Lyric Homecoming

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

You heard my record on the radio, oh, well it s just another song
But I ve got a hit recorded and it ll be out on the market fore too long
I got this ring in Mexico, no, 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, I guess I am looking kind of pale
If you didn t know me better, Dad, you d think that I d just gotten out of jail
No, we don t ever call them beer joints, night clubs are the places that I work
You meet a lot of people there, but no, there ain t much chance of gettin hurt

I m sorry that I couldn t be there with you all when Momma 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, boy, that really is a pretty stone
I m glad that Fred and Jan are here, it s better than you being here alone

Well I knew you s gonna ask me who the lady is that s sleeping in the car
That s just a girl who 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 down 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."