All through school
He did real well
Got a good job in the sawmill, yeah
But he wanted more
So he went away
As he stepped on board the 8-0-2
He could hear his daddy say

Listen to the big bell ringin' on the hillside
I hear the town choir singin' oh so sweet and high
Lady Luck's got a heart of stone
You're the pride of Franklin County
Don't you leave your natural home oh yeah

A small town kid with the big city blues
A yearnin' heart and taped up shoes yeah
He wanted more so he went astray
Took a gun and he stole a car
And he was on his way

Listen to the big bell ringin' on the hillside
Hear the town choir singin' oh so sweet and high high
Lady Luck's got a heart of stone
But the pride of Franklin County's gonna make it on his own

[ strings ]
He got tough
Lord, he was hard
Yeah, he robbed a bank
Oh, didn't see the guard
The guard shot him down
And as he lay there dying
People gathered round and they swore they heard him say
Listen to the big bell ringin' on the hillside

Hear the town choir singin' oh so sweet and high
Lady Luck's got a heart of stone
Now the pride of Franklin County's goin' home
Listen to the big bell ringin' on the hillside...
Finally comin' home