THE BALLAD OF FORTY DOLLARS
Words and music by Tom T. Hall
As recorded by Johnny Cash & Waylon Jennings on "Heroes" (1986)

The man that preached the fun'ral 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 an' Fred an' 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.

Well, I guess I ought to go and watch 'em put him down, but I don’t own a suit.
And anyway, when they start talkin' 'bout the fire in hell, I get spooked.
So let’s just sit here in the truck, and act like we don’t know him when they pass.
Anyway, when they're all through, we got to go to work and mow the grass.

Here they come, and who’s that ridin' in that big old shiny limousine?
Look at all that chrome! I do believe that that’s the sharpest thing I've seen.
That must belong to his rich uncle; someone said he owned a big old farm.
When they get parked, let’s mosey down and look it over; that won’t do no harm.

That must be the widow in the car, and won’t you take a look at that?
That sure is a pretty dress; you know some women do look good in black.
He’s not even in the ground, and they tell me his truck is up for sale.
They say she took it pretty hard, but you can’t tell too much behind a veil.

Listen, ain't that pretty when a bugler plays the military taps?
Yeah, I think that when you's in the war, they always hide and play a song like that.
Well, here we are, and there he goes, and I guess that you might call it our bad luck.
I hope he rests in peace, but the trouble is, the feller owes us forty bucks.

- - -
Also recorded by Tom T. Hall.