[Verse 1]
Well, I was thumbin' from Montgomery
Had my guitar on my back
When this stranger stopped beside me
In this antique Cadillac
He was dressed like 1950
Half-drunk and hollow eyed
Said, "It's a long walk to Nashville
Would you like a ride, son?"

[Verse 2]
Well, I sat down in the front seat
And turned on that radio
And them sad old songs comin' out of them speakers
Was a solid country gold
Then I noticed the stranger was ghost white pale
When he asked me for a light
And I knew there was something strange about this ride

[Chorus]
He said, "Drifter, can you make folks cry when you play and sing?
Have you paid your dues, can you moan the blues?
Can you bend them guitar strings?"
He says, "Boy, can you make folks feel what you feel inside?
'Cause if you're big star bound
Let me warn you, it's a long hard ride"
[Verse 3]
Then he talked about the music
He talked about the fame
All them nights playin' for the people
Through the poison and the pain
Every story, it smelled like whiskey
But every word was the gospel truth
And I knew I sittin' beside livin' proof

[Chorus]
He said, "Drifter, can you make folks cry when you play and sing?
Have you paid your dues, can you moan the blues?
Can you bend them guitar strings?"
He says, "Boy, can you make folks feel what you feel inside?
'Cause if you're big star bound
Let me warn you, it's a long hard ride"

[Verse 4]
Well, he cried just south of Nashville
And turned that car around
He said, "This is where you get off, boy
I'm goin' back to Alabama"
As I stepped out of that Cadillac
I said, "Mister, many thanks"
He said, "You don't have to call me 'mister,' mister
The whole world called me Hank"
[Chorus]
He said, "Can you make folks cry when you play and sing?
Have you paid your dues, can you moan the blues?
Can you bend them guitar strings?"
He says, "Boy, can you make folks feel what you feel inside?
'Cause if you're big star bound
Let me warn you, it's a long hard ride"

[Outro]
"Yeah, drifter, if you're big star bound
Let me warn you, it's a long hard ride"