there's no livin' with you so what'll I do

When George Jones died last Friday, Rolling Stone posted an article that had information I didn't read anywhere else:  Jones's first Top Five Hit was 1955's rousing 'Why, Baby, Why' --

Tell me why baby, why baby, why baby why
you make me cry baby, cry baby, cry baby cry
I can't help but love you 'til the day that I die
So tell me, why baby, why baby, why baby why

Well, I got a crow I wanna pick with you
Just like last time when the feathers flew
You're runnin' wild a-kickin' up your heels
a-leavin' me home with a hand full of bills

I can't live without you and you know it's true
But there's no livin' with you so what'll I do
I'm goin' honky tonkin' -- get as tight as I can
And maybe by then you'll 'preciate a good man

Tell me why baby, why baby, why baby why
you make me cry baby, cry baby, cry baby cry
I can't help but love you 'til the day that I die
so tell me why baby, why baby, why baby why

-- instrumental --

Well now I don't know, but I've heard say
That ever' little dog is gonna have his day
You'd better pay attention, don't you dare forget
'Cause I'm just a little bitty puppy yet

Yeah I caught you honky tonkin' with my best friend
the thing to do was leave you, but I should'a left then
Now I'm too old to leave you, but I still get sore
When you come home a-feelin' for the knob on the door

Tell me why baby, why baby, why baby why
You make me cry baby, cry baby, cry baby cry
I can't help but love you 'til the day that I die
So tell me, why baby, why baby, why baby why...

{"Why Baby Why" - written, Darrell Edwards, George Jones - recorded, George Jones - released, 1955 - label:  Starday}

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There was a Charley Pride version of that song in the 80s, which I remember:  I didn't know George Jones sang it before that....(A lot of the best music traces back to the 50s or 60s....)

The Rolling Stone article continued:

Sinatra called him "the second greatest singer in America" (second only to himself) while Keith Richards calls him "a national treasure."

-30-