Homecoming

(Tom T. Hall) I guess I should have written Dad to let you know that I was coming home But I`ve been gone so many years I didn`t realize you had a phone I saw your cattle comin` in and boy they`re looking mighty fat and sleek I saw Fred at the service station he 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 Dad it`ll be out on the market `fore too long Oh, I got this ring in Mexico you know 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`m a looking kinda pale If you didn`t know me better Dad you`d think that I`ve just gotten out of jail No we don`t ever call `em beer joints night clubs are the places where I work You meet a lotta 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 and boy that really is a pretty stone I`m glad that Fred and Jan are here it`s better than you being here alone. I knew you`s gonna ask me who the lady is who`s sleepin` in the car That`s just the girl that 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 in 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...