Hard Scratch Pride Lyrics

I was born down south Kentucky
A hard scratch holler I call my home
Hell, my mama begged me, "Boy, don't you ramble"
My mama begged me, "Oh boy, don't you roam"

When I left that holler I was just a boy
Flat-broke and busted and hell-bent to make it on my own
Hell, I couldn't go back home
I could hear that train, it moans a lonesome song

And I'm headin' up to Detroit on a freight train, Mama, I'm'a finally be a man
I been workin' seven days buildin' them Chevrolets, I'm doin' the best I can
And I met a little city girl and I'm gonna make her my bride
But don't worry, Mama, I ain't lost my hard scratch pride

Twenty years have passed now since I hit the road
I can hear the whippoorwill, hell, the dogwoods they callin' me home
But Mama, she's long gone
And I can hear ol' Hank, yeah he gonna moan me that lonesome whistle song

And I'm headin' up to Detroit on a freight train, Mama, I'm'a finally be a man
I been workin' seven days buildin' them Chevrolets, I'm doin' the best I can
And I met a little city girl and I'm gonna make her my bride
But don't worry, Mama, I ain't lost my hard scratch pride