Take An Old Cold Tater (And Wait)
by E.M. Bartlett
"'My father,
E.M. Bartlett, Sr., wrote this song in the early
twenties. It was considered then a comic quartet number
along with other titles he wrote such as 'You Can't Keep
A Good Man Down.' 'The Old Razor Strap' and 'The Men
Will Wear Kimonos By and By.' It was not written with
country music in mind, but Little Jimmy Dickens picked
it up and made it a popular country song." —Gene
Bartlett, Jr.
Take An Old Cold Tater (And Wait)
When I was little boy around the table at home
I remember very well when company would come
I would have to be right still until the whole crowd ate
My mama always said to me, "Just take a tater and wait."
Taters never did taste good with chicken on a plate
But I had to eat 'em just the same
That is why I look so bad and have these punny ways
Because I always had to take an old cold tater and wait.
And then the preachers, they would come to stay awhile
with us
I would have to slip around and raise but little fuss
In fear that I would spill the bens or break a china
plate
My mama always said to me, "Just take a tater and wait."
Well, I thought that I'd starve to death before my time
would come
All that chicken they would eat and just leave me the
bun
The feet and neck were all that's left upon the china
plate
It makes you pretty darn weak to take an old cold tater
and wait.
