Chords for Ray Stevens - Shriner's Convention (Original)

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ Here they come down Main Street
Drums a-blavin' and sirens a-wailin'
What a [G] roll
Fans are a-playin' and flags are a-wavin'
And the band guards a motorcycle cold
Clowns are a-clownin' to the crowd
And pinchin' [B] every pretty girl who dares [C] to smile
[D] It's a glorious mess
Everybody wears a fez
The parade stretches out for [G] a mile
[C] It's a typical [G] American phenomenon
Where [D] all the members have a final [G] time
It's the 43rd [C] annual convention of [G] the Grand [C] Mystic
Royal Order [G] of the Noble [D] Czar
The Alibaba [G] Temple of the Shrine _ _ _
_ _ _ _ [Em] Meanwhile back at the motel
Operator, gimme room 321 Please
Hello, Noble Lumpkin
This here is the Lustrous Potentate
I said it's the Lustrous Potentate
The Lustrous
Coy, that, blame it, this here's Buck
Coy, why ain't you at the parade?
_ What?
Well, how'd you get that big Harley up there in your room?
What?
I can't hear you, Coy, quit revving it up, boy
Turn it off, I just want you to know one thing
You have embarrassed us all
The whole Hayhira delegation
Now I'll see you at the banquet, son
And you be there, Coy
You hear me?
Black tie, 7 o'clock
Be there, Coy
And Coy, don't answer the phone, uh-uh
_ [G] _ _ _ _ _
_ Well, it was all arranged by the ladies auxiliary in the downtown convention hall
Cold roast beef, string beans, mashed potatoes and nines, borix, peaches and all
And all the tables looked fine with the Moken Dave wine [B] and chrysanthemums on [C] each side
[D] And the Hayhira leaders in their rented tuxedos made the local hearts swell with [G] pride
It's [C] a typical American [G] phenomenon [D] where all the members [G] have a final time
It's the [C] 43rd annual [G] convention of the grand
[C] Mystic royal order of the noble Czar
[D] The Alibaba thremble [G] of his sign _ _ _
_ _ _ [Em] Meanwhile back at the motel
Operator, 321, please Thank you
Hello, Coy, what are you doing?
What do you mean, who is this?
This is Bubba
Why wasn't you at the banquet?
What do you mean all you had to wear was a high-wallion flowery shirt?
Well, you may think you're fooling some people, but I know what's going on
Everybody's seen your little redhead
That's right, everybody
Why'd she come running through the dinner right in the middle of the pineapple sherbet?
Didn't have nothing on but your fez, Coy
_ Coy, you're the only one that's got a fez with a propeller on top
Yeah, yeah, and she's yelling out the secret code too, Coy
We're gonna have to change it now _
We're gonna have to have a special meeting when we get back to Hay Hire
About your conduct at this here convention
_ _ Embarrassment
Now, Coy, you be at the secret conclave tonight, do you hear me?
And keep it a secret _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
Well, it was a secret meeting in the dead of the night with mysterious sanctimony
In accordance with prescribed rituals of time-honored [G] ceremony
Matters of great concern were weighed with [B] dedicated caution
[D] Like whether or not to raise, etch, stud, or draw, or spit in the [G] ocean
It's [C] typical American [G] phenomenon where [D] all the members have a final [G] time
It's the [C] 43rd annual [G] convention of the grand [C] mystic royal order
[G] Of the nobles of the Alibaba Temple of the Shrine _ _ _
_ _ _ [Em] Meanwhile, back at the motel _
Operator, room 320, how'd you know?
Uh-oh
Hello, Coy, where have you been?
I know you wasn't at the meeting
Well, I found out that at 3 o'clock this morning you was out there in your fruit of the loons
In the motel swimming pool with a bunch of them waitresses from the cocktail lab
I just hope Charlene don't find out about this, Coy
What?
Well, how'd you get that big motorcycle up there on the high dive, Coy?
Now, Coy, that, Burnett, that ain't no way to act
We're supposed to be pillars of the community
When we get back to Hehira, you can just turn in your ring and your tie-tack
Coy, Coy, you are out of the Shrine
_ You're gonna be blackballed, Coy
That's right, you may have to pack your bags and leave town
What do you mean you might join the Hail Gang?
Coy!
_ Don't you hang up on me
Don't you crank that motorcycle
Who's that giggling in the background, Coy?
Hello, hello, Operators, we's cut off, yeah, room 321
Coy! _ _ _ _ _
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