Tom T. Hall - Ode To A Half A Pound Of Ground Round lyrics

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