Cooter McCrady and the Sin Eater’s Fill

[INTRO — stomping feet, piano, xylophone] Cooter McCrady died Tuesday night. Wednesday morning he was still causing trouble. [VERSE 1] Cooter McCrady was piss and vinegar Pickled in eighty-proof spite Could start an argument Christmas morning And keep the damn thing till night Kicked at dogs that never bit him Cussed the rain when fields were dry Told the preacher, “Save your sermon— I'll need the long one when I die.” [VERSE 2] Well, Cooter finally met his maker Or somebody further down And every woman brought a casserole Every man came into town They laid him straight upon the table Folded both his hands up still Then somebody asked the question: “Who's gonna eat old Cooter's fill?” [CHORUS — UPBEAT, FULL BAND] OH, COOTER McCRADY! YOU MEAN OLD MAN! Left this world owing Everything that you can! Bring out the cornbread! Bring out the ham! Get that poor Sin Eater A second pair of pants! Cooter lived eighty years Doing whatever he pleased— Lord have mercy on the Sin Eater. Cooter sure didn't leave him any. [VERSE 3] First came biscuits for his lying Black-eyed peas for breaking vows Apple butter for the moonshine He'd been hiding from his spouse One pork chop for his gambling Two more for his wandering eye By the time they reached his temper They'd done baked another pie [BREAK — xylophone / handclaps] [SIN EATER, spoken] “How many sins did this man have?” [OLD WOMAN] “How much time you got?” [CHORUS] OH, COOTER McCRADY! YOU MEAN OLD MAN! Hell might've wanted you Heaven said, “Not if we can!” Pass down the biscuits! Pour coffee again! Nobody told that Sin Eater What he'd gotten himself in! [BRIDGE — suddenly tender] But Cooter fixed Miss Harlan's roof And never charged a dime Sat all night with Danny's boy When fever came that time Never told nobody either. Would've ruined his reputation. [FINAL CHORUS — BIG, JOYOUS] OH, COOTER McCRADY! PISS AND VINEGAR MAN! Mean as an August hornet With two good working hands! He cursed this world And helped it Whenever nobody could see— So leave one biscuit on the plate. Maybe Cooter gets that one free. [OUTRO] [SIN EATER] “Any more?” [OLD WOMAN] “Well... you wanna hear about 1963?” [Band crashes back in]