You Better Git Ready
Words and Music by Woody Guthrie
Contact Publisher - TRO-Essex Music Group

I had a dream the other night,
Sing on, brother, sing;
About this war we've got to fight,
Sing on, brother, sing;
I dreamt the devil come to me,
And woke me up from out of my sleep,
Here is what he says to me:
Sing on, brother, sing!

You better get ready, brother,
You better get ready, sister,
You better get ready, 'cause you know you've got to fight;
You better get ready, brother,
You better get ready, sister,
You better get ready, 'cause you may be called tonight.

I raised up from out of my bed,
Sing on, brother, sing!
To the devil this I said,
Sing on, brother, sing!
Pray, tell me, sir, what brings you here?
Trifling, gambling, wine or beer?
Or is my doom day drawing near?
Sing on brother, sing!

You better get ready, brother,
You better get ready, sister,
You better get ready, 'cause you know you've got to fight;
You better get ready, brother,
You better get ready, sister,
You better get ready, 'cause you may be called tonight.

The devil opened his big black book,
Sing on, brother, sing;
He opened it up and took a look,
Sing on, brother, sing;
He read off Adolph Hitler's name,
And said – Oh Hell just ain’t the same,
Compared to them Nazis, Hell’s too tame
Sing on, brother, sing!

You better get ready, brother,
You better get ready, sister,
You better get ready, 'cause you know you've got to fight;
You better get ready, brother,
You better get ready, sister,
You better get ready, 'cause you may be called tonight.

I then pulled on my fighting pants,
Sing on, brother, sing;
The devil of hell he sung and danced,
Sing on, sister, sing;
He said, “If you go and win this war,
Chase that super race out for sure,
I’ll never raise hell on earth no more!”
Sing on, pardner, sing!

You better get ready, sister,
You better get ready, brother
You better get ready, 'cause you know you've got to fight;
You better get ready, father,
You better get ready, mother,
You better get ready, 'cause you may be called tonight. 


© Copyright Woody Guthrie Publications, Inc. & TRO-Ludlow Music, Inc. (BMI)
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