Don’t Take No Wooden Nickels (In the Jukebox of Your Life ) (1978)
Words and Music ©1978, 2013 by Dallas Denny
Source: Denny, Dallas. (1978). Don’t take no wooden nickels (in the jukebox of your life). Unpublished recording.
Me, 6 December, 2013 (160 MBPS MP3)
Don’t Take No Wooden Nickels
(In the Jukebox of Your Life)
By Dallas Denny
I was down and out in Texas
Broke as I could be
When I spied a big old Cadillac
With plates from Tennessee
The driver smiled and told me
“Here’s some free advice!
Don’t take no wooden nickels
In the jukebox of your life!”
Refrain:
Don’t take no wooden nickels
In the jukebox of your life
Don’t let ‘em hear the music
If they will not pay the price
No blanks, no slugs, no tokens
No free lunch, no free ride
Don’t take no wooden nickels
In the jukebox of your life
I was sailing on a pleasure boat
Feeling proud and free
When a big old wave came up
And washed me right into the sea
The captain called to me
As I went down for the last time
“Don’t take no wooden nickels
In the jukebox of your life!”
Repeat Refrain
Jesus walked on the water
And he died for you and me
All his big connections
And he winds up on the tree
Life is just a gamble
With God’s old crooked dice
And don’t take no wooden nickels
In the jukebox of your life
Repeat Refrain
Do you drink the demon alcohol
Smoke the devil weed
Take that old tobacco
Are you only what you eat
If your future’s dim, remember
Your past was none too bright
And don’t take no wooden nickels
In the jukebox of your life
Repeat Refrain
Optional Verse:
When ill winds blow around you
Take refuge in your song.
Don’t ever buy the theory
If it feels this good, it’s wrong
Some folks live in darkness
Dim candles in the night
Don’t take no wooden nickels
In the jukebox of your life