It snowed the night before and it had frozen on the ground
We didn't have a car and we lived seven miles from town
And I can hear my daddy's voice, so many years ago
Saying: "Don't forget the coffee Billy Joe

Mama needs her medicine, she's got that real bad cough
We'll get our check on Monday, tell ol' Sam we'll pay him off
You can catch a ride when you get to the black-top road
Don't forget the coffee Billy Joe"

Me and Quentin went back on the hill and we cut some wood
Burning in that ol' warm morning stove it sure smelled good
Daddy couldn't get work then and I was just a child
And God was on vacation for awhile

"Well, if you see Fred you tell him I'll come help him kill them hogs
And ask him if he'd still be interested in my dogs
Don't hang around that pool room all day, we might get more snow
And don't forget the coffee Billy Joe"

Well, they wonder why there ain't no rabbits left this day and time
To tell the truth I guess we ate 'em all in '49
Was that yesterday or was it over 20 years ago
"Don't forget the coffee Billy Joe"

"Mama needs her medicine, she's got that real bad cough
We'll get our check on Monday tell ol' Sam we'll pay him off
You can catch a ride when you get to the black-top road
Don't forget the coffee Billy Joe
Now pay attention, son
Don't forget the coffee Billy Joe"