The Ballad of Curtis Loew

[Verse 1: Lynyrd Skynyrd] Well I used to wake the mornin' Before the rooster crowed Searchin' for soda bottles To get myself some dough Brought 'em down to the corner Down to the country store Cash 'em in and give my money To a man named Curtis Loew Old Curt was a black man With white, curly hair When he had a fifth of wine He did not have a care He used to own an old Dobro Used to play it across his knee I'd give old Curt my money He'd play all day for me [Hook: Lynyrd Skynyrd] Play me a song Curtis Loew, Curtis Loew Well I got your drinkin' money Tune up your Dobro People said he was useless Them people all were fools Cause Curtis Loew was the finest picker To ever play the blues [Verse 2: Lynyrd Skynyrd] He looked to be sixty And maybe I was ten Mama used to whoop me But I'd go see him again I'd clap my hands stomp my feet Try to stay in time He'd play me a song or two Then take another drink of wine [Hook] [Verse 3] Yes, sir On the day old Curtis died Nobody came to pray Ol' preacher said some words And they chucked him in the clay Well he lived a lifetime Playin' the black man's blues And on the day he lost his life That's all he had to lose [Hook]