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A Stranger In Nashville

Jim Terr

© Blue Canyon Music, BMI

A fella come a walkin' into Nashville one day not too long ago
A tall skinny fellow with a bony face
And real sharp eyes that seemed to look right through ya
He had a guitar with him
He managed to get into the office of one of the big music publishers to sing a couple of his songs
Just a couple now I don't have too much time the publisher told him
The stranger sang a real sad song about a man whose woman had left him crying
And a song about a train
The publisher stood up and he said well Hoss you got a lotta writin' talent developin' there
When you get it slicked up a little bit more come and see me again
And we're really lookin' for more upbeat happy tunes you know what I mean
The stranger seemed to show a deep sadness in his eyes
But he smiled and he thanked the man for his encouragement and he slowly walked outside
It was a nice sunny day in Nashville
And the stranger leaned his bony frame up against a shade tree
And he begin to play again
A couple fellows who was a walkin' by pretty fast stopped to listen when they heard the strange sad voice
It seemed to remind them of somethin' from long ago
After listening to the stranger sing for a minute
One of the men said you know son if you'd grow your hair a little longer and give that voice some time to mature
I think my record company might be able to come up with the right song to try and make a star outta you
Here's my card give me a call in a year or so
And here's a couple of bucks go get yourself a good meal and put some meat on your bones
The stranger smiled his sad smile once again and he thanked the man for his kindness
Walked downtown and he stopped to stare at some of the older buildings with a faraway look in his eye
Tears started to roll down his cheek as he stood in front of the Grand Ole Opry House
Now deserted and quiet
And he sat down on the bench and he started to sing once again
The people who were walking by near enough to hear stopped
And they listened to the sad voice
And for a few minutes they all seemed to forget about their own troubles as the tall stranger sang from his heart
The way they weren't used to hearin' so much anymore
The stranger smiled a little brighter this time as he swung his guitar back over his shoulder
And he walked away knowin' the people still loved to hear a simple honest song
And then the ghost of Hank Williams took one more long look at the Ole Opry House and disappeared

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