Standin' on side of the Highway 4 exit A singing lady in tie-dye, a bag by her side Not seemingly lookin' like anything special She saw Tennessee tags and she waved for a ride
She's splainin' her travels and her family background When she got through I could not help but thinkin' She's a long way from a West Nashville grand ballroom gown Yes, she's a long way from a West Nashville grand ballroom gown
Father had money and her mother had love Channelled entirely to her dear sister Dove Twenty-two years in society's plan Was cancelled in the swing of her dear mother's hand
Two hours later we hit Cincinnati Yawnin', she woke up and then asked where we were When she found out, she almost be goin' This close to Nashville was too close for her
So I stopped by the roadside and I gave her five dollars She took it then kissed me and she gave me a note She told me just to read it then mail it in Nashville On old loose-leaf paper to her mother she wrote
'Mama I'm fine if you happen to wonder' 'I don't have much money but I still get around' 'I haven't made church in near thirty-six Sundays' 'So fuck all those West Nashville grand ballroom gowns' 'Yes, fuck all those West Nashville grand ballroom gown'