Tom: E
E
They were all kinds of crazy, but it kept them from going insane.
A E B
Ol' Hag had been in prison, and Johnny told him not to be ashamed.
A E
Said, "If you tell the world the truth, you can't always look em' in the eye."
B E
Then along came a branded man to Sing me Back Home and Mama Tried.
2nd Verse
A
Hank never knew his daddy, but he carried on his name with his own voice.
E B
As if the hand of destiny said, "Take this guitar son you have no choice."
A E
And it led him to that mountain top, where he nearly lost his life.
E
But he lived to write a book a song, bout how a country boy survives.
[Chorus]
A E
They lived it up and wrote it down.
They were more than drug store cowboys.
B
They've been bucked and bruised and kicked around.
A
They took their pain their voices rang.
C#m
Til the whole world sang that country sound.
E B E
All because they lived it up, and they lived to write it down.
3rd Verse
E A
They didn't understand him when he wore his mohair suits and skinny ties.
E B
So Willie took ol trigger and said, "You can kiss my Nashville ass goodbye."
A E
On a Bloody Mary mornin', he was On the Road Again and Texas bound.
E
He's living it up somewhere tonight, so he can write it down.
[Chorus]
A E
They lived it up and wrote it down.
They were more than drug store cowboys.
B
They've been bucked and bruised and kicked around.
A
They took their pain their voices rang.
C#m
Til the whole world sang that country sound.
E B E
All because they lived it up, and they lived to write it down.
E B E
I think I'll live it up tonight, sure hope I live to write it down.
