The Buck Starts Here I never knew this place had so much empty space Until tonight, when you walked right out the door And so I walked to our bedside and pulled out that 45 That laid for years behind our chest of drawers. At first, it looked too worn to play, the label all but washed away Then I made out the name of my old friend Thirty years, and a scratch or two, but when the needle hit the groove I knew it was crying time again. The Buck starts here With Hank sure to follow Turn him up loud and clear He's singing my sorrow Let the sad songs roll on Through a house filled with tears Where the good times is gone The Buck starts here. The people in the house next door think I'm tearing up the floor It's half past four, my lights are burning bright But this occasion's no big deal: it's just some boys from Bakersfield Who came around to help me through the night.