I walked alone on some old highway
Tryin’ hard to bum a ride
When a grey haired man, pulled up beside me
Grinned at me, as I climbed inside
He said son, where are you going
Now won’t you tell me, just where you’re from
I said I’m broke and awful lonely
And I feel I can’t go on.
(Chorus)
I’ve been down below rock bottom
I’ve been tossed out and left for dead
I’ve had my share of stormy weather
Now I’m beat down and hangin’ by a thread.
He just smiled and said that’s nothing
You ought to see the shape I’m in
I was born in a depression
I had no shoes, ‘til I was ten
I fought a war when I turned twenty
I left two kids and a worried wife
Lost a friend two days from leavin’
And I still owe that boy my life.
(Repeat Chorus)
I’ve got scars from years of living
An aching back from debts I paid
So don’t tell me about your troubles
Seems to me, you’ve got it made
Well, he dropped me off, this side of Knoxville
As he put out his cigarette
He shook my hand, slipped me a twenty
Left me with something, I won’t soon forget.
(Repeat Chorus)
Yeah, I’m beat down and hangin’ by a thread.
