Ballad of Forty Dollars — текст песни (Tom T. Hall)

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 dont own a suit

And anyway when they start talking about the fire in hell, well, I get spooked

So, Ill just sit here in my truck and act like I dont know him when they pass

Anyway, when theyre all through Ive got to go to work and mow the grass



Well, here they come and whos that ridin in that big ol shiny limousine

Look at all that chrome, I do believe that thats the sharpest thing Ive seen

That must belong to his great uncle, someone said he owned a big ol farm

When they get parked Ill mosey down and look it over, that wont 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, hes not even in the ground and they say that his truck is up for sale

They say she took it pretty hard, but you cant tell too much behind the veil



Well, listen aint that pretty when the bugler plays the military taps

I think that when yous in the war they always had to play a song like that

Well here I am and there they go and I guess youd just call it my bad luck

I hope he rests in peace, the trouble is the fellow owes me forty bucks