Tom T. Hall - "Ballad of Forty Dollars"

(D)
The man who preached the funeral
(G)
said it really was a simple way to die
(A7)
He laid down to rest one afternoon
(D)
and never opened up his eyes.

They hired me and Fred and Joe
(G)
to dig the grave and carry up some chairs
(A7)
It took us seven hours and I guess
(D)
we must have drank a case of beer.

I guess I ought to go and watch them
put him down but I don't own a suit.
Anyway when they start talkin' 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 looky yonder who's that ridin'
in that big ole shiny limousine.
Umm look at all that chrome I do believe
that thats the sharpest thing I've seen.
That must belong to his great uncle
someone said he owned a big ole 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 pick-up trucks for sale.
They say she took it pretty hard
but you can't tell too mech behind a veil.

Well listen ain't that pretty when the
bugler plays the military taps.
I think that when you're in the war
they always hide and 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 fella owes me forty bucks.

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