(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...