Lyric Homecoming

(Tom T. Hall)

I guess I should have written Dad to let you know that I was coming home
But I ve been gone so many years I didn t realize you had a phone
I saw your cattle comin in and boy they re looking mighty fat and sleek
I saw Fred at the service station he told me that his wife was awful sick.

You heard my record on the radio oh well it s just another song
But I ve got a hit recorded Dad it ll be out on the market fore too long
Oh, I got this ring in Mexico you know it didn t cost me quite a bunch
When you re in the business that I m in the people call it puttin up a front.

I know I ve lost a little weight and I guess I m a looking kinda pale
If you didn t know me better Dad you d think that I ve just gotten out of jail
No we don t ever call em beer joints night clubs are the places where I work
You meet a lotta people there but no there ain t much chance of gettin hurt.

I m sorry that I couldn t be here with you all when Mama passed away
I was on the road and when they came and told me it was just too late
I drove by the grave to see her and boy that really is a pretty stone
I m glad that Fred and Jan are here it s better than you being here alone.

I knew you s gonna ask me who the lady is who s sleepin in the car
That s just the girl that works for me and man she plays a pretty mean guitar
We worked in San Antone last night she didn t even have the time to dress
She drove me in from Nashville and to tell the truth I guess she needs the rest.

Well Dad, I gotta go we got a dance to work in Cartersville tonight
Let me take your number down I ll call you and I promise you I ll write
Now you be good and don t be chasin all those pretty women that you know
And by the way if you see Barbara Walker tell her that I said hello...