[Verse 1]
Dispatch to 16th Ave
I'm afraid there's another man down
Suspect was a record man
Hell bent on changing his sound
He was naive and nineteen, new to town
Wasn't in it for the money, so he stood his ground
Damn shame to see another good one go
Like a whipped dog walking with his tail hung low

[Chorus]
And there's a murder on Music Row
Another never would've made it on the radio
Another couldn't catch a flame 'cause he played too slow
Wouldn't sing something that somebody else wrote
Should've packed up and headed on home
With his pen and pad filled with country songs
Wound up found on the side of town
Where the twang used to hang around
Dispatch to 16th Ave
I'm afraid there's another man down

[Verse 2]
Dispatch to 16th Ave
I'm afraid it's a little too late
Used to be about honest songs
But the dollar sign took its place
Whatever happened to the working man
Or cheating and lying 'bout love
I know a few of those Highwaymen
Are probably shaking their heads above
[Chorus]
Another murder on Music Row
Another never would've made it on the radio
Another couldn't catch a flame 'cause he played too slow
Wouldn't sing something that somebody else wrote
Should've packed up and headed on home
With his pen and pad filled with country songs
Wound up found on the side of town
Where the twang used to hang around
Dispatch to 16th Ave
I'm afraid there's another man down

[Instrumental Break]

[Verse 3]
There's a few of us hanging around
Yeah, maybe we missed the train
There's a lot of folks holding tight
To the "might come back someday"
If it don't, then wish me well
As I die on this hill for now
Dispatch to 16th Ave
I'm afraid there's another man down

[Instrumental Outro]