Nashville

In the year of forty three
Mama finished feedin' me
And quickly rushed off to her job
At Worthin's Backmill
But at fourth on Monroe's street
A faillin' hearts stopped at willin' feet
And mama gave up the breath of life
In the town of Nashville

Daddy was in the county jail
So my older sister Nell
Took a job at a tavern
That some folks called the Trashmill
And when the welfare agency offered help
Nell smiled at me
No thanks but we'll get by
In this town of Nashville

As a kid I went to school
Hurt stood high on a tavern stool
A listenin' to the songs
On the jukebox at the Trashmill
And that hurtin' in them sad old songs
Settled deep in a poor boy's bones
And I vowed I'll someday pick and sing in Nashville

So my older sister Nell
Like a true blue southern bell
Bought me a second handed guitar
From the Nashville goodwill
Heaven would smile and bells would ring
When I touched those shiny strings
And I was the richest poor boy in the town of Nashville

There's a chill down in my bones
As it's my time to go on
And I'm sure the good Lord knows
Just how I feel
Though they're callin' me a star
I can't forget about that first guitar
And the lady who helped me to make it big
In this town of Nashville