Smiling Bill McCall by Johnny Cash Lyrics

Well, the whole town listened to the radio
For the Smiling Bill McCall Show
Everyone in Nashville
Was listening to Bill

I don't want to be laying in bed
When they pronounce me dead

He'd stand and breathe in the microphone
With his guitar hanging to his knee bone
All the girls just sat and dreamed
When Bill began his song

I don't want my hat to be hung
When my last song is sung

But he never let fame go to his head
This is Smiling Bill McCall, he said
Going to pick and sing a song or two
You all listen until I'm through
And if you're at the house or in your car
Tune in this time tomorrow

To all the boys he was a big hero
They'd glue their ears to the radio
Then talking a most unusual drawl
Imitating Bill McCall

Daddy, can I get a guitar
Cause I want to be a star

The girls would say of Bill McCall
Why I bet he's over six feet tall
Handsomest man in Nashville
They said of Smiling Bill

He won't be planting potato slips
When he cashes in his chips

Then one day Bill didn't make the show
Didn't even show up for a week or so
The station's boss said to city hall
Find Smiling Bill McCall

It won't be hard to track him down
He's got the biggest feet in town
Well, there's a creek that runs through Nashville
And on the bank they found Smiling Bill
He's committing suicide
But they grabbed him before he tried

Turn me loose, I want to jump, he screamed
Because I can't stand that theme
Let this be my final breath
Because I'm scared to half to death
The big brave Smiling Bill McCall
Is only four feet tall
I'd rather be in the river dead
Than to hear them laughing at my bald head