The day I hit this music town looking for a deal
I was green as government ink on a twenty dollar bill
I signed a lot of papers, didn't know what I had to lose
Make no mistake about it, now
You can't be too white to sing the blues

Some folks make it fast down here, some folks make it slow
Learning how the hard way taught me everything I know
When that old highway is your teacher
A country boy can get confused
But one thing I know for certain
You can't be too white to sing the blues

I've learned how to whistle, I've learned how to lose
I've walked a mile in everybody's shoes
Well, you can laugh out loud if you want to
But you can't be too white to sing the blues

Someday when I'm old and rich and I don't work no more
I'm gonna find myself a rockin' chair
And I'm gonna sit on my front porch
And as that old sun is settin' a I'm gonna howl at the rising moon
Well, you can go out rockin' now
But you can't be too white to sing the blues

I've learned how to whistle, I've learned how to lose
I've walked a mile in everybody's shoes
Well you can laugh out loud if you want to
But you can't be too white to sing the blues
You can't be too white to sing the blues