The Things Big Bucks Can't Buy

Warm reflective North Georgia Appalachian acoustic country-gospel blues, relaxed 4/4 at 84 BPM, one weathered Martin SIX-STRING steel acoustic guitar with gentle alternating-thumb fingerpicking and resonant open strums, one plaintive Seagull harmonica for expressive answering phrases and instrumental solo, solo mature Southern MALE baritone with spoken intro/outro, raw intimate front-porch storytelling recording, no other instruments or people, Exact Holler Mercy Bend original master chord cycle, unchanged and in order: Gmaj9–Bm7–Cmaj9–A7/C#–G/D–D7sus4–G6, ‑drums, ‑percussion, ‑claps, ‑foot stomps, ‑electric guitar, ‑electric bass, ‑upright bass, ‑banjo, ‑mandolin, ‑fiddle, ‑violin, ‑piano, ‑keyboards, ‑organ, ‑synthesizer, ‑strings, ‑brass, ‑choir, ‑background vocals, ‑female vocals, ‑duet, ‑second guitar, ‑full band

[Spoken intro — one acoustic guitar]
A man asked me what I'd buy if I had all the money in the world.
I said, first tell me where they sell yesterday.
He got quiet after that.

[Verse 1]
There's a house up by the highway
With a gate taller than a man,
Pretty windows, marble counters,
Every comfort money can.
There's a little place down yonder
With a screen door missing paint,
Where they laugh around the supper table
Like they never heard of fame.

[Harmonica answer]

[Chorus]
Big bucks can buy a fine gold watch,
But not another minute.
Can buy a bed as soft as clouds,
But not sweet rest within it.
Can buy a porch with mountain views,
But not the peace when day is through.
Love and laughter, an honest friend—
Those are things big bucks can't buy.

[Verse 2]
At a corner diner Tuesday,
Somebody paid a stranger's check.
Didn't leave a name or number,
Didn't ask for one thing back.
Drove away in worn-out work boots,
In a truck that barely shined,
With a fortune in his rearview
That a bank could never find.

[Bridge — fingerpicked and intimate]
There ain't no shame in earning,
There ain't no wrong in wanting more.
But if you're only counting dollars,
You may miss who's at your door.
You can buy a thousand roses
When the winter days are blue;
You can't purchase one forgiveness
Or make somebody love you.

[Harmonica solo — eight bars; guitar underneath]

[Final chorus — gentle lift]
Big bucks can buy a fine gold watch,
But not another minute.
Can buy the brightest chandelier,
But not the light that's in you.
Give me one more honest morning,
One more heart that I can help,
One more song around the supper table—
That's a kind of lasting wealth.
Love and laughter, faith and time,
Those are things big bucks can't buy.

[Spoken outro]
Make a living if you can.
Just don't forget to make a life.
And all is well.

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[Spoken intro — one acoustic guitar] A man asked me what I'd buy if I had all the money in the world. I said, first tell me where they sell yesterday. He got quiet after that. [Verse 1] There's a house up by the highway With a gate taller than a man, Pretty windows, marble counters, Every comfort money can. There's a little place down yonder With a screen door missing paint, Where they laugh around the supper table Like they never heard of fame. [Harmonica answer] [Chorus] Big bucks can buy a fine gold watch, But not another minute. Can buy a bed as soft as clouds, But not sweet rest within it. Can buy a porch with mountain views, But not the peace when day is through. Love and laughter, an honest friend— Those are things big bucks can't buy. [Verse 2] At a corner diner Tuesday, Somebody paid a stranger's check. Didn't leave a name or number, Didn't ask for one thing back. Drove away in worn-out work boots, In a truck that barely shined, With a fortune in his rearview That a bank could never find. [Chorus] Big bucks can buy a fine gold watch, But not another minute. Can buy a bed as soft as clouds, But not sweet rest within it. Can buy a porch with mountain views, But not the peace when day is through. Love and laughter, an honest friend— Those are things big bucks can't buy. [Bridge — fingerpicked and intimate] There ain't no shame in earning, There ain't no wrong in wanting more. But if you're only counting dollars, You may miss who's at your door. You can buy a thousand roses When the winter days are blue; You can't purchase one forgiveness Or make somebody love you. [Harmonica solo — eight bars; guitar underneath] [Final chorus — gentle lift] Big bucks can buy a fine gold watch, But not another minute. Can buy the brightest chandelier, But not the light that's in you. Give me one more honest morning, One more heart that I can help, One more song around the supper table— That's a kind of lasting wealth. Love and laughter, faith and time, Those are things big bucks can't buy. [Spoken outro] Make a living if you can. Just don't forget to make a life. And all is well.

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