[Verse 1] Conway told me how to lay it down soft and gently Dwight sang about that red dress, man, what a mess George gave it to me straight about why I'm alive And well down here in the heart of Tennessee [Verse 2] Fred said he'd be there before the next teardrop fell Charlie beat that devil, sent him straight back to hell Merle's mama tried to raise him better, but he went a different way And old country, honky-tonk, gospel finally stopped loving her today [Chorus] But Hank knew it was just a family tradition And David told you, if that ain't country, it's a damn good joke Yeah, I'm just living by the words that the legends spoke With a six-string confession and a heart full of hope I'm just living by the words that the legends spoke [Bridge] Every jukebox has a lesson, every heartbreak has a name Every backroad keeps a secret, every sinner bears a flame When the night gets long and lonely, I know where I'm gonna go To the voices that came before me, singing what they know [Chorus] But Hank knew it was just a family tradition And David told you, if that ain't country, it's a damn good joke Yeah, I'm just living by the words that the legends spoke With a six-string confession and a heart full of hope I'm just living by the words that the legends spoke [Outro] Down here in the heart of Tennessee I'm just living by the words that the legends spoke
