Lyric Kentucky Feb. 27, 71

There were signs beside the road like "Jesus Saves"
And "Relieve yourself the fast and gentle way"
I was lookin for an old man who lived way back in these hills
Who just might have a story I could tell


Pretty soon the blacktop disappeared
I felt the car change to a lower gear
I took a drink of liquor just to chase away the chill
I was 27 miles from Olive Hill

Ahead I saw the bridge where I turned right
A dirt road led straight up a mountainside
I pulled up to a farmhouse I thought I had seen before
An old man and his dog were at the door


They told me this old-timer knew this land
I told him, "Sir, I just don t understand
Why the kids in this state just grow up and move away
And leave the land where they were born and raised."

He said, "Son, you can t make it on this land
Unless you re happy workin with your hands
There ain t no kids today that wanna stay and work it out
They wanna see the things they hear about."


He said, "I cleared this whole farm off myself
And I d work it now but time has got my health."
Then starin out the window restin in his easy chair
He told me what I d really come to hear

"You know, son, people used to tell their kids
Now, I don t want you to have to work the way I did.
They don t and some will tell you that it s a shame
But you have to think before you place the blame."

I guess we must have talked for half a day
Til I told him that I d best be on my way
He shook my hand and said, "I m glad I met you, Mr. Hall
But I guess there ain t no song here after all."