THE GREAT RACE

[Sweetheart Tree]  -  [He Shouldn't-a, Hadn't-a, Oughtn't-a Swang on Me]

SWEETHEART TREE

Music by Henry Mancini
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Chorus

They say there's a tree in the forest, 
A tree that will give you a sign; 
Come along with me, 
to The Sweetheart Tree, 
Come and carve your name next to mine. 

They say if you kiss the right sweetheart, 
The one you've been waiting for, 
Big blossoms of white 
will burst into sight 
And your love will be true evermore.

HE SHOULDN'T-A, HADN'T-A,
OUGHTN'T-A SWANG ON ME

Music by Henry Mancini
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Sung by Dorothy Previne

Here are three versions of the lyrics.
Send me your comments on which one is the right one
(the email address is at the left menu)

[ Version 1 ]

From the Hank's Corner submitted by Sean Baker. Now transformed into Nipper's Place

He sleeps out there, out where the coyotes wail 
The reason he ain’t at the bar with the boys 
Makes quite a deal… 

He shouldn’t-a, hadn’t-a, oughtn’t-a swang on me 
He oughtn’t-a, shouldn’t-a, hadn’t-a, no, siree 
You don’t get many colors 
Sleeping on the lone prairie 
But he shouldn’t-a, hadn’t-a, oughtn’t-a swang on me. 

All you boys remember Perry 
The ranger I was set to marry 
A long man, strong man 
When now he yells 'I’m from Texas!” 
And socks me in my solar plexus … 
Having normal foot reflexes I knocked out his cane. 

He shouldn’t-a, hadn’t-a, oughtn’t-a black my eye 
I’m really a lovable piece of a… 
I wouldn’t scare a rabbit and I couldn’t … 
But he shouldn’t-a, hadn’t-a, oughtn’t-a swang on me. 

I …your job is mighty trying 
Sometimes the room is barely flying with 
High balls, eyeballs 
When I got … 
Tore up the joint from top to bottom 
I think I was that one that shot him 
As near as I recall. 

He shouldn’t-a, hadn’t-a, oughtn’t-a swang on me 
He…  He… the sheriff and the sheriff’s deputy 
But he shouldn’t-a, hadn’t-a, oughtn’t-a swang on me. 

If this story has a … 
When you’re looking for a quarrel or show down, 
Slow down. 
If by now, you haven’t mastered 
The gentle art of getting plastered? 
You just don’t 
You ain’t master a model of … 

You shouldn’t-a, hadn’t-a, oughtn’t-a start no fight 
A is a breaking sight 
The message on them tombstones is as simple as can be: 
He shouldn’t-a, hadn’t-a, oughtn’t-a swang on me 
He shouldn’t-a, hadn’t-a, oughtn’t-a swang on me. 

[ Version 2 ]

Submitted by Alan Nott, slightly different from Sean's transcription

He shouldn't-a, hadn't-a, oughtn't-a swang on me.
He oughtn't-a, shouldn't-a, hadn't-a no sir-ee
You don't get many callers, sleepin' on the lone prairie,
But he shouldn't-a, hadn't-a, oughtn't-a swang on me.

Way out west we're wild and woolly, in order to explain it fully, 
We're tall grown, all grown.
All the men are hairy-chested, and all the women double-breasted, 
We're ladylike until molested and then we're on our own.

He shouldn't-a, hadn't-a, oughtn't-a swang on me.
He oughtn't-a, shouldn't-a, hadn't-a felt so free.
His wife gets the insurance, and I'm sorry as can be,
But shouldn't-a, hadn't-a, oughtn't-a swang on me.

This here job is mighty tryin', at times the room gits fairly flyin'
With high-balls, eye-balls;
One got killed, somebody got 'im, tore up the joint from top to bottom
I think I was the one that shot 'im as near as I recall.

He shouldn't-a, hadn't-a, oughtn't-a swang on me.
He masacred eight or nine men at the Lazy "B".
He then took on the Sherrif, and the Sherrif's Deputy,
But he shouldn't-a, hadn't-a, oughtn't-a swang on me.

All you boys remember Harry, the wrangler I was set to marry,
A long man, strong man.
One night he yelled "I'm from Texas" and socked me in the solar plexus,
Well, havin' normal good reflexes I knocked him on his can.

He shouldn't-a, hadn't-a, oughtn't-a blacked my eye.
I'm really a lovable, beautiful kind of guy.
I wouldn't scare a rabbit, and I couldn't harm a flea, 
But he shouldn't-a, hadn't-a, oughtn't-a swang on me.

If this story has a moral, it's "If you're lookin' for a quarrel,
A show-down, slow down."
If by now you haven't mastered the gentle art of getting' plastered
You're just a low-down, you ain't mastered the motto of our town.

He shouldn't-a, hadn't-a, oughtn't-a stopped no fight.
Our buryin' ground's a most impressive sight.
The message on his tomb-stone is as simple as can be:
"He shouldn't-a, hadn't-a, oughtn't-a swang on me.
He shouldn't-a, hadn't-a, oughtn't-a swang on me.".

[ Version 3 ]

Submitted by Renee Peterson, with many parts different from above transcriptions

He sleeps out there, out where the coyotes wail
The reason he ain’t at the bar with the boys
Makes quite a dismal tale ...

He shouldn’t-a, hadn’t-a, oughtn’t-a swang on me
He oughtn’t-a, shouldn’t-a, hadn’t-a, no, siree
You don’t get many callers
Sleeping on the lone prairie
But he shouldn’t-a, hadn’t-a, oughtn’t-a swang on me.

Way out West we're wild and wooly, in order to explain it fully:
We're tall grown, all grown,
All the men are hairy-chested
And all the women, double-breasted
We're lady-like until molested,
And then we're on our own!

He shouldn’t-a, hadn’t-a, oughtn’t-a swang on me.
He oughtn't-a shouldn't-a hadn't-a felt so free,
His wife gets the the insurance,
And I'm sorry as can be,
But he shouldn’t-a, hadn’t-a, oughtn’t-a swang on me.

This here job is mighty trying,
Sometimes the room is fairly flying with
High balls, eyeballs
... til somebody got 'em
Tore up the joint from top to bottom
I think I was that one that shot him
As near as I recall.

He shouldn’t-a, hadn’t-a, oughtn’t-a swang on me.
He massacred eight or nine minutes, the lazy bee!
He then took on the sheriff, and the sheriff's deputy,
But he shouldn’t-a, hadn’t-a, oughtn’t-a swang on me.

All you boys remember Harry
The wrangler I was set to marry
A long man, strong man
One night he yells "I’m from Texas! ...
And socks me in my solar plexus.
Well having normal, good reflexes, I knocked him on his can!

He shouldn’t-a, hadn’t-a, oughtn’t-a blacked my eye.
I’m really a lovable, peaceable kind of guy.
I wouldn’t scare a rabbit and I couldn’t harm a flea,
But he shouldn’t-a, hadn’t-a, oughtn’t-a swang on me.

If this story has a moral,
It's: When you’re looking for a quarrel or show down;
Slow down.
If by now, you haven’t mastered
The gentle art of getting plastered,
You're just a Low-Down, you ain't mastered
The motto of our town!

You shouldn’t-a, hadn’t-a, oughtn’t-a start no fight
Our burying grounds are a most impressive sight!
The message on them tombstones is as simple as can be:
He shouldn’t-a, hadn’t-a, oughtn’t-a swang on me
He shouldn’t-a, hadn’t-a, oughtn’t-a swang on me.