Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett
This cut off of Buffett’s 1974 album “Living and Dying in ¾ Time”, presents itself as a simple ballad about a girl leaving the high-society types found in Nashville behind. However, it also serves as a call-out to the Nashville music scene, which Buffett was beefing with at the time.
[Verse 1]
Standin' on the side of the Highway 4 exit
A lady in tie-dye, a bag by her side
Not really lookin' like anything special
Saw Tennessee tags and she waved for a ride
[Verse 2]
Sat right beside me as the meter hit sixty
Explainin' her travels and her family background
When she got through, I could not help but thinkin'
She's a long way from a West Nashville grand ballroom gown
[Chorus 1]
Father had money and her mother had love
Channeled entirely to her dear sister Dove
Twenty-two years in society's plan
Was canceled in the swing of her dear mother's hand
[Verse 3]
Six hours later, we hit Cincinnati
Yawnin', she woke and then asked where we were
When she found out, she said, "I must be goin'"
This close to Nashville was too close for her
[Verse 4]
So I stopped by the roadside and I gave her five dollars
She took it, then kissed me and gave me a note
She told me just to read it, then mail it in Nashville
On old loose-leaf paper to her mother, she wrote
[Chorus 2]
She said, "Mama, I'm fine, if you happen to wonder
I don't have much money, but I still get around
I haven't made church in near thirty-six Sundays
So fuck all those West Nashville grand ballroom gowns"
[Outro]
Yes, she's a long way from a West Nashville grand ballroom gown
West Nashville Grand Ballroom Gown was written by Jimmy Buffett.
West Nashville Grand Ballroom Gown was produced by Don Gant.