Jennings:
You'd've thought a king had died
The way those people cried
Instead of one more broken entertainer
Kristofferson:
It struck those in his trade
He could-a had it made
If he'd only been a little saner
Jennings:
They traveled far to see him
Oh, the humble and the high
They said goodbye as if he were a friend

All:
Now somewhere he is smilin'
On those who idolize him
But would they not recognize him
If he came back again?

Nelson:
He was born of modest means
And had outrageous dreams
They never let him rest till he fullfilled them
Cash:
While he rode that train of song
His devils tagged along
The whiskey and the pills just couldn't kill him
Nelson:
He didn't mean to be a rebel
Cash:
No the real ones never do
Nelson:
They are born apart from ordinary men
All:
And somewhere he is smilin'
On those who sanctify him
But would they not recognize him
If he came back again?

Jennings:
But it's an old, familiar story
Kristofferson:
But it's a damn shame nonetheless
Nelson:
They don't forgive his kind
Cash:
Until they lay them down to rest

All:
And somewhere he is smilin'
On those who idolize him
But would they not recognize him
If he came back again?

If he came back again?

Cash attempts to sing the last line again and that seems to be wrong and very funny to everyone