Well, I'm the Nashville phantom
And I've been hanging around
Saturday Night Live
Since nineteen-twenty-five
When the Opry first came to town
I live in barnyards boxcars
And freight yards
There ain't a honky tonk
Where I ain't been
Raised on goo goo bars
Moonshine from fruit jars
Born to lose but determined to win
I'm the phantom of the Opry
I discovered all the stars, my friend
I am the spirit of country music
Keep those cards and letters coming in
I gave Mother Maybelle her thumb pick
Carl Perkins his blue suede shoes
I taught Acuff to fiddle
Made Jimmy Dickens little
And I sang Hank Williams the blues
I showed Grandpa Jones how to banjo
Chet could pick
But I learned him to grin
I laid howdy on Minnie
Made Stringbean skinny
And I'd do it all over again
I'm the phantom of the Opry
I discovered all the stars, my friend
I am the spirit of country music
Keep those cards and letters coming in
Oh, son