Found myself heading down toward springfield
The last sign said it was twelve miles west
Its gettin hard to see through the salt on my windshield
But it looks like Im gonna make it before the sun sets

The morning I arrived was lincolns birthday
So I walked through his house and saw his tomb
I decided that a tour through the civil war memorial museum would be a drag
I was tired of seeing monuments about other mens doom

Now I dont want you people to think that all there is around springfield illinois
Are landmarks telling `bout the good old lincoln years
Cus just north of town I saw a sign that said the illinois opry is open tonight
And the sweet sound of country music filled my ears

And I want to be a star in the illinois opry now
The people in the country certainly know how to play
It may be a while before Im ready
But Im gonna be up on that stage someday

I could easily write a whole song about the licks that guitar man was pickin
I could go on for hours `bout the old boy on pedal steel
But Im not singing `bout people who were just playin music
Im singing about how fine their music made me feel

Theres a lot of people who have taken years of lessons
Trying to learn how to make their music fit the trend
But the simple folks at the opry have got somethin special
And I think that we all could use a lesson or two from them

And I want to be a star in the illinois opry now
The people in the country certainly know how to play
It maybe a while before Im ready
But Im gonna be up on that stage someday