A little brown suitcase at the top of the stairs Not much to start with and worse for the wear Mama said Virgil let's thow that away he said no it might come in handy some day Well first there was Billy Joe then there was Jack They took that old suitcase but all brought it back Now some went a ridin' and some had to walk But Lord if that little brown suitcase could talk Well my brother Quentin the one with a smile He took that old suitcase and he went to Ohio And he brought it back on Christmas full of toys and things And some Bill Monroe records that I soon learned to sing Well that was the year of 57 and the month of July When I took that old suitcase and I joined the GI's I followed the pattern set down by the rest On the inside of the cover I wrote my address Well my folks are passed on now I don't know where it's at You know Betty might know cause she keeps things like that And when dad gets to heaven mom won't be alarmed If he got that old suitcase tucked under his arms