Standin' on side of the Highway 4 exit
A singing lady in tie-dye, a bag by her side
Not seemingly lookin' like anything special
She saw Tennessee tags and she waved for a ride

She's splainin' her travels and her family background
When she got through I could not help but thinkin'
She's a long way from a West Nashville grand ballroom gown
Yes, she's a long way from a West Nashville grand ballroom gown

Father had money and her mother had love
Channelled entirely to her dear sister Dove
Twenty-two years in society's plan
Was cancelled in the swing of her dear mother's hand

Two hours later we hit Cincinnati
Yawnin', she woke up and then asked where we were
When she found out, she almost be goin'
This close to Nashville was too close for her

So I stopped by the roadside and I gave her five dollars
She took it then kissed me and she gave me a note
She told me just to read it then mail it in Nashville
On old loose-leaf paper to her mother she wrote

'Mama I'm fine if you happen to wonder'
'I don't have much money but I still get around'
'I haven't made church in near thirty-six Sundays'
'So fuck all those West Nashville grand ballroom gowns'
'Yes, fuck all those West Nashville grand ballroom gown'