KAY
(Hank Mills)

John Wesley Ryles - 1968


Kay, with all your singin' talent
Back in Houston, Nashville's all you talked about 
I sold everything I owned to bring you here 
Now you'll be famous, there's no doubt 

Last week you knocked 'em out in New York 
Tonight Chicago's goin' wild 
Kay, your new record on the jukebox don't sound bad 
Kay, I'm livin', yet I'm dyin' 
Starin' out at Music City from my cab 

Caution lights blink out their warning 
Some old faithful Big Ben clock chimes 3 AM 
Starvin' hound dogs search the trash cans 
My gas tank could stand a dollar's worth again
 
All those chuck holes here on main street 
Jar my rib cage, I could cuss 
Kay, the crowd of night life people look so sad 
Kay, I'm livin', yet I'm dyin'
Starin' out at Music City from my cab 

Two young soldiers from Fort Campbell 
Told me how they hate that war in Vietnam 
Sirens echo through an alley 
And some woman said some fellah stabbed a man
 
I rushed Miss Teenage to the doctor 
She begged to give the child my name 
I've lost count of cups of coffee that I've had 
Kay, I'm livin', yet I'm dyin' 
Starin' out at Music City from my cab 

Three rose petals on my front seat 
Fallen from the bouquet Jimmy took to June 
Jim kept mumblin' through his teardrops 
God, she'll leave this world with flowers in her room
 
Kay, I showed some drunk your picture 
And he made some smart remark 
So I hit him in the mouth, boy was I mad 
Kay, I'm livin', yet I'm dyin' 
Starin' out at Music City from my cab 

Guitars, organs, horns, violins 
And pianos, how they play 
Grinding out the latest sounds 
>From Music City, USA
 
Kay, although I know I've lost you 
To the swingin' music world 
I kiss pictures of those happy times we had 
Kay, I'm livin', yet I'm dyin' 
Starin' out at Music City from my cab 

Kay, I'm livin', yet I'm dyin'
Starin' out at Music City from my cab


(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - June 2009)