ROCKABILLY REBEL
(Ray Campi)
RAY CAMPI & HIS ROCKABILLY REBELS (RADAR, 1979)

Well, I was raised in central Texas
Where we picked our guitars reckless
We took our country music seriously
We loved the sound of old Hank Williams
Ernest Tubb and Jimmy Rodgers
Moon Mullican, Bob Wills were dear to me
Hank Snow strummin' on a Martin guitar
Merle Travis thumb pickin' eight to the bar
They were true to life hillbillies
Raised on cornbread, booze and fillies
And they picked there country music from the heart

We picked with little Lester Flatt
Kitty Wells with Johnny and Jack
Johnny Horton, Maddox brothers, sister Rose
And if you really wanna winner
Bill Monroe, Jimmy Skinner
Singin' blues and country bluegrass through their nose
I say now, don't love me darling, I'm a rambler
Oh, you're the sweetest sweetheart in this world
I know it's not right for you to love me
Don't give your heart to a rambler, little girl

Shot Jackson's steelin' can't be put into words
The same for Roy Wiggins or Jerry Byrd
Today they suffer from neglect
By the ones you least expect
That say that could only country music's got to change
Well, I'm a rockabilly rebel
And I pick my rhythm double
With a beat that sets them rockin' near and far
Just a reckless rockabilly
Beatin' out the sounds that thrill me
On a slappin' bass, tin dobro and guitar

The nineteen-fifties gave us something new
Raw hillbilly mixed with rhythm and blues
It brought us Fats and Muddy Waters
Lighnin' Hopkins and The Clovers
Carl Perkins, Big Joe Turner, Jessie Stone
John Lee Hooker and Leadbelly
Set the pace for Jerry Lee
Elvis the Pelvis, Little Richard, Chuck Berry
Oh Maybellene, why can't you be true
Oh Maybellene, why can't you be true
Started back doin' the things you used to do

Well, the Nashville sound's gotten sugary sweet
They watered it down, eliminated the beat
Sounds like they had too much rehearsal
Time to start a big reversal
With some good old rockabilly, rock 'n' roll
'Cause I'm a rockabilly rebel
And I pick my rhythm double
With a beat that sets them rockin' near and far
Just a reckless rockabilly
Beating out the sounds that thrill me
On a slappin' bass, tin dobro and guitar
Just a reckless rockabilly
Beating out the sounds that thrill me
On a slappin' bass, tin dobro and guitar