Lyrics:

I was thumbing from Montgomery
I had my guitar on my back
When a stranger stopped beside me in an antique Cadillac
He was dressed like 1950
Half drunk and hollow eyed
He say 'it's a long walk to Nashville would you like to ride, son'

I sat down in the front seat
Turned on the radio
Them sad old songs coming outta them speakers was solid country gold
Then I noticed the stranger was ghost white pale
When I asked him for a light
I knew there was something strange about this ride


He said 'drifter can you make folks cry when you play and sing
Have you paid your dues?
Can you moan the blues?
Can you bend them guitar strings?
Boy can you make folks feel what you feel inside?
If you're big star bound let me warn you, it's a long hard ride'

And he cried just south of Nashville
Turned that car around
He said 'this is where you get off boy
I'm goin' back to Alabam'
And as I stepped outta that Cadillac
I said 'mister, many thanks'
He said 'you don't have to call me mister, mister
The whole world calls me Hank'

He said 'drifter can you make folks cry when you play and sing
Have you paid your dues?
Can you moan the blues?
Can you bend them guitar strings?
Boy, can you make folks feel what you feel inside?
If you're big star bound let me warn you, it's a long hard ride'

He said 'drifter can you make folks cry when you play and sing
Have you paid your dues?
Can you moan the blues?
Can you bend them guitar strings?
Boy, can you make folks feel what you feel inside?
If you're big star bound let me warn you, it's a long hard ride
If you're big star bound let me warn you, it's a long hard ride'