Tom T Hall
Miscellaneous
Ballad Of Forty Dollars (1968)
The man that 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 I get spooked
So I’ll just sit here in the truck and act like I don't know him when they pass
Anyway, when they're all through I got to go to work and mow the grass
Here they come and who's that riding in that big old 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 old farm
When they get parked I’ll mosey down and look it over that won't do no harm
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
He's not even in the ground and they say his truck is up for sale
They say she took it pretty hard but you can't tell too much behind a veil
Listen ain't that pretty when a bugler plays a military taps
I think when you were in the war they always hide and play a song like that
Well here I am and there he goes and I guess that you might call it my bad luck
I hope he rests in peace but the trouble is the fellow owes me forty bucks

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