Well I was thumbing my way from Montgomery
Had my guitar on my back
When a stranger pulled up beside me, in a antique Cadillac
He was dressed like 1950
Half drunk and hollow eyed
Said its a long walk to Nashville would you like a ride son?
Well I climbed up in the front seat
And he turned on the radio
And them sad old songs coming outta them speakers was solid country gold
Then I noticed the stranger was ghost white pale
When he asked me for a light
And I knew there was something strange about this ride
Chorus
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?
He said boy can you make folks feel what you feel inside?
Cause if your big star bound let me warn you it's a long hard ride
He cried just south of Nashville
And he turned that car around
He said "this is where you get off boy"
'Cause I'm goin' back to Alabam'
Well I climbed outta that Cadillac
And I said mister many thanks
He said you don't have to call me mister, mister
The whole world calls me Hank
Chorus x2
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?
He said boy can you make folks feel what you feel inside?
Cause if your big star bound let me warn you it's a long hard ride
Well if you're big star bound let me warn ya, its a long hard ride
If you're big star bound........let me warn ya