TENNESSEE FLAT-TOP BOX
Words and music by Johnny Cash
As recorded by Johnny Cash on "Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash" (1963)

In a little cabaret in a South Texas border town
Sat a boy and his guitar and the people came from all around,
And all the girls from there to Austin
Were slippin' 'way from home and puttin' jewelry in hock
To take a trip to go and listen
To the little dark-haired boy who played the Tennessee flat-top box.
And he would play—

Well, he couldn't ride or wrangle and he never cared to make a dime
But give him his guitar and he'd be happy all the time,
And all the girls from nine to ninety
Were snappin' fingers, tappin' toes and beggin' him don't stop,
And hypnotized and fascinated
By the little dark-haired boy that played the Tennessee flat-top box.
And he would play—

Then one day he was gone and no one ever saw him 'round.
He vanished like the breeze they forget him in the little town,
But all the girls still dreamed about him
And hung around the cabaret until the doors were locked,
And then one day on the Hit Parade
Was the little dark-haired boy that played the Tennessee flat-top box.
And he would play—