Well, it's late at night on this old turnpike
And my head's spinning round and around
It's a long, long way from New York to Texas
I been through a million towns
Well it's get off the bus, and get on the stage
The band, and the boys, and me
Take me to Alabama, Mississippi, Montana
They don't want me back in Tennessee

Tennessee
How could you do this to me?
I gave you some of the best of my days
Ain't no reason for me to stay
Tennessee
You took the life out of me
What little money I made
I either drank it up, or I gave it away

I tried so long to sell my songs
But Nashville wasn't the place
All I got for the trouble was fightin' mad
And the door slammed in my face

Tennessee
How could you do this to me?
I gave you some of the best of my days
Ain't no reason for me to stay
Tennessee
You took the life out of me
What little money I made
I either drank it up, or I gave it away
Tennessee
How could you do this to me?
I gave you some of the best of my days
Ain't no reason for me to stay
Tennessee
You took the life out of me
What little money I made
I either drank it up, or I gave it away
Tennessee