They say he was a farmer once
From the hills of Tennessee
Had a wife and a little girl named Beth
A perfect family
Supper done, he'd just relaxed
From his hard work all day long
Took his mandolin off the fireplace
And played little Beth a song

[Break]
And her eyes would sparkle
And she gave a little squeal
As he plucked his strings
To a lively country reel
And her tiny hands
Kept time on his knee
It made him happy
As a man could be
As happy as a man could be

[Repeat Chorus]

One day while he was in the fields
A storm thundered across
A flash-flood swept the house away
His wife and 1 it tIe Beth were lost
So now he roams from town to town
His world strapped on his back
On the corner he pulls his mandolin
From his old and tired rucksack

And he plays his songs to the children there
His sad face turns to glee
He's playing for little Beth again
Reliving a memory

[Repeat Break]

[Repeat Chorus twice]

© 1982 by Alan Beck