Ode To A Half A Pound Of Ground Round Lyrics - Tom T. Hall

This is the song about the time I nearly starved to death in Roanoke Virginia 

I woke up Wednesday morning in my little motel bed 

Knowing I would die the minute that I move my head 

I felt around to make sure I was in my bed alone 

I meet some friendly people when I'm stoned 

My payday was on Friday I had two more days to go 

Even in my agony I knew that I was broke 

Lemme pay the check I said and keep the change my friend 

She wiggled out of sight with my last ten 

At noon I realized there wasn't any way to eat 

For lunch I just went out and shuffled up and down the street 

At four o'clock I had a funny feeling in my chest 

How long's it take to starve a man to death 

I found some pennies in my junk and bought a candy bar 

Divided it in pieces and I ate one every hour 

I just rolled into town and didn't know a single soul 

There wasn't any way to make a loan 

[ dobro ] 

Thursday morning I was nearly panicked on the job 

I heard my stomach growlin' and my head began to throb 

I contemplated murder of the folks that brought their lunch 

The sudden smell of food would make me jump 

Thursday night they run all food commercials on TV 

I slept till nine or ten and then I walked the floor to three 

Friday morning I looked for some ketchup on my shirts 

My mind was gone my legs began to hurt 

The last few minutes up to payin' time were all the worst 

The minutes were the years it took to build the universe 

Finally it came I got my check and made a dash yes I said the man will eat at last 

Running down the sidewalk I could see the words so sweet 

The sign was flashin' on and on Eat Eat Eat 

A half o'pound of ground round ma'm and please don't cook it long 

The frizzle of the grill was like a song 

I've traveled this world over and I ain't been hungry much 

I've been down in my thinking and I've been down on my luck 

But the sweetest meal I've ever had in anybody's town 

Was a half a pound of plain ground round ground round 

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