(by Bruce R. Hornsby and John Hornsby)



Van and Willie went out one night

Once they get out on the road

Well then everything is alright

Had to get away from the kids and the wives

Well they ran into some city boys

That didn't walk just right

And the line was drawn for another showdown

Like they'd always seen it done

And when the lights came up on the little woods town

There was an old man bailing out a son



Going out for a night on the town

Going out for the smoke and the trees

Going out for a night on the town

Going out for a look and see

Said do what your daddy told you

Well I just went out and did that

Van and Willie went out one night



There's a green table down at the Midway

Where they rack up the balls for games

And reputations are made

There's a green forest full of oaks and pines

Where they cleared a space in the middle

Where secret scores are settled

And the claim was made round the table that night

And they rode off through the trees

And the young boys tell how the city boys tried

And how one man fell to his knees



Going out for a night on the town

Going out for the smoke and the trees

Going out for a night on the town

Going out for a look and see

Said what made you go and do that

Well we were just having a little fun

Van and Willie went out one night



And the line was drawn for another showdown

Like they'd always seen and done

And one man's night for a drunken old time

Left a scar on another one



Going out for a night on the town

Going out for the smoke and the trees

Going out for a night on the town

Going out for a look and see

Said do what your daddy told you

Well I just went out and did that

Van and Willie went out one night