The day i hit this guitar town lookin' for a deal I was as green as the government ink On a hundred dollar bill Lord, i signed a lot of paper I didn't know what i had to lose Make no mistake about, now You can't be too white to sing the blues Now, some folks make it fast down here Some folks make it slow Comin' up the hard way's Taught me everything i know When that ol' blacktop is your teacher You better believe you'll pay some dues One thing i know for certain You can't be too white to sing the blues I've learned how to win, boys I've learned how to lose 'n i've walked a mile in these lonesome highway shoes You can laugh out loud if you want to But you can't be too white to sing the blues Now some day when i'm old and rich And i don't work no more I'm gonna' find myself a rockin' chair And sit on my front porch I'm gonna' watch that ol' sun setting Then i'll howl at the risin' moon Well, you can go out rockin' But you can't be too white to sing the blues I've learned how to win, boys I've learned how to lose 'n i've walked a mile in these lonesome highway shoes You can laugh out loud if you want to But you can't be too white to sing the blues