Homecoming

I guess I should've written, dad To let you know that I was coming home I've been gone so many years I didn't realize you had a phone I saw your cattle coming in Boy, they're looking mighty fat and slick I saw Fred at the service station 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 And it'll be out on the market 'fore too long I got this ring in Mexico And no, 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 am looking kind of pale If you didn't know me better, dad You'd think that I'd just gotten out of jail No, we don't ever call them beer joints Nightclubs are the places that I work You meet a lot of 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 Boy, that really is a pretty stone I'm glad that Fred and Jan are here It's better than you being here alone Well, I knew you was gonna ask me Who the lady is that's sleeping in the car That's just a girl who 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 down 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"