[Verse 1]
The streets are paved with tourists
And the record companies flourish
Lord knows every singer wants to be the king
But some of them couldn't take it
And some good ones didn't make it
That's the way it goes on the Nashville scene

[Verse 2]
Now there's a wino on the corner
He was a well-known guitar picker
'Til he got burned out by the game
Now he'll bum you for some whiskey
And tell you how it was
Back in '52 when he played for Hank

[Chorus 1]
And I'm watching the sun go down this evening
And soon it will wake this town that's made of dreams
But before it does, a new star will be shining
And that's the way it is on the Nashville scene

[Verse 3]
From the outside, it's a castle
From the inside, it's a prison
It's easy to live way beyond your means
And it's a long, long way to the top
And even further when you drop
And I've been on both ends of the Nashville scene
[Chorus 2]
And I'm watching the sun go down this evening
And soon it'll wake this town that's made of dreams
But before it does, a new star will be shining
And lighting up the old Nashville scene

[Chorus 2]
And I'm standing here as the sun goes down this evening
And soon it will wake this town that's made of dreams
But before it does, a new star will be shining
Lighting up the Nashville scene

[Refrain]
Lighting up the old Nashville scene