Watermelon Man

We loaded all our melons in the wagon Monday evening

Day break Tuesday me and Pa was Springfield bound

Papa took along a great big gallon jug of white corn whiskey

To quench his thirst and wash the road dirt down

Halfway to Springfield we came to a place called Ruby's tavern

Papa said we'd better rest the mule a while

So I hitched Sam to a shade tree Papa grabbed a watermelon

And walked in the tavern with a great big smile

I stayed by the wagon waitin' and it sure got aggravating

When Pa staggered outside holdin' Ruby's hands

And when he gave her more watermelon

I heard miss Ruby tell him that he was her favorite watermelon man

Then we got back on the wagon and we headed out toward Springfield

Papa was singin' the Mean Mule Skinner Blues

Then we came upon a lady pickin' berries by the roadside

Papa said Old Sam hello mam how are you

Then he said my name is Dan ma'm and I'm a Watermelon man ma'm

Got melons to sell and would you care for a few

She said Well I might like some but tell me do you plug 'em

Pa winked at me and say indeed I do

I was just a boy of thirteen and nobody's fool by no means

I went hunt for some drinkin' water for me and Sam

And when I got back to the wagon Papa was laughin' and a braggin'

Of the women calling him Watermelon man

When we came to Johnson's Long Hill old Sam got kinda lazy

Pa said come here mule but Sam he'd refused

So he grabbed his black snake whip and brought it hard down on sam's hind side

and done another verse of the mean Mule Skinner Blues

We rolled into Springfield with Pa singin' and a yellin'

The sheriff met us there but Papa showed no fear

He said why hello sheriff grab yourself a watermelon

Like the big one that I gave your wife last year

The sheriff stood there slack jaw with Pa's words stuck in his craw

He grinned real big and shook my Father's hand

He said I like you're way of tradin' could I joined in your operating

And be your partner Watermelon man

Yeah everybody loved the Watermelon man