His hair was black
The darkest black
And his voice was velvet smooth
Ran away from home
Did it on his own
Just a young man with nothing to lose
They came from far
To hear his 12-string guitar
And to hear that angel sing
And give up to you
The crowds would cheer
They came, they came for him
Johnny was selling records
And Willy was riding heads
And Elvis was breaking hearts
We won't shake out his hips
My daddy was seeking for a living
In the black street bar
He's a working class hero
A lovable man and star
And the reason I'm here
The reason I'll sing
All that I am
I owe to him
♪
His hair was grey
Silver grey
And he's voice is weaker now
Home is where he likes to be
Grandchildren up his knee
Though he's older, keep him younger somehow
Control string guitar
Is now out of tune
And his fingers don't play like they did
But the stories he made
And people still speak his name
They remember, they remember him
Johnny was selling records
And Willy was riding heads
And Elvis was breaking hearts
We won't shake out his hips
My daddy was seeking for a living
In the black street bar
He's a working class hero
A lovable man and star
And the reason I'm here
The reason I'll sing
All that I am
I owe to him
And all his dream
Are living inside of me
Johnny was selling records
And Willy was riding heads
And Elvis was breaking hearts
We won't shake out his hips
My daddy was seeking for a living
In the black street bar
He's a working class hero
A lovable man and star
And the reason I'm here
The reason I'll sing
All that I am
I owe to him