Tom T. Hall – Kentucky February 27 1971 (Guitar)

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There were signs beside the road like "Jesus Saves"

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And "Relieve yourself the fast and gentle way"

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I was looking for an old man who lived way back in these hills

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Who just might have a story I could tell

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Pretty soon, the blacktop disappeared

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I felt the car change to a lower gear

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I took a drink of liquor just to chase away the chill

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I was 27 miles from Olive Hill

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Ahead, I saw the bridge where I turned right

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A dirt road led straight up a mountainside

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I pulled up to a farmhouse I thought I had seen before

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An old man and his dog were at the door

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They told me this old-timer knew this land

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I told him, "Sir, I just don't understand

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Why the kids in this state just grow up and move away

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And leave the land where they were born and raised."

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He said, "Son, you can't make it on this land

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Unless you're happy workin' with your hands

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There ain't no kids today that wanna stay and work it out

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They wanna see the things they hear about."

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He said, "I cleared this whole farm off myself

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And I'd work it now but time has got my health."

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Then, staring out the window, resting in his easy chair

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He told me what I'd really come to hear

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"You know, son, people used to tell their kids

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'Now, I don't want you to have to work the way I did.'

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They don't and some will tell you that it's a shame

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But you have to think before you place the blame."

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I guess we must have talked for half a day

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'til I told him that I'd best be on my way

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He shook my hand and said, "I'm glad I met you, Mr. Hall

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But I guess there ain't no song here after all."