This is the song about the time I nearly starved to death in Roanoke Virginia
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I woke up Wednesday morning in my little motel bed
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Knowing I would die the minute that I move my head
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I felt around to make sure I was in my bed alone
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I meet some friendly people when I'm stoned
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My payday was on Friday I had two more days to go
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Even in my agony I knew that I was broke
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Lemme pay the check I said and keep the change my friend
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She wiggled out of sight with my last ten
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At noon I realized there wasn't any way to eat
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For lunch I just went out and shuffled up and down the street
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At four o'clock I had a funny feeling in my chest
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How long's it take to starve a man to death
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I found some pennies in my junk and bought a candy bar
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Divided it in pieces and I ate one every hour
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I just rolled into town and didn't know a single soul
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There wasn't any way to make a loan
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[ dobro ]
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Thursday morning I was nearly panicked on the job
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I heard my stomach growlin' and my head began to throb
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I contemplated murder of the folks that brought their lunch
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The sudden smell of food would make me jump
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Thursday night they run all food commercials on TV
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I slept till nine or ten and then I walked the floor to three
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Friday morning I looked for some ketchup on my shirts
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My mind was gone my legs began to hurt
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The last few minutes up to payin' time were all the worst
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The minutes were the years it took to build the universe
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Finally it came I got my check and made a dash yes I said the man will eat at last
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Running down the sidewalk I could see the words so sweet
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The sign was flashin' on and on Eat Eat Eat
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A half o'pound of ground round ma'm and please don't cook it long
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The frizzle of the grill was like a song
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I've traveled this world over and I ain't been hungry much
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I've been down in my thinking and I've been down on my luck
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But the sweetest meal I've ever had in anybody's town
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Was a half a pound of plain ground round ground round
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Ode To A Half A Pound Of Ground Round
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| Tom T. Hall |
