The First Time I Saw Nashville

Drove a thousand miles on coffee and a prayer

Hit the Tennessee line with a hope hangin' in the air

The fields turned into buildings

The silence turned to noise

Heard the steel guitar echo

Singin' for all the boys

Checked into a cheap motel

Heard the sirens wail

This ain't dirt roads and fireflies

This is sink or fail

But oh, the first time I saw Nashville

The lights hit me like rain

Washed away the dust and washed away the pain

Every window glowin' told a story I might find

Left that small-town silhouette a hundred miles behind

Yeah, the first time I saw Nashville, it felt like comin' home

Even though I was a thousand miles from where I used to roam

Walked down Broadway, felt the history in my shoes

Saw the street musicians playin' all the blues

Felt that sudden hunger that you only get from lack

Realized I can't look forward, and I sure as hell can't look back

Spent my last ten dollars on a slice and a cold beer

Figured if I made it this far, maybe my luck is finally here

But oh, the first time I saw Nashville the lights hit me like rain

Washed away the dust and washed away the pain

Every window glowin' told a story I might find

Left that small-town silhouette a hundred miles behind

Yeah, the first time I saw Nashville, it felt like comin' home

Even though I was a thousand miles from where I used to roam

This city doesn't promise, this city only asks

Are you tough enough to face me? Are you ready for the mass?

But I came here with nothing, so there's nothing left to lose

Gonna lay my worn-out dreams down in the heart of the country blues

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

But ooh, the first time I saw Nashville, the lights hit me like rain

Whoa-oh, whoa-oh, whoa-oh, oh

Yeah, the first time I saw Nashville, I knew I had to stay