My granddaddy was a miner but he finally saw the light
He didn't have much just a beat up truck
And a dream about a better life
Grandma cried when she waved goodbye
I never heard such a lonesome sound
Pretty soon the dirt road turned into blacktop Detroit City bound

Down that h-illbilly highway on that hillbilly highway
That old h-illbilly highway goes on and on
Now he worked and saved his money so that one day he might send
My daddy off to college to use his brains and not his hands

Grandma cried when he said goodbye
I never heard such a lonesome sound
But daddy had himself a good job in Houston one more rolling down
Repeat #2 That old hillbilly...

Now granddaddy's rolled over in his grave the day that I quit school
I just sat around the house playin' my guitar daddy said I was a fool
My mama cried when I said goodbye I never heard such a lonesome sound
Now I'm standin' on this highway and if you're goin' my way
You know where I'm bound