[Verse 1]
If Loretta stayed in Butcher Holler and Conway still sang rock,
or if Chet had played the piccolo when Billboard had no charts.
If Tanya stayed at school would Johnny barbecue that goat
and if Minnie didn't buy that hat would Archie tell his jokes.
 
[Verse 2]
If Ernest never waltzed across that Texas border line
and the truckers never rolled again to the songs of Red Sovine.
What if Marty and that Devil Woman learned to love again
and Melvin never stuttered, what a state we'd all be in?
 
[Chorus]
There'd be no country music, no homespun comedy,
rock'n'roll would drive us mad and dominate the scene.
There'd be an Opry House but not in Nashville, Tennessee,
if there was no country music, what a sad world this would be.
 
 
[Verse 3] (Key Change to E)
If Hank had never known the torment of a cheatin' heart,
or Guy Drake never told about that "Welfare Cadillac" car.
If Cash had never walked the line with June there by his side,
we'd never hear those country songs sung by Charley Pride.
 
[Verse 3]
But if Acuff kept it secret 'bout the Wabash Cannonball
and Eddy Arnold didn't sing his lonesome cattle call.
If we never heard the guitar or the fiddle start to play,
we'd never know the pleasure that we'd missed along the way.
 
[End-Chorus]
There'd be no country music, no homespun comedy,
rock'n'roll would drive us mad and dominate the scene.
There'd be an Opry House but not in Nashville, Tennessee,
if there was no country music, what a sad world this would be.
If there was no country music, what a sad world this would be.