"West Nashville Grand Ballroom Gown" lyrics

Standin' on the 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
Explainin' 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
Channeled entirely to her dear sister Dove
Twenty-two years in society's plan
Was canceled 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