They were all kind of crazy
But it kept them from going insane
Ole hag had been to prison
Johnny told him not to be ashamed
If you tell the world the truth
You can always look em in the eye
Then along came Branded Man
Sing me back home and Mama Tried
Hank never knew his daddy
But he Carried on his name with his own voice
As if the hand of destiny
Said Son take this guitar, you have no choice
Led him to that mountain top
Where he nearly lost his life
But he lived to write a book
And songs about
How country boys survive
They lived it up
Then wrote it down
They were more than drugstore Cowboys
They've been bucked and bruised and kicked around
They took their pain
Their voices rang
Until the whole world sang
That country sound
All because they lived it up
Lived to write it down
They didn't understand him
When he wore his mohair suits and skinny ties
So Willie took ole trigger
Said you can kiss my Nashville ass goodbye
On a bloody merry morning
He was on the road again and Texas bound
He's living it up somewhere tonight
So he can write it down
I think I'll live it up tonight
And hope I live to write it down