Tom T. Hall

[fox69]

"Back When Gas Was Thirty Cents A Gallon"

"Back When Gas Was Thirty Cents A Gallon"


Back when gas was thirty cents a gallon America was young and strong and brave
Lord knows that I didn't have much money
And my old car had seen some better days
You were young and fresh as brand new roses
I was so in love and strong and brave
Back when gas was thirty cents a gallon and love was only sixty cents away
I don't think I'd know you if I'd see you I practice my forgettin' till it works
Back when gas was thirty cents a gallon I didn't know the meaning of hurt

Back when gas was thirty cents a gallon
And sweet magnolias line those country roads
We burned a tank of love most every weekend
And on work days I helped 'em fix the roads
My friends were many and our dreams were certain
Whoever thought we'd go our separate ways
Back when gas was thirty cents a gallon and love was only sixty cents away
I don't think I'd know you...
Back when gas was thirty cents a gallon and love was only sixty cents away

 

[fox69]

"Back When The Old Homeplace Was New"

"Back When The Old Homeplace Was New"


Well the children come back to see the old homeplace
They don't see a thing that they like
The old well out back with its cool clear water don't fit into their style of life
The old gravel road that leads to the old homeplace gets dust on their new shiny cars
Well they didn't complain about nothing to do back when the old homeplace was new
Back when the old homeplace was new there was plenty to see and to do
But they can't remember and I ain't gonna tell 'em
Back when the old homeplace was new

There's an old swimming hole about a half mile away
An old tire still swings from a tree
I've got an old jar full of lightening and bugs and a dogfishin' weren't just today
They can't get on line from my old telephone and I ain't got no cable TV
Oh we used to tell stories and some of them true
Back when the old homeplace was new
Back when the old homeplace...

Well the toys they treasured are stashed in the attic except for a rusty old bike
There's a big ball of string in a drawer in the kitchen
They used to use flying their kites
There's a battered old can out there by the toolshed
An old can that they used to kick
They sit on the porch and they stare down the driveway
They just can't see living like this
Back when the old homeplace...

 

[fox69]

"Back When We Were Young"

"Back When We Were Young"


Back when we were young everybody came to see us
Everybody wanted to be us back when we were young
We loved each other so all our friends told one another
And we even told each other back when we were young

It was laughin' it was dancin' it was cigarettes and bourbon play with kisses
It was alligator shoes and new blue suits and anything that money wishes
It was sittin' up all night and waitin' for the dawn to bring another wondrous day
It was holding hands and thinking that tomorrow is a million years away
Back when we were young...

It was rolling seventh of a time and thinking it was never ever gonna end
Back then we even thought of time itself as being something as a passing friend
It was buyin' one another things we didn't need and birthdays were so corny
Back then we even had some friends live as far away as California
Back when we were young

 

[fox69]

"Ballad Of Bill Crump"

"Ballad Of Bill Crump"


Now I'd hear a lot of tall stories since my business is writin' songs
And every now and then if you listen real close a good true one comes along
And this is the story of old Bill Crump from the North Carolina Hills
Nat Winston of Nashville knew this man real well

He built the church and he built the pews
He built the cradles and the furniture for the schools
Folks in Avery County say that he was better than good
Probably one of the reasons the Lord made wood

Now men have faults and Bill's fault was he loved to sip that corn
He lived ninety some years that way don't guess it was hurtin' him none
You could take him a picture from a catalog he could build anything he'd see
He could make anything that you could make out of the tree
One day Bill said Mama I'm gettin' old I want you to measure me good
I'm goin' out to that wood pile and get myself some wood
And I'm gonna make me a coffin I want it to fit me fine
The way I figure it I've got about enough time
He built the church and he built the pews...

Now Bill worked on that coffin like he was gonna be there awhile
He'd show the folks and rub that wood and then stand back and smile
He used that body for ninety some years figured it had treated him good
And when he left it he put it away in some real fine wood
Oh right now old Bill's sleepin' in the hills of North Caroline
In his homemade coffin handrubbed walnut velvet lined
Now most folks use their heads and hands and just think of themselves
His body's there but his spirit's someplace else
Cause he built the church and he built the pews...

 

[fox69]

"Ballad Of Forty Dollars"

"Ballad Of Forty Dollars"


The man who preached the funeral said it really was a simple way to die
He laid down to rest one afternoon and never opened up his eyes
They hired me and Fred and Joe to dig the grave and carry up some chairs
It took us seven hours and I guess we must have drunk a case of beer

I guess I ought to go and watch them put him down but I don't own a suit
And anyway when they start talking about the fire in hell, well, I get spooked
So, I'll just sit here in my truck and act like I don't know him when they pass
Anyway, when they're all through I've got to go to work and mow the grass

Well, here they come and who's that ridin' in that big ol' shiny limousine
Look at all that chrome, I do believe that that's the sharpest thing I've seen

That must belong to his great uncle, someone said he owned a big ol' farm
When they get parked I'll mosey down and look it over, that won't do no harm

Well that must be the widow in the car and would you take a look at that
That sure is a pretty dress, you know some women do look good in black
Well, he's not even in the ground and they say that his truck is up for sale
They say she took it pretty hard, but you can't tell too much behind the veil

Well, listen ain't that pretty when the bugler plays the military taps
I think that when you's in the war they always had to play a song like that
Well here I am and there they go and I guess you'd just call it my bad luck
I hope he rests in peace, the trouble is the fellow owes me forty bucks

 

[fox69]

"Barn Dance"

"Barn Dance"


One night as I was sleeping something awakened me
There was a light on in my barn so I went down to see
I peeked through a big ole crack in the door and what do you think I saw
The animals were havin' a barn dance right in the horses' stall
And there was a chicken doing the chicken reel and the muskart rambled on
The ole cow did a cow-cow boogie and the rooster crowed a song
A mouse came out of his hidin' place and he danced on one leg
The ole hen got so tickled that she almost laid an egg

They were all dressed up for the barn dance it made me want to laugh
The rabbit wore a big bowtie and the pig was a lookin' in a lookin' glass
And the goose danced with the gander 'til an old dog butted in
The horse was horsing around a lot till the mare got mad at him
And there was a chicken doing...
And there was a chicken doing...

 

[fox69]

"Beautiful River Of Life"

"Beautiful River Of Life"


This is a beautiful river (brother) this is a beautiful stream
Tis is a beautiful river (sister) this is a beautiful dream
I know it flows through the mountains sometimes there's trouble and strife
This is a beautiful river the beautiful river of life

The river of life is a journey (brother) all of God's children must take
Sharing our moments of glory (sister) learning from all our mistakes
I know it flows through the mountains...

Everyone rides on the river (brother) sometimes it's deep and it's wide
If we don't cross over together (sister) meet you on the other side
I know it flows through the mountains...
Beautiful river of life

 

[fox69]

"Beauty Is A Fading Flower"

"Beauty Is A Fading Flower"


Beauty is a fading flower tomorrow it may be gone
Beauty is a fading flower love goes on and on

Today everybody wants you brand new is better than old
Who will want you tomorrow there's beauty in your soul
Beauty is a fading flower...

You have never known love you've never learned to hate
When these emotions find you they'll leave lines in your face
Beauty is a fading flower...

Love is not all beauty love is not all form
Winter wilts the flowers love can keep you warm
Beauty is a fading flower...

 

[fox69]

"Beer Drinker's Waltz"

"Beer Drinker's Waltz"


[Chorus:]
The band played and everyone talked
Through the plain old beer drinker's waltz.

Well, they sweated and swore, and they spit on the floor
Where the cigarette butts were all thrown
They wrote on the wall and hid out from the law
And the whole gang was drunk-drivin' home.

[Chorus]

Some little snuff queen who was barely sixteen
Played an out of tune Yamaha guitar
Some old boy named wink who brought his own drinks
Had his fiddle stoled out of his car.

[Chorus]

The man tendin' bar told the boy on guitar
He was a-drinkin' a little too much
They announced on the mic that they left on the lights
In a dark blue Chevrolet truck.

[Chorus]

Well, somewhere in the heavens there's a seven-o-seven
And they're a-servin' champagne in first class
Somewhere upstairs a child says it's prayers
Oh, but downstairs they're havin' a blast.

[Chorus]

 

[fox69]

"Before Jessie Died"

"Before Jessie Died"


She sat on the bar stool, she smoked and she drank
Till the past became clear and the future went blank
In the path she regains all her beauty and pride
But that was before Jessie died

Jessie, her husband was small, he was lean
Drove a big yellow earth moving machine
They had a new pick-up, the joy of their lives
But that was before Jessie died

She used to go shopping for pretty young clothes
And her hair done Thursdays and her nails and her toes
And on weekends they danced till the first morning light
But that was before Jessie died

On weekends they'd cook out and watch all the games
Jessie knew all of the best players names
The sunshine so bright it put tears in your eyes
But that was before Jessie died

When Jessie got sick he was thirty years old
They said, "It ain't nothing but a little light cold"
And he worked till the pain wouldn't ease or subside
And that was before Jessie died

Now she sits on the stool with a glass in her hand
She smiles and she talks to a travelin' man
And there was time she would turn down a ride
But that was before Jessie died

She sat on the bar stool, she smoked and she drank
'Till the past became clear and the future went blank
In the path she regains all her beauty and pride
But that was before Jessie died