One morning some two decades ago, as I was shaving, I got to thinking, for no apparent reason, about Hank Williams's "Mansion on the Hill" and "She Moves Through the Fair" at the same time. The result was a set of lyrics which, with melody and arrangement supplied by Robin & Linda Williams, became a song titled "The Other Side of Town."

The Williamses recorded it twice, most recently on their album Back 40 (Red House, 2013). It was also cut by the bluegrass band Seldom Scene on its Like We Used to Be (Sugar Hill, 1994), and nearly covered by The Trio (Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton). The lyrics go:

On the other side of town there is a great mansion
Where my love lives, I know
On the other side of town they all dress in fashion
And no one ever gets old.

On the other side of town sweet music plays
And dancers glide through the air
On the other side of town
Old friends embrace and live with no care.

Chorus.
On the other side of town
The bright lights glow
On this side of town
The chilly winds blow
I feel them as I wait for my time to come round
When I'll go to the other side of town.

From the other side of town she came in a dream
Dressed in pearly white
Oh she looked so far that to me it seemed
Her face lit up the night.

From the other side of town I heard her speak
Though her voice made no sound
She said it won't be long until we meet
On the other side of town.

Chorus.