Standin' on side of the Highway 4 exit 
A lady in tie-dye, a bag by her side 
Not really lookin' like anything special 
Saw Tennessee tags and she waved for a ride 

Sat right beside me as the meter hit sixty 
'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 
 
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 

Six hours later we hit Cincinnati 
Yawnin', she woke and then asked where we were 
When she found out, she said I must 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 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 
 
She said, "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 she's a long way from a West Nashville grand ballroom gown