Three Button Hand Me Down (Live on John Peel’s Sunday Concert, BBC, 2/26/72)

[Verse 1]

I don't need no one's opinion

On the matter concerning my dress

I was raised in a clinic down in Oklahoma

There were many things I did not possess

I never complained, because my father said

"Son you'll get your chance before you're my age"

Then he took me upstairs and gave me this suit

Written all over his face

[Chorus]

"Others may come and others may go

But that suit will be around wherever you're goin'"

Three button hand me down

Three button hand me down

[Verse 2]

I've nеver been a tidy dresser

And thе fold in my trousers it ain't straight

Know a good cloth when I see one

That's why I'm clad in this gray flannel suit

Sometimes I wonder if I should visit a tailor

And get myself a smooth outfit

Remember what my father said, son

I'll make you from the open road

[Chorus]

"Others may come and others may go

But that suit will be around wherever you're goin'"

Three button hand me down

Three button hand me down, go

[Instrumental Break]

[Verse 3]

I had my fair share of neat women

But they came between me and my suit

A filly from Boston, a barmaid from Houston

Not forgetting the one in Detroit

"We like you boy and we think you're sweet

But can't you lose your suit?"

"No, no, no, no, you can't do that to me"

And this is what my father said

[Chorus]

"Others may come and others may go

But that suit will be around wherever you're goin'"

Three button hand me down

Three button hand me down

Three button hand me down

Three button hand me down

[Spoken Outro]

As you probably noticed, I never got the chance to introduce the program, uh

This is in concert, and these of course are the Northern Dance Orchestra, and God bless 'em

Sounding very strong tonight, lads