[Verse 1: Bakersfield-country male lead, hard and dry over shuffle drums] He's a bar stool judge at the Rusty Spur out on Highway Nine Says he spots a fake at forty feet, he does it every time Says a song that's made like mine has got no dirt beneath the nails Says he hears it in two bars, the way a bloodhound follows trails So I slid a five to Darla, she's been pourin' here for years I said load my record in the box, no name, no title, partner, clear Just a number, B-fourteen, between a trucker song and a waltz And let the man with golden ears go on and find the faults [Hook: Bakersfield-country male lead, full band, twin guitars] It's a double blind, buddy, he was blind two ways Couldn't see who made it, couldn't hear past what he says Took the name off and he played it till they killed the lights Put the name back on, it quit bein' music overnight [Verse 2: Bakersfield-country male lead, harder, twin guitars biting] First chorus hit, his boot heel started knockin' on the rail Second chorus he was hummin' with his beer gone warm and stale By the bridge he had the harmony, he had it note for note He said Darla, now that's real, you hear the gravel in his throat Then he dug in his jeans for quarters, punched in B-fourteen again Told the whole bar this is how they made it back when men were men Said they don't write 'em like this anymore, not in this town And I sat there at the end and let the Bakersfield sun go down [Breakdown: Bakersfield-country male lead, third quarter, one snare crack for each coin in the box] One quarter, clink, he's tappin' on the bar Two quarters, clink, he's playin' air guitar Three quarters, clink, he's singin' it to the room And the whole band hits like a door kicked off a tomb [Hook: Bakersfield-country male lead, full band, twin guitars] It's a double blind, buddy, he was blind two ways Couldn't see who made it, couldn't hear past what he says Took the name off and he played it till they killed the lights Put the name back on, it quit bein' music overnight [Verse 3: Bakersfield-country male lead, full band, Bakersfield snarl] I said that's my record, partner, made it just the way you hate Made it in my kitchen with the tools you swear don't rate And you sang it like a hymn, you paid three quarters for the ride Then you heard whose name was on it and the music up and died He said well, I knew it all along, I was testin' you, is all I said a test is when you don't already know the call So the next time that you tell 'em you can hear it in two bars Bring your quarters, I'll bring Darla, and we'll see just who you are [Hook: Bakersfield-country male lead, full band, twin guitars] It's a double blind, buddy, he was blind two ways Couldn't see who made it, couldn't hear past what he says Took the name off and he played it till they killed the lights Put the name back on, it quit bein' music overnight [End]
