Except for 'Secret Agent Man', every one of Johnny Rivers' hit singles
up to this point had been a remake of an oldie. This (one of the few
A-sides he ever wrote) became his only #1 single on 11/12/66.
"Poor Side Of Town"
(Johnny Rivers - Lou Adler)
Intro:
Doo-do-do-do-wah, shoobee-doobee
Doo-do-do-do-wah, shoobee-doobee
Verse 1:
How can you tell me how much you miss me
When the last time I saw you you wouldn't even kiss me
That rich guy you been seein'
Must have put you down
So welcome back, baby
To the poor side of town
guitar [2X; played at end of each verse]:
() [N..]
v v v v
-------0--0---------------|
------------0h2-0---------|
------------------0h1p0h1-|
--------------------------|
--------------------------|
-0------------------------|
Verse 2:
To him you were nothing but a little plaything (little plaything,
doo-wah)
Not much more than an overnight fling (overnight fling, doo-wah)
To me you were the greatest thing
This boy had ever found
And girl, it's hard to find nice things
On the poor side of town
Bridge:
I can't blame you for tryin'
I'm tryin' to make it too
I've got one little hangup, baby
()
I just can't make it without you (without you, ooh, without you, aah)
Verse 3:
So tell me, are you gonna stay now (gonna stay now, doo-wah)
Will you stand by me all the way now (all the way now, doo-wah)
With you by my side
They can't keep us down
Together we can make it, baby
From the poor side of town
Verse 4 [first two lines sung by background singers]:
So tell me how much you love me
Come near to me and say you need me now
Oh, with you by my side
This world can't keep us down
Together we can make it, baby
From the poor side of town
Coda [repeat to fade]:
Doo-do-do-do-wah, shoobee-doobee
-- another ace 60's tab from Andrew Rogers