Rags & Old Iron
Norman curtis, oscar brown jr
Rags old iron rags old iron
All he was buying was just rags and old iron
I heard that old rag man now making his rounds
He came right to my alley lord with sorrowful sounds
Crying rags old iron and pulling his cart
Ask him how much hed give me for my broken heart
Rags old iron rags old iron
All he was buying was just rags and old iron
So I asked that old rag man how much he would pay
For a heart that was broken baby when you went away
For a burnt out old love light that no longer beams
And a couple of slightly used second hand dreams
Rags old iron rags old iron
All he was buying was just rags and old iron
For those big empty promises you used to make
For those memories of you that are no longer sweet
I wish he could haul them off down the street
Rags old iron rags old iron
All he was buying was just rags and old iron
When love doesnt last tell me what is it worth
It was once mamas most precious possession on earth
When I asked that old rag man if hed like to buy
He just shook his head and continued to cry
Rags old iron rags old iron
All he was buying was just rags and old iron
Rags old iron rags old iron
Rags old iron rags old iron rags old iron
song performed by by Nina Simone

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Related quotes
Charlie & Fred
(clarke / hicks / nash)
He rides on his horse and cart, charlie does.
Working from six until nine.
Collecting old rags and used bicycles,
Old iron of description of any kind.
Here comes charlie, charlie the ragman.
Throw out your old clothes for charlie and fred.
Earning a living off things weve discarded.
Earning enough for the board and the bed.
You hear him shout rags and old iron.
Everyone knows him that way.
Once a week, they come round calling.
How long its been, I cant say.
Chorus
They live all alone in a hovel.
He puts his money away.
Taking enough to just live on,
And at the end of the day
Hes saving enough
To put fred out to graze.
(repeat)
Has anyone seen charlie lately?
Charlie just aint been around.
Everyones seen fred is grazing,
Chewing the grass from the ground.
Children say charlie is happy
Giving balloons to the angels instead.
Where is charlie, charlie the ragman?
Dont throw your clothes out.
song performed by by Hollies

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Give Me Back My Rags #1
Give me back my rags
My rags of pure dreaming
Of silk smiling of striped foreboding
Of my cloth of lace
My rags of spotted hope
Of burnished desire of chequered glances
Of skin from my face
Give me back my rags
Give me when I ask you nicely
Trans. by Anne Pennington
Anonymous submission.
poem by Vasko Popa

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Charlie And Fred
The Hollies
Charlie and Fred
(Allan Clarke/Tony Hicks/Graham Nash)
Track 8 on album 'Butterfly' october 1967
He rides on his horse and cart, Charlie does.
working from six until nine.
Collecting old rags and used bicycles,
old iron of description of any kind.
Here comes Charlie, Charlie the Ragman.
Throw out your old clothes for Charlie and Fred.
Earning a living off things we've discarded.
Earning enough for the board and the bed.
You hear him shout "Rags and old iron."
Everyone knows him that way.
Once a week, they come 'round calling.
How long it's been, I can't say.
chorus
They live all alone in a hovel.
He puts his money away.
Taking enough to just live on,
and at the end of the day
he's saving enough
to put Fred out to graze.
(repeat)
Has anyone seen Charlie lately?
Charlie just ain't been around.
Everyone's seen Fred is grazing,
chewing the grass from the ground.
Children say Charlie is happy
giving balloons to the angels instead.
Where is Charlie, Charlie the Ragman?
Don't throw your clothes out.
song performed by by Hollies

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Put On Glad Rags
putting on your glad rags
why are they glad rags?
coz glad rags are going out
poem by Terence George Craddock

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Rags To Riches
Its a sign of the times, standing in line
Quietly waiting to go out of your mind
Theres nothing to say, no reason to stay
To fight for the right that they have taken away
Get what you get, not what you need
Time after time
* rags to riches, all fallen down
Rags to riches, tied up and bound
Theres no going under
When youre kicked to the ground
Rags to riches..rags to riches
Youre down on your knees, caught in the freeze
Crying inside but theres no easy release
Radical views--in yesterday news
Giving the reason with another excuse
Out on your own, cut to the bone
Time after time
Repeat * (2x)
(written and arranged by nazareth)
Copyright 1983 fool circle limited
All rights reserved.
song performed by by Nazareth

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You Look Good In Rags
Yeah yeah
Yeah
I've seen cool, I've seen cold
I've seen the women up front, way down below
Ladies of the evening screaming, some were like vipers
I've seen 'em dressed real tight, act real loose
I've seen 'em strutting good stuff, I've seen 'em all used
With thousand dollar faces and worth every penny they spend there
But you look good in rags
With dirt in your hair
Yeah you look good in rags babe
Oh, I don't care
(Ah, you look good)
Yes you look good in rags
With bones in your hair
Ah, you look good in anything
Ooh, I don't care
Now I've seen class, I've seen tack
I've seen 'em walking down the street with smoke in their stacks
And pouring into limos, they wake up in millionaires' bedrooms
I've seen their hair cut short, black and sleek
Tied in 20 thousand knots so ultra neat
Swearing by the Harper's Bazaar, like it equalled the Bible
But you look good in rags
With dirt in your hair
Yeah you look good in rags babe
Aw, I don't care
Yeah Yeah, you look good
Oh you look good in rags
With dirt in your hair
Ah yeah, you look good in anything
Forget about Vogue or them hundred dollar jeans,
You make a 2 dollar T-shirt obscene.
Rag
Rag
Rag
Rag
Rag
Rag
Rag
Rag
Rag
Rag
Rag
Rag
Rag
Rag
Rag
Rag
Rag
Rag
Rag
Rag
Rag
Rag
Rag
Rag
Rag
Rag
Rag
Rag
Rag
Rag
Rag
Rag
Rag
Rag
Rag
Rag
song performed by by Alice Cooper

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Cabinessence
Light the lamp and fire mellow,
Cabin essence timely hello,
Welcomes the time for a change.
Lost and found, you still remain there.
Youll find a meadow filled with grain there.
Ill give you a home on the range.
Who ran the iron horse?
Who ran the iron horse?
Who ran the iron horse?
Who ran the iron horse?
Who ran the iron horse?
Who ran the iron horse?
Who ran the iron horse?
Who ran the iron horse?
Who ran the iron horse?
Who ran the iron horse?
I want to watch you windblown facing
Waves of wheat for your embracing.
Folks sing a song of the grange.
Nestle in a kiss below there.
The constellations ebb and flow there.
And witness our home on the range.
Who ran the iron horse?
(truck driving man do what you can)
Who ran the iron horse?
(high-tail your load off the road)
Who ran the iron horse?
(out of night-life-its a gas man)
Who ran the iron horse?
(I dont believe I gotta grieve)
Who ran the iron horse?
(in and out of luck)
Who ran the iron horse?
(with a buck and a booth)
Who ran the iron horse?
(catchin on to the truth)
Who ran the iron horse?
(in the vast past, the last gasp)
Who ran the iron horse?
(in the land, in the dust, trust that you must)
Who ran the iron horse?
(catch as catch can)
Have you seen the grand coolie workin on the railroad?
Have you seen the grand coolie workin on the railroad?
Have you seen the grand coolie workin on the railroad?
Over and over,
The crow cries uncover the cornfield.
Over and over,
The thresher and hover the wheat field.
Over and over,
The crow cries uncover the cornfield.
Over and over,
The thresher and hover the wheat field.
Over and over,
The crow cries uncover the cornfield.
Over and over,
The thresher and hover the wheat field.
song performed by by Beach Boys

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Sew Who Needs Who
You're a needling....me
like a sewing machine
I'm in stitches over you
If I wanted to be nagged
I'd clothe in leather...dragged
Don't look at my unbridled soul
Will horseshoes bring us luck?
More likely hockey falls on us
while we're chasing one good puck
I tried to slightly sew this up
in a rags to riches way
but the rags were hags
the britches were bitches
no matter what I say
poem by Boink Boink

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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If I lived back in the Wild West days, instead of carrying a six-gun in my holster, I'd carry a soldering iron. That way, if some smart-aleck cowboy said something like, 'Hey look. He's carrying a soldering iron' and started laughing, and everybody else started laughing, I could just say, 'That's right, it's a soldering iron. The soldering iron of justice.' Then everybody would get real quiet and ashamed, because they made fun of the soldering iron of justice, and I could probably hit them up for a free drink.
Jack Handey in Deep Thoughts

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Coat Of Many Colors
Back through the years
I go wandering once again
Back to the seasons of my youth
I recall the box of rags
Someone gave us
And how my mama put the rags to use
There were rags of many colors
Every piece was small
And I didnt have a coat
And it was away down in the fall
Mama sewed the rags together
So in every piece with luck
She made my coat of many colors
That I was so proud of
As she sewed, she told a story
From the Bible she had read
About a coat of many colors joseph wore
And then she said,
Perhaps this coat
Will bring you good luck and happiness
And I just couldnt wait to wear it
And my mama blessed it with a kiss
My coat of many colors
That my mama made for me
Made only from rags
That I wore it so proudly
Although we had no money
Well, I was rich as I could be
In my coat of many colors
I hurried off to school
Just to find the others laughing
And making fun of me
In my coat of many colors
My mama made for me
And no, I couldnt understand it
For I felt I was rich
And I told them all the story
Mama told me while she sewed
And how my coat of many colors
Was worth more than all their clothes
But they didnt understand it
And I tried to make them see
But one is only poor
Only if he chooses to be.
Now I know we had no money
In my coat of many colors
My mama made for me
Made just for me
song performed by by Kenny Rogers

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Coat Of Many Colors
back through the yearsi go wondering once again
back to the seasons of my youth
i recall a box of rags that someone gave us
and how my momma put the rags to use
there were rags of many colors and every piece was small
and i didn't have a coat and it was way down in the fall
momma sewed the rags together sewing every piece with love she made my coat of many colors that i was so proud of
as she sewed she told a story from the bible she had read
about a coat of many colors Josheph wore and then she said
perhaps this coat will bring you good luck and happiness
and i just couldn't wait to wear it and momma blessed it with a kiss
my coat of many colors that my momma made for me
made only from rags but i wore it so proudly
i know we had money but i was rich as i could be in my coat of many colors
my momma made for me
so with patches on my britiches holes in both my shoes
in my coat of many colors i hurried off to school
just to find the others laughing and a making fun of me
in my coat of many colors my momma made for me
and oh i couldn't understand for i felt i was rich
and i told them all the love my momma sewed in every stich
and i told them all the story momma told me while she sewed
and how my coat of many colors was worth more than all their clothes
but they didn't understand and i tried to make them see
one is only poor only if they choose to be
now i know we have no money but i was rich as i could be
in my coat of many colors momma made for me
made just for me
song performed by by Shania Twain

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Iron, Lion, Zion
I am on the rock and then I check a stock
I have to run like a fugitive to save the life I live
Im gonna be iron like a lion in zion (repeat)
Iron lion zion
Im on the run but I aint got no gun
See they want to be the star
So they fighting tribal war
And they saying iron like a lion in zion
Iron like a lion in zion,
Iron lion zion
Im on the rock, (running and you running)
I take a stock, (running like a fugitive)
I had to run like a fugitive just to save the life I live
Im gonna be iron like a lion in zion (repeat)
Iron lion zion, iron lion zion, iron lion zion
Iron like a lion in zion, iron like a lion in zion
Iron like a lion in zion
song performed by by Bob Marley

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Coat Of Many Colors
Back through the years
I go wonderin once again
Back to the seasons of my youth
I recall a box of rags that someone gave us
And how my momma put the rags to use
There were rags of many colors
Every piece was small
And I didnt have a coat
And it was way down in the fall
Momma sewed the rags together
Sewin every piece with love
She made my coat of many colors
That I was so proud of
As she sewed, she told a story
From the bible, she had read
About a coat of many colors
Joseph wore and then she said
Perhaps this coat will bring you
Good luck and happiness
And I just couldnt wait to wear it
And momma blessed it with a kiss
Chorus:
My coat of many colors
That my momma made for me
Made only from rags
But I wore it so proudly
Although we had no money
I was rich as I could be
In my coat of many colors
My momma made for me
So with patches on my britches
Holes in both my shoes
In my coat of many colors
I hurried off to school
Just to find the others laughing
And making fun of me
In my coat of many colors
My momma made for me
And oh I couldnt understand it
For I felt I was rich
And I told them of the love
My momma sewed in every stitch
And I told em all the story
Momma told me while she sewed
And how my coat of many colors
Was worth more than all their clothes
But they didnt understand it
And I tried to make them see
That one is only poor
Only if they choose to be
Now I know we had no money
But I was rich as I could be
In my coat of many colors
My momma made for me
Made just for me
song performed by by Dolly Parton

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Rags To Riches
(words & music by adler - ross)
I know Id go from rags to riches
If you would only say you cared
And though my pockets may be empty
Id be a millionaire
My clothes may still be torn and tattered
But in my heart Id be a king
Your love is all that ever mattered
Its everything
So open your arms and youll open the door
To all the treasure that Im living for
Hold me and kiss me and tell me youre mine evermore
Must I forever stay a beggar
Whose golden dreams will not come true
Or will I go from rags to riches
My fate is up to you
song performed by by Elvis Presley

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Coat Of Many Colors
(dolly parton)
Back through the years I go wondering once again
Back to the seasons of my youth
I recall a box of rags that someone gave us
And how my mamma put these rags to use
There were rags of many colours, and every piece was small
And I didnt have a coat and it was way down in the fall
Mamma sewed the rags together, sewing ever piece with love
She made my coat of many colours, that I was so proud of
As she sewed she told the story from the Bible she had read
About a coat of many colours, joseph wore and they she said
Perhaps this coat will bring you, much love and happiness
And I just couldnt wait to wear it, and mamma blessed it with a kiss
My coat of many colours that mamma made for me
Made only rags, but I wore it so proudly
Although we had no money. oh I was rich as I could be
In my coat of many colours, my mamma made for me
So with patches on my breaches and holes in both my shoes
In my coat of many colours, I hurried off to school
Just to find the others laughing and makin fun of me
In my coat of many colours, my mamma made for me
Oh, I couldnt understand it, for I felt I was rich
And I told them of the love my mamma sewed in ever stitch
And I told them all the story, mamma told me while she sewed
And how my coat of many colours is worth more than all of their clothes
They didnt under stand it and I tried to make them see
That one is only poor only if they choose to be
Now I know we have no money, but Im as rich as I could be
In my coat of many colours, my mamma made for me
In my coat of many colours, my mamma just made for me
song performed by by Emmylou Harris

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Cold Iron
Gold is for the mistress -- silver for the maid --
Copper for the craftsman cunning at his trade.
"Good!" said the Baron, sitting in his hall,
"But Iron -- Cold Iron -- is master of them all."
So he made rebellion 'gainst the King his liege,
Camped before his citadel and summoned it to siege.
"Nay!" said the cannoneer on the castle wall,
"But Iron -- Cold Iron -- shall be master of you all!"
Woe for the Baron and his knights so strong,
When the cruel cannon-balls laid 'em all along;
He was taken prisoner, he was cast in thrall,
And Iron -- Cold Iron -- was master of it all!
Yet his King spake kindly (ah, how kind a Lord!)
"What if I release thee now and give thee back thy sword?"
"Nay!" said the Baron, "mock not at my fall,
For Iron -- Cold Iron -- is master of men all."
Tears are for the craven, prayers are for the clown --
Halters for the silly neck that cannot keep a crown.
"As my loss is grievous, so my hope is small,
For Iron -- Cold Iron -- must be master of men all!"
Yet his King made answer (few such Kings there be!)
"Here is Bread and here is Wine -- sit and sup with me.
Eat and drink in Mary's Name, the whiles I do recall
How Iron -- Cold Iron -- can be master of men all!"
He took the Wine and blessed it. He blessed and brake the Bread,
With His own Hands He served Them, and presently He said:
"See! These Hands they pierced with nails, outside My city wall,
Show Iron -- Cold Iron -- to be master of men all."
"Wounds are for the desperate, blows are for the strong.
Balm and oil for weary hearts all cut and bruised with wrong.
I forgive thy treason -- I redeem thy fall --
For Iron -- Cold Iron -- must be master of men all!"
Crowns are for the valiant -- sceptres for the bold!
Thrones and powers for mighty men who dare to take and hold.
"Nay!" said the Baron, kneeling in his hall,
"But Iron -- Cold Iron -- is master of men all!
Iron out of Calvary is master of men all!"
poem by Rudyard Kipling

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Yad Mordechai
Yad Mordechai. Those who fell here
still look out the windows like sick children
who are not allowed outside to play.
And on the hillside, the battle is reenacted
for the benefit of hikers and tourists. Soldiers of thin sheet iron
rise and fall and rise again. Sheet iron dead and a sheet iron life
and the voices all—sheet iron. And the resurrection of the dead,
sheet iron that clangs and clangs.
And I said to myself: Everyone is attached to his own lament
as to a parachute. Slowly he descends and slowly hovers
until he touches the hard place.
Translated by Chana Bloch and Chana Kronfeld
poem by Yehuda Amichai

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Summer Holiday
When the sun shouts and people abound
One thinks there were the ages of stone and the age of
bronze
And the iron age; iron the unstable metal;
Steel made of iron, unstable as his mother; the tow-
ered-up cities
Will be stains of rust on mounds of plaster.
Roots will not pierce the heaps for a time, kind rains
will cure them,
Then nothing will remain of the iron age
And all these people but a thigh-bone or so, a poem
Stuck in the world's thought, splinters of glass
In the rubbish dumps, a concrete dam far off in the
mountain...
poem by Robinson Jeffers

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Charlie Parker Loves Me
Silent as a willow tree
This road moves like a, a river to me
Sun goes down on Wisdom Street
Break the glass and throw away the key
Somewhere out where the fates collide (collide)
Cigarettes and candlelight
I sit here in the lone cafe
So stripped away (oh, oh)
So stripped away
Ah, huh
Huhhuh
Oh, ah, oh, ah
Everybody knows
I'm your street corner Romeo
Everybody knows
You're my Juliet in rags
And Charlie Parker loves me
Sit with me forever more
Is the draft too cold when they open door
Seem to me whenever you're drunk
And we'll drift away, drift away (drift away)
Ah, huh
Huhhuh
Oh, ah, oh, ah
Everybody knows (everybody)
I'm your street corner Romeo (oh, yeah)
Everybody knows
You're my Juliet in rags
And Charlie Parker loves me (ooh)
I feel your heart beat underneath my skin
Like a New Orleans night
But the rain can't get in
So red-hot dig the beat up underneath a cool, cool night
And the glass moonlight of spring
Everybody knows (ooh)
I'm your street corner Romeo (oh, yeah)
Everybody knows (know, yeah)
You're my Juliet in rags
Everybody knows (everybody knows)
I'm your street corner Romeo, yes, I am
(Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Everybody knows (yeah)
You're my Juliet in rags
And Charlie Parker loves me (ooh)
Everybody knows
(I'm listenin' to ya, Charlie)
I'm your street corner Romeo
(Bird is fly high tonight)
Everybody knows
Everybody knows
Charlie Parker loves me
Everybody knows [yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah]
(Fly away, Charlie)
I'm your street corner Romeo
(I'm listenin' to ya, Charlie) [oh, yeah-eh]
Everybody knows
(Everybody, everybody knows)
You're my Juliet in rags
And Charlie Parker loves me
Charlie Parker loves me
Charlie Parker loves me
song performed by by Rod Stewart

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