A Man's Word (The Paper's Spell)

Americana, Country Blues, Storytelling Ballad

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[Intro]
(Acoustic guitar strumming, lonely Telecaster lead with a lot of twang)

[Verse 1]
Down in Dallas, back in March, sealed it with a hand,
A good firm shake from a man named Cole, I thought I'd understand.
He said his word was ironclad, a promise in the sun,
I gave my Ford Dually, and the cash began to run.
A motor grader, shining new, the deal of my whole life,
Never knew that handshake, son, would cut me like a knife.

[Verse 2]
But the shine upon that diesel engine hid a trail of lies,
The Sheriff came a-knockin', with a warrant in his eyes.
Said "The title ain't clean, son, there's a lien from the bank",
I watched him haul my new machine, my heart just sank and sank.
And in the middle of that wreck, the news that hit me hard:
My Ford was sold clear out in Lubbock, he'd already played his card.

[Chorus]
'CAUSE I LEARNED SOME MEN AIN'T WORTH THE WORD THEY SPEAK,
AND A SIGNATURE'S THE ONLY VOW A WISE MAN OUGHT TO KEEP.
I'M LEFT WITH JUST A BITTER TASTE, THIS DUSTY, LIVING HELL,
FOR TRUSTIN' THAT A MAN'S GOOD WORD WAS STRONGER THAN THE PAPER'S SPELL.

[Verse 3]
I made that highway run to Lubbock, chasing my own ghost,
My sweat and tears were in that truck, the thing I valued most.
The Rangers found it late one night, beneath a pale street light,
My Ford Dually sittin' there, a lonely, weary sight.
Forty grand of traded steel, a trophy of the chase,
A hollow prize for all the trust that I can't ever replace.

[Bridge]
Don't cry about the money that the West Texas wind just blew,
I cry about the fool I was, for thinking words were true.
Beneath this burning Texas sun, on these red dirt plains I drive,
A quarter-million-dollar lesson, just to feel alive.

[Guitar Solo]
(Twangy, melodic, and thoughtful Telecaster solo, full of classic country bends)

[Outro]
A man's good word...
And the paper's spell...
Yeah, in this dusty world... only time will tell.
[End]

2152/7500

[Intro] (Acoustic guitar strumming, lonely Telecaster lead with a lot of twang) [Verse 1] Down in Dallas, back in March, sealed it with a hand, A good firm shake from a man named Cole, I thought I'd understand. He said his word was ironclad, a promise in the sun, I gave my Ford Dually, and the cash began to run. A motor grader, shining new, the deal of my whole life, Never knew that handshake, son, would cut me like a knife. [Verse 2] But the shine upon that diesel engine hid a trail of lies, The Sheriff came a-knockin', with a warrant in his eyes. Said "The title ain't clean, son, there's a lien from the bank", I watched him haul my new machine, my heart just sank and sank. And in the middle of that wreck, the news that hit me hard: My Ford was sold clear out in Lubbock, he'd already played his card. [Chorus] 'CAUSE I LEARNED SOME MEN AIN'T WORTH THE WORD THEY SPEAK, AND A SIGNATURE'S THE ONLY VOW A WISE MAN OUGHT TO KEEP. I'M LEFT WITH JUST A BITTER TASTE, THIS DUSTY, LIVING HELL, FOR TRUSTIN' THAT A MAN'S GOOD WORD WAS STRONGER THAN THE PAPER'S SPELL. [Verse 3] I made that highway run to Lubbock, chasing my own ghost, My sweat and tears were in that truck, the thing I valued most. The Rangers found it late one night, beneath a pale street light, My Ford Dually sittin' there, a lonely, weary sight. Forty grand of traded steel, a trophy of the chase, A hollow prize for all the trust that I can't ever replace. [Bridge] Don't cry about the money that the West Texas wind just blew, I cry about the fool I was, for thinking words were true. Beneath this burning Texas sun, on these red dirt plains I drive, A quarter-million-dollar lesson, just to feel alive. [Guitar Solo] (Twangy, melodic, and thoughtful Telecaster solo, full of classic country bends) [Chorus] 'CAUSE I LEARNED SOME MEN AIN'T WORTH THE WORD THEY SPEAK, AND A SIGNATURE'S THE ONLY VOW A WISE MAN OUGHT TO KEEP. I'M LEFT WITH JUST A BITTER TASTE, THIS DUSTY, LIVING HELL, FOR TRUSTIN' THAT A MAN'S GOOD WORD WAS STRONGER THAN THE PAPER'S SPELL. [Outro] A man's good word... And the paper's spell... Yeah, in this dusty world... only time will tell. [End]

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