Madam and the Census Man
The census man,
The day he came round,
Wanted my name
To put it down.
I said, Johnson,
Alberta K.
But he hated to write
The K that way.
He said, What
Does K stand for?
I said, K--
And nothing more.
He said, I'm gonna put it
KÐAÐY.
I said, If you do,
You lie.
My mother christened me
Alberta K.
You leave my name
Just that way!
He said, Mrs.,
(With a snort)
Just a K
Makes your name too short.
I said, I don't
Give a damn!
Leave me and my name
Just like I am!
Furthermore, rub out
That MRS., too--
I'll have you know
I'm Madam to you!
poem by Langston Hughes
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Madam's Past History
My name is Johnson--
Madam Alberta K.
The Madam stands for business.
I'm smart that way.
I had a
HAIR-DRESSING PARLOR
Before
The depression put
The prices lower.
Then I had a
BARBECUE STAND
Till I got mixed up
With a no-good man.
Cause I had a insurance
The WPA
Said, We can't use you
Wealthy that way.
I said,
DON'T WORRY 'BOUT ME!
Just like the song,
You WPA folks take care of yourself--
And I'll get along.
I do cooking,
Day's work, too!
Alberta K. Johnson--
Madam to you.
poem by Langston Hughes
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Alberta Bound
Oh the prairie lights are burnin bright
The chinook wind is a-movin in
Tomorrow night Ill be alberta bound
Though Ive done the best I could
My old luck aint been so good and
Tomorrow night Ill be alberta bound
No one-eyed man could eer forget
The rocky mountain sunset
Its a pleasure just to be alberta bound
I long to see my next of kin
To know what kind of shape theyre in
Tomorrow night Ill be alberta bound
Alberta bound, alberta bound
Its good to be alberta bound
Alberta bound, alberta bound
Its good to be alberta bound
Oh the skyline of toronto
Is somethin youll get onto
But they say youve got to live there for a while
And if you got the money
You can get yourself a honey
A written guarantee ta make you smile
But its snowin in the city
And the streets and brown and gritty
And I know theres pretty girls all over town
But they never seem ta find me
And the one I left behind me
Is the reason that Ill be alberta bound
Alberta bound, alberta bound
Its good to be alberta bound
Alberta bound, alberta bound
Its good to be alberta bound
Its good to be alberta bound
song performed by by Gordon Lightfoot
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Alberta
(traditional)
Alberta, alberta,
Where you been so long?
Alberta, alberta,
Where you been so long?
Aint had no loving
Since youve been gone.
Alberta, alberta,
Whered you stay last night?
Alberta, alberta
Whered you stay last night?
Come home this morning,
Clothes dont fit you right
Alberta, alberta,
Girl, youre on my mind.
Alberta, alberta,
Girl, youre on my mind.
Aint had no loving
Such a great long time.
Alberta, alberta,
Where you been so long?
Alberta, alberta,
Where you been so long?
Aint had no loving
Since youve been gone.
song performed by by Eric Clapton
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Alberta #2
Alberta let your hair hang low
Alberta let your hair hang low
Ill give you more gold
Than your apron can hold
If youd only let your hair hang low
Alberta whats on your mind
Alberta whats on your mind
You keep me worried and bothered
All of the time
Alberta whats on your mind
Alberta dont you treat me unkind
Alberta dont you treat me unkind
Oh my heart is so sad
Cause I want you so bad
Alberta dont you treat me unkind
Alberta let your hair hang low
Alberta let your hair hang low
Ill give you more gold
Than your apron can hold
If youll only let your hair hang low
song performed by by Bob Dylan
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Alberta #1
Alberta let your hair hang low
Alberta let your hair hang low
Ill give you more gold
Than your apron can hold
If youd only let your hair hang low
Alberta whats on your mind
Alberta whats on your mind
You keep me worried and bothered
All of the time
Alberta whats on your mind
Alberta dont you treat me unkind
Alberta dont you treat me unkind
Oh my heart is so sad
Cause I want you so bad
Alberta dont you treat me unkind
Alberta let your hair hang low
Alberta let your hair hang low
Ill give you more gold
Than your apron can hold
If youll only let your hair hang low
song performed by by Bob Dylan
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I Don't Give
Every time you go away
It actually kinda makes my day
Every time you leave, you slam the door
You pick your words so carefully
You hate to think you're hurtin' me
You leave me laughing on the floor, 'cuz-
(Chorus)
I don't give it up,
I don't give a damn what you say about that
You know-
I don't give it up
I don't give a damn what you say about that
You know-
I'm not gonna cry about some stupid guy
A guy who thinks he's all that
I thought we were just hangin' out (hangin' out)
So why'd you kiss me on the mouth?
You thought the way you taste would get me high- (oh)
You went to all your friends to brag (to brag)
Guys are always such a drag (a drag)
Don't you know the reason the reason that I kissed you was to say good-bye?
(Chorus)
'Cuz I don't give it up
I don't give a damn what you say about that
You know-
I don't give it up
I don't give a damn what you say about that
You know-
I'm not gonna cry about some stupid guy
A guy who thinks he's all that
Hangin', hangin' out; I am simply
Hangin', hangin' out; I am simply
Hangin'... so why'd you kiss me on the mouth? (why'd you kiss me)
Don't you know that I-
I don't give a damn about you
I won't give it up, not for you
I don't give a damn about you
I won't give it up, not for you
I'm not gonna cry about some stupid guy
A guy who thinks he's all that
I don't give it up
I don't give a damn (I don't give it up)
What you say about that (I don't give a damn)
I don't give it up (I don't give it up)
I don't give a damn ( I don't give a damn)-acapo
song performed by by Avril Lavigne
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Madam and Her Madam
I worked for a woman,
She wasn't mean--
But she had a twelve-room
House to clean.
Had to get breakfast,
Dinner, and supper, too--
Then take care of her children
When I got through.
Wash, iron, and scrub,
Walk the dog around--
It was too much,
Nearly broke me down.
I said, Madam,
Can it be
You trying to make a
Pack-horse out of me?
She opened her mouth.
She cried, Oh, no!
You know, Alberta,
I love you so!
I said, Madam,
That may be true--
But I'll be dogged
If I love you!
poem by Langston Hughes
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Leave This Man Alone
(Justin Hayward)
Ah, leave this man alone, Ah, leave this man alone
Young girls with long faces come to me at night and stay the night
Why am I so lonely?
Tell me is it right? (Is it right?)
Leave them, leave them, leave them, leave those things alone
Leave them, leave them, leave them, leave those things alone
Someone said I loved you, but I can't think where (I can't think where)
You know so much about me
So don't stand and stare, stand and stare
Leave me, leave me, leave me, leave my mind alone
Leave me, leave me, leave me, leave this man alone
Ah, ah, leave this man alone
Ah, ah, leave this
(Instrumental)
Ah, ah, leave this man alone
Ah, ah, leave this
Someone said I loved you, but I can't think where (I can't think where)
You know so much about me
So don't stand and stare, stand and stare
Leave me, leave me, leave me, leave my mind alone
Leave me, leave me, leave me, leave this man alone
Ah, ah, leave this man alone
Ah, ah, leave this man alone
Ahhhh
*************************************************************
song performed by by Moody Blues
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Teenage Lament '74
What a drag it is
These gold lame jeans
Is this the coolest way
To get through your teens
Well, I cut my hair
With a rib teht it was in
I looked like a rooster
Than was drowned and raised again
What are you gonna do
I tell you waht I'm gonna do
Why don't you get away
I'm gonna leave today
I ran into my room
And I fell down on my knees
Well, I thought that fifteen
Was gonna be a breeze
I picked up my guitar
To blast away the clouds
But somebody in the next room yield
"You gotta turn that damn thing down!"
What are you gonna do
I tell you waht I'm gonna do
Why don't you get away
Well, I'm gonna cry all day
And I know trouble
Is brewin' out there
But I can hardly care
They fight all night
About his private secretary
Lipstick stain, blond hair
What are you gonna do
I tell you what I'm gonna do
Why don't you run away
I'm gonna leave today
But even I
Don't know what I'm gonna do
Don't know what I'm gonna do
What are you gonna do
I tell you what I'm gonna do
Why don't you run away
Well, I'm gonna leave today
What are you gonna do
I tell you what I'm gonna do
Why don't you get away
Well, I'd rather cry all day
What are you gonna do, gonna do, gonna do...
song performed by by Alice Cooper
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Leave Me Alone
Everybodys gonna try to tell you what to do, uhh-haa
And never, never, never, never, let it be said that its true
Oh-oh, hey, give it to my baby
Leave me, leave me, leave me, leave me, leave me alone
Leave me, leave me, leave me, leave me, leave me alone
Theyre the kind of people thatll always let you down
I know you, too, you dont ever give it a frown
Oh, do it, do it, now, do it, do it
Leave me, leave me, leave me, leave me, leave me alone
Get down, baby
Leave me, leave me, leave me, leave me, leave me alone
Oh, come now, leave me alone, mam, okay, baby
Oh, oh, yeah
Ah-ha-ha, oh, oh, yeah
Ah-ha-ha, oh, oh, yeah
Ah-ha-ha, oh, oh, yeah
Ah-ha-ha, oh, oh, yeah
Ah-ha-ha, oh, oh, yeah
Ah-ha-ha
Dont you know some people, they just dont know when to stop
Give it to me, now
They cant tell the floor from the ceiling or the top
And therere other types, they always make you wait
And theyre always the first to say, the state you come from
Leave me, leave me, leave me, leave me, leave me alone
Leave me, leave me, leave me, leave me, leave me alone
Love me, love me, love me, love me, love me forever
Love me, love me, love me, love me, love me forever
Leave me, leave me, leave me, leave me, leave me alone, oh
Leave me, leave me, leave me, leave me, leave me alone
Leave me alone
Ah-ha-ha, oh, oh, yeah
Ah-ha-ha, oh, oh, yeah
Ah-ha-ha, oh, oh, yeah
Ah-ha-ha, oh, oh, yeah
Ah-ha-ha, oh, oh, yeah
Ah-ha-ha, oh, oh, yeah
Ah-ha-ha, oh, oh, yeah
Ah-ha-ha, oh, oh, yeah
Ah-ha-ha
song performed by by Lou Reed
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It is not enough to be good if you have the ability to be better.
quote by Alberta Lee Cox
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My Canadian Chronicles 28
Everywhere you go they stood
majestically on the western horizon
the Rocky Mountains of Alberta.
Getting close to them is breathtaking,
standing on them makes you feel
that heaven is not far away.
Everywhere the air is fresh
and sleep at night comes easily
with the thoughts of waking in the morning
to another day in paradise.
It makes you wish you could live here
for the rest of your life.
16 June 2009
poem by David Harris
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Put your faith in God and confidence in yourself.
quote by Alberta Hunter
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None of them going to treat me bad, honey, I'm too strict for that.
quote by Alberta Hunter
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Maybe if I knew music I couldn't do what I am doing.
quote by Alberta Hunter
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Rocky Mountain Suite
up in a meadow in jasper, alberta
Two men and four ponies on a long, lonesome ride
To see the high country and learn of her people
The ways that they live there, the ways that they die
One is a teacher, and one a beginner
Just wanting to be there, wanting to know
And together they're trying to tell us a story
That should have been listened to long, long ago
How the life in the mountains is living in danger
From too many people, too many machines
And the time is upon us, today is forever
Tomorrow is just one of yesterday's dreams
Cold nights in canada and icy blue winds
The man and the mountains are brothers again
Clear waters are laughing, they sing to the skies
The rockies are living, they never will die
Up in a meadow in jasper, alberta
Two men and four ponies on a long, lonesome ride.
song performed by by John Denver
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Madam and the Phone Bill
You say I O.K.ed
LONG DISTANCE?
O.K.ed it when?
My goodness, Central
That was then!
I'm mad and disgusted
With that Negro now.
I don't pay no REVERSED
CHARGES nohow.
You say, I will pay it--
Else you'll take out my phone?
You better let
My phone alone.
I didn't ask him
To telephone me.
Roscoe knows darn well
LONG DISTANCE
Ain't free.
If I ever catch him,
Lawd, have pity!
Calling me up
From Kansas City.
Just to say he loves me!
I knowed that was so.
Why didn't he tell me some'n
I don't know?
For instance, what can
Them other girls do
That Alberta K. Johnson
Can't do--and more, too?
What's that, Central?
You say you don't care
Nothing about my
Private affair?
Well, even less about your
PHONE BILL, does I care!
Un-humm-m! . . . Yes!
You say I gave my O.K.?
Well, that O.K. you may keep--
But I sure ain't gonna pay!
poem by Langston Hughes
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Until they put that sand and dirt in my face I will not sit in church all day.
quote by Alberta Hunter
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You're Gonna Change (Or I'm Gonna Leave)
You wore out a brand-new trunk
Packin' and unpackin' all your junk
Your mama's mad, she done got peeved
You're gonna change or I'm gonna leave.
Well, this ain't right and that is wrong
You just keep naggin' all the day long
It's gonna stop, I don't mean please
Now you're gonna change or I'm gonna leave.
The way to keep a woman happy
And her do what's right
Is love her every mornin' and do the same at night
Your mama's mad, she done got peeved
You're gonna change or I'm a-gonna leave.
Every time you get mad
You pack your rags and go back to what you had
You tell her lies she don't believe
You're gonna change or I'm gonna leave.
You're gonna change your way of livin'
Change the things you do
Stop doin' all the things that you aughten too
Your mama's mad, she done got peeved
You're gonna change or I'm a-gonna leave.
You're gonna change or I'm a-gonna leave...
song performed by by Emmylou Harris
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Modern Times
When I was a young boy I drove my mother crazy
When I was a young man I drove my teachers wild
Oh whoa oh whoa nobody to con-trol me
Oh whoa modern lover I need you near me
Chorus
Never want to leave ya
Never want to leave ya
Never want to leave ya
No no no no no
Reality anonymous is comin after me
They want me shakin they want me screamin
Outside 12 year olds are carryin machine guns
They give the orders I must be dreamin
Everywhere I go n everything I see
Its all startin to look like
Some strange mythology
Where is the spirit where is the fire
Repeat chorus
And then I broke in two
Ya dont really think everything is really
The way you thought you thought it was did you
I broke in two but now I think its time to move
Move
Move
Move
Move me
Watch out
Machine gun machine gun
Oh whoa oh whoa nobody to control me
Oh whoa oh whoa nobody to convince me
That everything is just gonna be o-k
Never gonna leave ya
Never gonna leave ya
Never gonna leave ya
No no no no no
No no no no no
No no nobody to control me
song performed by by Jefferson Starship
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