When the people come to Nashville

They walk the downtown streets

They see the car Hank died in

Then they grab a bite to eat

They visit Tootsie's Orchid Lounge

And Ernie's Record Store

Then they stagger on up to Music Row

Where they holler at every door:

I wanna ride in

The car Hank died in

I wanna stretch out in the back of that big ole Cadillac

Ride that shiny car to every honky-tonk and bar

Well, the bar room walls are shinin'

With the pictures of the stars

And the pawn shop walls are cluttered

With broken dreams and old guitars

The club rooms are filled with singers

Their voices are full of pain

Their songs are all 'bout Nashville

And each sings the same refrain:

I wanna ride in

The car Hank died in

I wanna stretch out in the back of that big ole Cadillac

Ride that shiny car to every honky-tonk and bar

Now, there's empty space up on Opry Place

They tore the church house down

And the choir's run away with the circus

To the tent show outside town

Where their air-conditioned big top

Is all carpeted inside

To see 'em sing their songs down in the spotlight

Where you never know they cried:

I wanna ride in (Indeed, I do)

The car Hank died in

I wanna stretch out in the back of that big ole Cadillac

Ride that shiny car to every honky-tonk and bar

I wanna stretch out in the back of that big ole Cadillac

Ride that shiny car to every honky-tonk and

Honky-tonk and bar