Now if you wanna get in trouble I'll tell you how to do it
You get a guitar and then you're into it
You play all day and you play all night
And folks say he'll never learn to play that thing right
Always griping won't let you practice

I bought my guitar some time ago
And the man said I'd learn in a week or so
He gave me a book and a pick or two
And said now Hank it's up to you -- the dirty dog
Cost me four ninety-five too
Wish I could find him now

Break (guitar)

Well nevertheless I've spent my dough
And I couldn't let it go to waste you know
So I took that book guitar and all
And I went back home where the trees were tall
Way down in Tennessee
A good place to be when you got a guitar

Then for weeks and weeks I labored hard
And tried to learn a few main chords
The book said it was easy as ABC
But brother my fingers they was killin' me
Got sore right on the end
Couldn't press down the strings
Felt disgusted
Break (fiddle)

But I kept on playin' with all my might
I could see ma's hair was a turnin' white
Her face was lined with discontent
And she said her patience was almost spent
Felt nervous ears ringin'
Wanted to scream or scram
I don't know which

Now my sister she took it the worst of all
'Cause she got married that comin' fall
She said for love but I have my doubts
I think the guitar just chased her out
But she wouldn't admit it, game girl like
Just couldn't take it that's all

Break (guitar)

Now my old man he took it a different way
He said you may turn your ma's hair gray
And drive your sister away from home
But son either you or I's gonna start to roam
And I'm not leavin' never intend to
Now you figure it out for yourself
So the very next day when my clothes was all packed
I swung my guitar across my back
And I caught myself a long freight train
To search the world for my share of fame
But all I found was hardships
Heartaches handouts

Break (guitar)

Fellas you'd better leave them guitars alone