Johnny Cash
"Let There Be Country" lyrics

Let There Be Country

Tom T. Hall is forty now
And so is Bobby Bare
Willie Nelson's getting grey
And Faron Young don't care

But the young ones keep on coming on
The old are slow to go
Let there be country
And let the country grow

Let there be country
Let the music roll along
Let there be country
And let me share the song

No one picks like Bill Monroe
And don't George Jones sing great?
I can tell that the people care
By the people at my gate

Webb Pierce invites the tourists in
And Ray keeps them away
Let there be country
And let the country play

Let there be country
Let the music roll along
Let there be country
And let me share the song

Ernest Tubb's got all of the soul
He's had for all these years
Porter Wagoner's recitation
Still bring me to tears

And when they do play Kitty Wells
You know she's still the queen
Let there be country
And keep the country green

Let there be country
Let the music roll along
Let there be country
Let me share the song

Little Jimmy Dickens still
Sends shivers through the crowd
Mother Maybelle whispers now
But the heart comes through real loud

Gene Autry don't sing no more
Good old Tex Ritter's gone
And somewhere downtown Nashville
A young man just got off the bus
With a guitar in his hands
A pocket full of songs
A lot of talent
And a heart full of hope
And he's gonna be the next big country star
And the country wheels roll on

Let there be country
Let the music roll along
Let there be country
And let me share the song

Let there be country
Let the music roll along
Let there be country
And let me share the song

Authors: Johnny Cash, Shel Silverstein