Ballad of Forty Dollars

"One of my odd jobs when I was a kid was cleaning up a graveyard, and

I watched a lot of funerals."

The man who preached the funeral said it really was a simple way to die

He lay down to rest one afternoon and never opened up his eyes

They hired me and Fred and Joe to dig the grave and carry up some chairs

It took us seven hours and I guess we must've drunk a case of beer.

I guess I oughta go and watch them put him down but I don't own a suit

And anyway when they start talkin' about the fire in Hell well I get spooked

So I'll just sit here in my truck and act like I don't know him when they pass

Anyway when they're all through I've got to go to work and mow the grass.

Well, here they come and who's that ridin' in that big ole shiny limousine

Hmm, look at all that chrome I do believe that that's the sharpest thing I've seen

That must belong to his great Uncle someone said he owned a big ole farm

When they get parked I'll mosey down and look it over that won't do no harm.

Well, that must be the widow in the car and would you take a look at that

That sure is a pretty dress you know some women do look good in black

But he's not even in the ground and they say that his truck is up for sale

They say she took it pretty hard but you can't tell too much behind a veil.

Well, listen ain't that pretty when the bugler plays the military taps

I think that when you's in the war they always have to play a song like that

Well, here I am and there they go and I guess you'd just call it my bad luck

I hope he'll rest in peace but trouble is that fellow owes me forty bucks.