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