There's faded paint down Walnut Street
That's the cotton gin where the farmers meet
And there's the water tower, I never had the guts to climb
Sums up how, some folks live and others die, trying

She'll pick you up & pull you down
And everyone waves when they're driving through town
Yeah the faces may change, but the last names never do
It's the beautiful way of life, in Idalou

Just north of the highway is my dad's old work barn
Down the road from there, is where the Isoms farm
Coach Taylor retired, after finally winning state
They'll all move on, but the stories will stay the same

She'll pick you up & pull you down
And everyone waves when they're driving through town
Yeah the faces may change, but the last names never do
It's the beautiful way of life, in Idalou

There's a sole traffic light
And one side is red, and most people stop and they stay til they're dead
The other side's yellow, and it means proceed with caution
If you keep going, you may be forgotten

She'll pick you up & she'll pull you down
And everyone waves when they're driving through town

She'll pick you up and pull you down
And everyone waves when they're driving through our little town
Yeah the faces may change, but the last names never do
It's the beautiful way of life, in Idalou

It's the beautiful way of life, for me and you