Hard Scratch Pride

I'll live my life in sorrow
Since mother and daddy are dead
How could I say the grace of God if it's irresistible
It's not irresistible

I was born down south Kentucky
A hard scratch holler I call my home
Hell, my mama begged me, "Boy, don't you ramble"
My mama begged me, "Oh boy, don't you roam"

When I left that holler, I was just a boy
Flat-broke and busted and hell-bent to make it on my own
Hell, I couldn't go back home, no
Well, I could hear that train, it moans a lonesome song

And I'm headin' up to Detroit on a freight train, Mama
I'ma finally be a man
I been workin' seven days buildin' them Chevrolets
I'm doin' the best I can

And I met me a little city girl
And I'm gonna make her my bride
Oh, but don't worry, mama
I ain't lost my hard scratch pride

20 years have passed now since I hit the road
I can hear the whippoorwill, hell, the dogwoods, they callin' me home
Oh, but mama, she's long gone
And I can hear ol' Hank
Yeah, he gonna moan me that lonesome whistle song

And I'm headin' up to Detroit on a freight train, mama
I'ma finally be a man
I been workin' seven days buildin' them Chevrolets
I'm doin' the best I can

And I met me a little city girl
And I'm gonna make her my bride
But don't worry, mama
I ain't lost my hard scratch pride