kin folks
You ain't no good for me
But I don't worry about it, I wonder why should they be
You're the one, you're the one I adore
And the way I love you baby
Only me and the good Lord know