The day I hit this guitar town lookin' for a deal
I was as green as the government ink
On a hundred dollar bill
Lord, I signed a lot of paper
I didn't know what I had to lose
Make no mistake about, now
You can't be too white to sing the blues

Now, some folks make it fast down here
Some folks make it slow
Comin' up the hard way's
Taught me everything I know
When that ol' blacktop is your teacher
You better believe you'll pay some dues
One thing I know for certain
You can't be too white to sing the blues

I've learned how to win, boys
I've learned how to lose
'N I've walked a mile in these lonesome highway shoes
You can laugh out loud if you want to
But you can't be too white to sing the blues

Now some day when I'm old and rich
And I don't work no more
I'm gonna' find myself a rockin' chair
And sit on my front porch
I'm gonna' watch that ol' sun setting
Then I'll howl at the risin' moon
Well, you can go out rockin'
But you can't be too white to sing the blues

I've learned how to win, boys
I've learned how to lose
'N I've walked a mile in these lonesome highway shoes
You can laugh out loud if you want to
But you can't be too white to sing the blues