In the year of forty three mama finished feedin'
me And quickly rushed off to her job at Woorden'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 and 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 [ piano ]
There's a chill down in my bones yes it's my time
to go on And I'm sure the good Lord knows the way
I feel So they're callin' me a star I can't forget
about that first guitar And a lady who helped me
to make it big in the town of Nashville
me And quickly rushed off to her job at Woorden'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 and 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 [ piano ]
There's a chill down in my bones yes it's my time
to go on And I'm sure the good Lord knows the way
I feel So they're callin' me a star I can't forget
about that first guitar And a lady who helped me
to make it big in the town of Nashville