Dream Camera

I was standing at the end of the very longest line
Between everywhere and nowhere, I could not make up my mind
Stole enough to keep me honest, walked a crooked mile, I know
I had more time than money, I had no place left to go
Closed my eyes and chose a destination like any good refugee
I stuck a fork into a road map right through Nashville, Tennessee
Swimming pools, country stars
Hitchhiking on the shoulder of the road to nowhere fast
I flagged down a ride, next thing I know we're haulin' ass
I turned to the scarecrow, to the lion, to the tin man
I said "Everyone in Nashville gonna wonder where we been, man"
'Cross the bridge into Memphis, I had my hat in my hand
Paid our respects to The King and drove on to the promised land
Welcome to Nashville, land of opportunity
Welcome to Nashville, your cab driver knows Alan Jackson
Welcome to Nashville, the dreams are shoulder-to-shoulder
Welcome to Nashville
We crossed against the light on Broadway, we just got into town
Nobody saw the blind man who was showing us around
He'd just moved back to Nashville for the forty-second time
Introduced himself as "Hey buddy, can you spare a dime?"
He was back without a vengeance, he arrived there with a thud
He was living on the sidewalk, he was thinning out his blood
I told the hotel clerk about my band and our show in town tonight
He said "Let me guess, John, Paul, George and Ringo, am I right?
Take a look around you, buddy, don't you know where you are?
You can't throw a rock without hitting some guy with a guitar
Since you brought it up I must confess I got my own band, too"
He said his name was Wallace Hartley, I said "Fancy meetin' you!
Welcome to Nashville, everyone's a songwriter
Welcome to Nashville, get yourself a crappy day job
Welcome to Nashville, they're gonna tear you a new one
Welcome to Nashville
If a tree falls in the forest and there's no one around
If a band plays in Nashville, does it make a sound?
We did our bit, three minutes that nobody came to see
But we sure put some time out of its misery
Singin' 'bout wallpaper cowboys and Hemmingway cats
To a conflict of disinterest from their boots down to their hats
I sang 'em six or seven hundred of my very best melodies
They just said "Boy, ain't you got any other songs than these?"
I go walkin' after midnight, goin' where the lonely go
I got heartaches by the number, hear that lonesome whistle blow
I took the grand tour, lived the nightlife, saw the rose garden too
Found a good-hearted woman but I can't stop lovin' you
If it's only make-believe, well, who's to bless and who's to blame?
'Cause I walked the line and they never even called me by my name
Welcome to Nashville, man, these guys are serious
Welcome to Nashville, I've got a friend who's got a friend
Welcome to Nashville, would you like fries with that?
Welcome to Nashville, now go on home