Tom T. Hall - Ode To A Half A Pound Of Ground Round lyrics

This is the song about the time I nearly starved to d**h in Roanoke Virginia I woke up Wednesday morning in my little motel bed Knowing I would die the minute that I move my head I felt around to make sure I was in my bed alone I meet some friendly people when I'm stoned My payday was on Friday I had two more days to go Even in my agony I knew that I was broke Lemme pay the check I said and keep the change my friend She wiggled out of sight with my last ten At noon I realized there wasn't any way to eat For lunch I just went out and shuffled up and down the street At four o'clock I had a funny feeling in my chest How long's it take to starve a man to d**h I found some pennies in my junk and bought a candy bar Divided it in pieces and I ate one every hour I just rolled into town and didn't know a single soul There wasn't any way to make a loan ( dobro ) Thursday morning I was nearly panicked on the job I heard my stomach growlin' and my head began to throb I contemplated murder of the folks that brought their lunch The sudden smell of food would make me jump Thursday night they run all food commercials on TV I slept till nine or ten and then I walked the floor to three Friday morning I looked for some ketchup on my shirts My mind was gone my legs began to hurt The last few minutes up to payin' time were all the worst The minutes were the years it took to build the universe Finally it came I got my check and made a dash yes I said the man will eat at last Running down the sidewalk I could see the words so sweet The sign was flashin' on and on Eat Eat Eat A half o'pound of ground round ma'm and please don't cook it long The frizzle of the grill was like a song I've traveled this world over and I ain't been hungry much I've been down in my thinking and I've been down on my luck But the sweetest meal I've ever had in anybody's town Was a half a pound of plain ground round ground round