I USED TO BE A COUNTRY SINGER
Steve McEown

As recorded Gordon Lightfoot 1998


I was sitting in my hotel room, strummin' my old guitar 
Not much to do when you're far away, playin' some smokey bar 
I was feelin' a little empty and feelin' a little blue 
When the maid came in and asked me if she could do my room.

I put down my old guitar and she gave me a smile 
She had a crusty voice and a drinker's look 
But she had a friendly style 
She dusted my room and made my bed and she talked of days gone by 
She spoke of when she wooed the men, a tear came to her eye.

And she said, "I used to be a country singer 
I could sing a mean Patsy Cline 
My husband he could yodel like Wilf Carter 
Kitty Wells was a real good friend of mine".

She told me that her husband died and her son was overseas 
I could tell by her eyes and her broken smile 
She was lonely just like me 
She asked me if I'd listen to a tape of when she was young 
She said, "I can't sing now, I forget the words and my voice is almost gone".

And she said, "I used to be a country singer 
I could sing a mean Patsy Cline 
My husband he could yodel like Wilf Carter 
Kitty Wells was a real good friend of mine".

Oh I cried inside but I couldn't tell if it was for her or for me 
So I grabbed my axe and we sang a song in two part harmony 
Ever since that day when I'm feelin' down and I can't find a happy tune 
I just think of that maid and the feeling she gave 
When she came to clean my room.

And she said, "I used to be a country singer 
I could sing a mean Patsy Cline 
My husband he could yodel like Wilf Carter 
Kitty Wells was a real good friend of mine".

"I used to be a country singer 
I could sing a mean Patsy Cline 
My husband he could yodel like Wilf Carter 
Kitty Wells was a real good friend of mine".

Kitty Wells was a real good friend of mine.



(Transcribed by David Story - March 2013)