YONDER COMES A SUCKER
Words and music by JIM REEVES
(Recorded May 31, 1955)


Chorus:
Railroad, steamboat, river and canal.
Yonder comes a sucker, and he's got my gal.
And she's gone, gone, gone.
And she's gone, gone, gone.
And I'll bid her my last farewell.

I fell in love with a pretty little thing.
I thought that wedding bells would ring.
She was as sweet as sweet could be,
'Till I found out what she did to me.

(Repeat Chorus)

I asked her mother to let her go.
She whispered, "Mother, please tell him no.
Though he may think that I am true,
There's plenty more who think so too."

(Repeat Chorus)

Now, I won't cry my life away.
Some other sucker will have to pay.
And when he finds that she is gone,
I guess I'll hear him sing this song.

(Repeat Chorus)

©1955 by Tree Publishing Co., Inc. (BMI)

Kids in East Texas used to play a game called "Railroad, Steamboat." They formed a circle, held hands, danced and sang an old folk song with a lilting melody and crazy lyrics.

Jim Reeves used to play this game when he was a little boy. He liked the game…and he liked the song. When he grew up, both brought back fond memories of his childhood.

Remembering the words to the song, Jim later revised them somewhat and decided to record it, using the same melody.

A very special song, "Yonder Comes a Sucker" was Jim's one of Jim's first records for RCA.

Taken from the notes accompanying "Jim Reeves - A Legendary Performer" (CPL1-1891). ©1976 RCA Records -- Submitted by C.B. Dixon

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