Ballad of Forty Dollars
Tom T. Hall
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The man who preached the funeral Said it really was a simple way to die He laid 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 have drunk a case of beer. I guess I ought to go and watch them put 'I'm 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 'I'm 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 ol' shiny limousine Mmh! look at all that chrome, I do believe That's the sharpest thing I've seen That must belong to his great uncle Someone said he owned a big ol' 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 cr And would you take a look at that That sure is a pretty dress You know some women do look good in black Well, 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 the 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 (hide 'n) play a song like that Well, here I am and there they go And I guess you'd call it my bad luck I hope he rests in peace, the trouble is The fellow owes me forty bucks.
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Written by: TOM T. HALL
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
11 facts about this song
Artist BackgroundDuring the time "Ballard of Forty Dollars" was released, Tom T. Hall was referred to as “The Storyteller” because of his unique storytelling style in his music.
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Release Information"Ballad of Forty Dollars" was released in 1969 and was included in the album ‘Homecoming.’
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Chart SuccessThe song became Tom T. Hall’s first Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts, peaking at number 4.
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Song DetailsUnlike traditional ballads, ""Ballad of Forty Dollars"" can be considered more of an upbeat, mid-tempo song.
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Song Interpretation"Ballad of Forty Dollars" is interpreted as a story about a man observing the funeral of a person who was not very well-liked.
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Songwriting ProcessTom T. Hall once stated that he penned the song after attending a funeral and seeing a man being paid forty dollars for digging the grave.
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Personal SignificanceTom T. Hall considered ""Ballad of Forty Dollars"" as a breakthrough in his career, as it truly established him as a sender songwriter in his genre.
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LegacyOver years, the song has been celebrated for its clever lyrics and Hall's distinct storytelling, marking it as one of the most memorable hits in his career.
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Critical ResponseCritics appreciated the unique and realistic storytelling of the song, making Hall a respected songwriter for his ability to shape ordinary observations into engaging tales.
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Cover VersionsWhile the song is most known for Tom T. Hall’s version, it has been covered by several other country artists affirming its continued impact in country music.
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Song LengthThe song lasts for approximately 2 minutes and 32 seconds, which was typical for country songs at that time period.
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Citation
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"Ballad of Forty Dollars Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 23 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/27277696/Tom+T.+Hall/Ballad+of+Forty+Dollars>.
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