[Intro]
D

[Verse 1]
  D
I guess I should've written, Dad, to let you know that I was coming home
G
I've been gone so many years, I didn't realize you had a phone
  D
I saw your cattle coming in, boy, they're looking mighty fat and slick
  G                                A7                              D
I saw Fred at the service station, told me that his wife was awful sick

[Verse 2]
    D
You heard my record on the radio, oh, well, it's just another song
         G
But I've got a hit recorded and it'll be out on the market 'fore too long
  D
I got this ring in Mexico and, no, it didn't cost me quite a bunch
            G                                A7                          D
When you're in the business that I'm in, the people call it putting up a front

[Verse 3]
  D
I know I've lost a little weight and I guess I am looking kind of pale
       G
If you didn't know me better, Dad, you'd think that I'd just gotten out of jail
    D
No, we don't ever call them beer joints, nightclubs are the places that I work
    G                               A7                                   D    B7
You meet a lot of people there, but no, there ain't no chance of getting hurt

[Verse 4]
    E
I'm sorry that I couldn't be here with you all when Mama passed away
A
I was on the road and when they came and told me, it was just too late
E
I drove by the grave to see her, boy, that really is a pretty stone
    A                                    B7                           E
I'm glad that Fred and Jan are here, it's better than you being here alone

[Verse 5]
        E
Well, I knew you was gonna ask me who the lady is that's sleeping in the car
       A
That's just a girl who works for me and, man, she plays a pretty mean guitar
   E
We worked in San Antone last night, she didn't even have the time to dress
    A                                   B7                                    E
She drove me down from Nashville and to tell the truth, I guess she needs the rest

[Verse 6]
      E
Well, Dad, I gotta go, we got a dance to work in Cartersville tonight
A
Let me take your number down, I'll call you and I promise you I'll write
     E
Now, you be good and don't be chasing all those pretty women that you know
    A                              B7                             E
And by the way, if you see Barbara Walker, tell her that I said hello