Tom T. Hall – Ballad of Forty Dollars, is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Tom T. Hall. It was released in October 1968 as the fourth and final single from the album of the same name, Ballad of Forty Dollars. The song was Hall’s first top 10 on the U.S. country singles chart, peaking at number 4 on both the U.S. chart and the Canadian country singles chart.

Tom T. Hall – Ballad of Forty Dollars
B-side «Highways»
Released October 28, 1968
Recorded September 1, 1968
Columbia Studio, Nashville, Tennessee
Genre Country
Length 3:09
Label Mercury 72863
Songwriter(s) Tom T. Hall
Producer(s) Jerry Kennedy

COUNTRYPEDIA

Tom T. Hall – Ballad of Forty Dollars Lyrics

The man who preached the funeral
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 and Fred and Joe
To dig the grave and carry up some chairs
It took us seven hours
And I guess we must’ve drunk a case of beer

I guess I ought to go and watch them put him down
But I don’t own a suit
And anyway when they start talkin’ about
The fire in Hell, well, I get spooked

So, I’ll just sit here in my truck
And act like I don’t know him when they pass
Anyway, when they’re all through
I’ve got to go to work and mow the grass

Well, here they come and who’s that
Ridin’ in that big ol’ shiny limousine
Look at all that chrome, I do believe
That that’s the sharpest thing I’ve seen

That must belong to his great uncle
Someone said he owned a big ol’ farm
When they get parked I’ll mosey down
And look it over, that won’t do no harm
Well, that must be the widow in the car
And would you take a look at that
That sure is a pretty dress
You know, some women do look good in black

Well, he’s not even in the ground
And they say that his truck is up for sale
They say she took it pretty hard
But you can’t tell too much behind the veil

Well, listen, ain’t that pretty
When the bugler plays the Military Taps
I think that when you’s in the war
They always hide ‘n play a song like that

Well, here I am and there they go
And I guess you’d just call it my bad luck
I hope he rests in peace, the trouble is
The fellow owes me forty bucks

GENIUS