They were all kind of crazy 

But it kept them from going insane

Ole hag had been to prison

Johnny told him not to be ashamed 

If you tell the world the truth

You can always look em in the eye 

Then along came Branded Man

Sing me back home and Mama Tried 



Hank never knew his daddy 

But he Carried on his name with his own voice 

As if the hand of destiny 

Said Son take this guitar, you have no choice

Led him to that mountain top

Where he nearly lost his life

But he lived to write a book 

And songs about 

How country boys survive 



They lived it up

Then wrote it down 

They were more than drugstore Cowboys 

They've been bucked and bruised and kicked around 

They took their pain 

Their voices rang 

Until the whole world sang

That country sound 

All because they lived it up

Lived to write it down 



They didn't understand him 

When he wore his mohair suits and skinny ties 

So Willie took ole trigger

said you can kiss my Nashville ass goodbye

On a bloody merry morning 

He was on the road again and Texas bound 

He's living it up somewhere tonight 

So he can write it down 



I think I'll live it up tonight 

And hope I live to write it down