He stopped at Fifth on Broad near where the Opry used to be
For one last tiny thought of singing there in '53
He walked into a pawnshop with a ring of gold and watch of silver
Then he continued east on Broad Street on his way down to the river.

He stopped at Third on Broad dropped his envelope in a mailbox
A hundred bucks from Maud his old friend from the Broadway nightspot
The world had passed him by and he had nothing more to give her
So he continued east on Broad Street on his way down to the river.

He stopped at First on Broad he saw the barges and the bridge
A ship was comin' in and he thought Lord mine never did
Some say it was on purpose while some others beg to differ
They say he slipped and fell on his way down to the river...