E
I guess I should've written, Dad, to let you know that I was coming home
A
I've been gone so many years, I didn't realize you had a phone
E
I saw your cattle coming in, boy they're looking mighty fat and slick
A                                  B                              E
I saw Fred at the service station, told me that his wife is awful sick
E
You heard my record on the radio, oh, well it's just another song
A
But I've got a hit recorded and it'll be out on the market 'fore too long
E
I got this ring in Mexico, no, it didn't cost me quite a bunch
A                                        B                               E
When you're in the business that I'm in, the people call it puttin' up a front
E
I know I've lost a little weight, I guess I am looking kind of pale
A
If you didn't know me better, Dad, you'd think that I'd just gotten out of jail
E
No, we don't ever call them beer joints, night clubs are the places that I work
A                                   B                                      E
You meet a lot of people there, but no, there ain't much chance of gettin' hurt
F#
I'm sorry that I couldn't be there with you all when Momma passed away
B
I was on the road and when they came and told me it was just too late
F#
I drove by the grave to see her, boy, that really is a pretty stone
B                                    C#                              F#
I'm glad that Fred and Jan are here, it's better than you being here alone
F#
Well I knew you's gonna ask me who the lady is that's sleeping in the car
B
That's just a girl who works for me and, man, she plays a pretty mean guitar
F#
We worked in San Antone last night, she didn't even have the time to dress
B                                       C#                                   F#
She drove me down from Nashville and to tell the truth I guess she needs the rest
F#
Well, Dad, I gotta go, we got a dance to work in Cartersville tonight
B
Let me take your number down, I'll call you, and I promise you I'll write
F#
Now you be good and don't be chasin' all those pretty women that you know
B                                 C#                           F#
And by the way if you see Barbara Walker tell her that I said "Hello."