Expert: Mel Priddle - 6/6/2008

Question
My brother asked me if I remembered a country song from the late 60's or 70's that included the line "Hello Mrs. Johnson, you self-righteous woman..."?  All I can remember is that it was sung my a man and it was a song that slammed different types of people.  Can you help me find out who recorded the song and the title of the thing?

Answer
Hello Ruth,

That was "LORD KNOWS I'M DRINKING". Cal Smith had the hit with it in 1973. There were other recordings by Hank Thompson and Tom T. Hall.


WELL HELLO MRS. JOHNSON, YOU SELF-RIGHTEOUS WOMAN
SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER, WHAT BRINGS YOU OUT SLUMMIN'
DO YOU RECKON THE PREACHER WOULD APPROVE WHERE YOU ARE
SITTIN' HERE VISITIN' WITH A BACK-SLIDDIN' CHRISTIAN
IN A NEIGHBORHOOD BAR

YES, THAT'S MY BOTTLE AND YES, THAT'S MY GLASS
AND I SEE YOU'RE EYE-BALLIN' THIS PRETTY YOUNG LASS
AIN'T NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS, BUT YES, SHE'S WITH ME
AND I DON'T NEED NO SERMON YOU SELF-RIGHTEOUS WOMAN
JUST LET US BE

WELL THE LORD KNOWS I'M DRINKIN' AND RUNNIN' AROUND
AND I DON'T NEED YOUR LOUD MOUTH INFORMIN' THE TOWN
WELL THE LORD KNOWS I'M SINNIN' AND SINNIN' AIN'T RIGHT
BUT ME AND THE GOOD LORD'S GONNA HAVE US A GOOD TALK
LATER TO NIGHT

(Instrumental Break)

WELL, GOODBYE MRS. JOHNSON, YOU SELF-RIGHTEOUS BITTY
I DON'T NEED YOUR LOUD MOUTH AND I DON'T NEED YOUR PITY
SO GO BACK TO WHATEVER YOU HYPOCRITES DO
AND WHEN I SPEAK TO HEAVEN, BE NICE AND I'LL PUT IN
A GOOD WORD FOR YOU

WELL THE LORD KNOWS I'M DRINKIN' AND RUNNIN' AROUND
AND I DON'T NEED YOUR LOUD MOUTH INFORMIN' THE TOWN
WELL THE LORD KNOWS I'M SINNIN' AND SINNIN' AIN'T RIGHT
BUT ME AND THE GOOD LORD'S GONNA HAVE US A GOOD TALK
LATER TO NIGHT
BUT ME AND THE GOOD LORD'S GONNA HAVE US A GOOD TALK
LATER TO NIGHT


Glad to be of help. Cheers........Mel.