I was thumbin' back from Montgomery

with a guitar on my back

When a stranger pulled up beside me in an antique Cadillac.

Well, he was dressed like 1950, half drunk and hallow eyed

Its a long walk to Nashville, would you like a ride, son.

He sat down in the front seat, and turned on the radio

and them sad old songs comin' outta them speakers was solid country gold.

Then I noticed the stranger was ghost white pale when he asked me for a light.

And knew there was somethin' strange about this ride.



CHORUS:

He said: Mister can you make folks cry when you play and sang.

Can you pay your dues, can you moan the blues

Can you bend them guitar strangs.

He said: Boy, can you make folks feel what you feel inside,

Cause if your big star bound let me warn you its a long hard ride.



Well, he cried just south of Nashville, and he turned that car around.

he said: (spoken) this is where you get off, boy

cause I'm going back to Alabam'.

I stepped out of that ole Cadillac and I said Mister, many thanks.

he said you don't have to call me mister, Mister.

The whole world calls me Hank.



Repeat Chorus