All the songs that he taught me when I was a kid
 John Henry, Ol' Shep and Faded Love
 I Fall To Pieces and On The Wings Of A Dove

 Just a few chords on the banjo that was all he knew
 But in the eyes of a child, man his fingers flew
 I practiced and I practiced 'til I got it right
 Packed up everything and just took off one night

 I made it from the beer joints to the Opry stage
 He said the only difference is what you're gettin' paid
 He didn't care that everybody knew my name
 He said it's all for nothin' if you don't stay the same

 And when he died the preacher cried and said he's the lucky one
 He's walkin' hand in hand with God's only son
 My faith and common sense tell me the preacher's right
 But I'd love to hear the banjo ring for me tonight

 I will honor my father with these words I write down
 And as long as I remember him he'll always be around
 And the pain of losin' him cuts like a Randall knife
 I learned a few chords on the banjo as the key to life
 Yeah the pain of losin' him cuts like a Randall knife
 I learned a few chords on the banjo as the key to life