Tell Ole I Ain't Here He Better Get On Home
Moe Bandy & Joe Stampley Lyrics


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(Wayne Kemp)

Well, I was playin′ the pinball prayin' for a ten ball
A cussin′ that ole machine
With a couple of girls a hangin' on my back
Then the phone started ringin' and Moe started screamin′
Hey Joe, it′s your old lady and she's mad
She let her fingers do the walkin′ till she's found out where you′re at.

(And she said) tell ole I ain't here he better get on home
Or else he′s gonna find me and the baby gone
If I have to come down after him he's gonna wish he'd come to the phone
So tell ole I ain′t here he better get on home.

--- Instrumental ---

Well, the good Lard knows I love her but she don′t understand
Just how much I love this ole honky tonk atmosphere
But when the telephone starts to ringin' it scares the hell right out of her man
And I holler out loud if that′s for me Moe tell her I ain't here.

(But she said) tell ole I ain′t here he better get on home
Or else he's gonna find me and the baby gone
If I have to come down after him he′s gonna wish he'd come to the phone
So tell ole I ain't here he better get on home.





So tell ole I ain′t here he better get on home...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Moe Bandy & Joe Stampley's song "Tell ole I ain't here He better get on home" recount the tension between a man who loves his honky tonk lifestyle and his disapproving wife who is calling to demand his return home. The song takes place in a honky tonk bar where the man is playing pinball in the company of two women when the phone starts ringing. As the frustrated wife threatens to leave with the baby, the man asks his friend to pass on the message that he is not there and should be left alone to continue his fun. However, his wife insists he returns home, threatening to come after him and make him regret not answering the phone.


The song speaks to the classic conflict between domestic responsibility and freedom - two values that are often at odds in the world of honky tonk music. While the singer clearly loves the excitement of the honky tonk lifestyle, his wife represents the responsibilities and demands of family life, which he struggles to reconcile. By playing the "pinball" and cursing at the machine, the singer also embodies the spirit of rebellion and defiance that is often associated with honky tonk culture.


Line by Line Meaning

Well, I was playin′ the pinball prayin' for a ten ball
I was playing pinball and hoping for a good score.


A cussin′ that ole machine
I was swearing at the machine when it wasn't working right.


With a couple of girls a hangin' on my back
I had two girls with me, hanging on me at the time.


Then the phone started ringin' and Moe started screamin′
The phone rang and Moe started yelling at me.


Hey Joe, it′s your old lady and she's mad
My wife is calling and she's angry with me.


She let her fingers do the walkin′ till she's found out where you′re at.
She found out where I was by looking me up in the phone book.


Tell ole I ain't here he better get on home
My wife said to tell me to come home quickly.


Or else he′s gonna find me and the baby gone
If I don't come home soon, she'll leave with our child.


If I have to come down after him he's gonna wish he'd come to the phone
If I have to come to the honky tonk to get him, he'll regret not answering the phone.


Well, the good Lard knows I love her but she don′t understand
I love my wife, but she doesn't understand my love for the honky tonk lifestyle.


Just how much I love this ole honky tonk atmosphere
I really love being in this honky tonk environment.


And I holler out loud if that′s for me Moe tell her I ain't here.
If the phone is for me, I tell Moe to say that I'm not there.


So tell ole I ain′t here he better get on home.
My wife wants me to come home right away.




Writer(s): W. KEMP

Contributed by Mila M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Rock Reynolds

One of my favorite songs of all time.  You just can't beat these lyrics.  Thanks for posting.
Moe Bandy is one of my favorite recording artists.
Rock

Marvin Thayer

Gotta love that line; "Hey Joe, its your old lady and she's mad, she let her fingers do the walking and she's found out where you're at."

Muzikgirl67

JUST AS GOOD AS GOLD!!...Thank you soooo much for posting and sharing this "rarely heard anymore" lil' country ditty that made it to #11 on the charts for Moe & Joe back in June 1980...I thoroughly enjoyed it!...(and the sound quality is top-notch too!) Take care!! :)

Daniel Burns

this song went to #11 on the country charts in 1980!!!

eyoung2289

Real music...I appreciate my folks for teaching about real music!!

LaVerne Ray

Two great singers.❤

Joshua Doss

Me and my uncle Kevin would sit there all night long and run these jams back-to-back sacred times now he's gone and all I've got left is the memories but the memories still live on through me

danzigvi

The music promoters need to get a tour going with Moe Bandy, Joe Stampley, Gene Watson, Merle and the other good ones who are still living. A nation wide tour!

Sherri Holweger

Love love the old country!!

Léo Canhoto e Dino Santos Santos

Legal ...Muito bacana..!

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