Em
On Ridgetop, Tennessee in 1973
Bm Em
The Brown Boys killed Stringbean and Estelle
Em
The reason for it all is in the bib of his overalls
Bm Em
Least that's what the Brown Boys would tell
Bm Em
The thieves laid in wait for hours
Bm Em
But things didn't go their way
Em
It was just a simple plan, to rob a banjo man
Bm Em
But he wouldn't let go of his Opry pay
[Verse]
Em
It must have been a terrible struggle
Bm Em
For the cash in his bib overalls
Em
The Brown Boys said don't give us no trouble
Bm Em
We came for some but now we want it all
Bm Em
And the thieves said “stand and deliver”
Bm Em
But Stringbean would not tell
Em
And later we would learn, there was a point of no return
Bm Em
They shot him dead and then shot Estelle
[Verse]
Em
He saw no smoke from the chimney
Bm Em
So Grandpa knew that something was not right
Em
It would burn ever more in his memory
Bm Em
The picture of that dreadful, awful sight
Bm Em
And twenty three years later
Bm Em
They tore the fireplace down
Em
There was twenty thousand dollars
Bm Em
That the Brown Boys never found
[Solo]
Em
Bm Em
Em
Bm Em
[Verse]
Bm Em
Well it seem like easy money
Bm Em
But things didn't go their way
Em
It was just a simple plan, to rob a banjo man
Bm Em
But he wouldn't let go of his Opry pay
Bm Em
Now, String said you can't have my Opry pay
[Verse]
Em
They say that nothing sacred
Bm Em
And now I have seen it all
Em
I read it in this mornings paper
Bm Em
They auctioned off String’s overalls
