I grew up in the country

Six kids in a two room shack

Soon as I learned those three chords

I had a guitar on my back

I wanted to carry a football

That dream came and went real soon

Made it through two years of college

Thank god I could carry a tune

Nah nah, yeah-eh, thank god, I could carry a tune.

I've known love, I've known pain

Got a little rusty in the rain

I've been lost, I've been found

I left my mark on my little bitty town

Yeah, raised me a few good babies

Raised me a whole lotta hell

And if I ever get to heaven

I'm gonna have a story to tell, yeah

If I get there, I'm gonna have a story to tell.

I drank a lot of cheap whiskey

Shut down too many bars

Low as a dog in the valley

And high as the carolina stars

I've kissed some girls, still missed some girls

Most beautiful you've ever seen

I gave my heart to a woman

Who didn't give a damn about me.

I've known love, I've known pain

Got a little rusty in the rain

I've been lost, I've been found

I left my mark on my little bitty town

Yeah, raised me a few good babies

Raised me a whole lotta hell

And if I ever get to heaven

I'm gonna have a story to tell, yeah

If I get there, I'm gonna have a story to tell.

It's got some parts that'll make you laugh

And some that'll make you cry

Some pages I wish I could tear out

Well I ain't gonna tell no lie

'cause it's a story of my life.

No I can't preach or give no advice

I didn't do everything well

But man, just live while you're alive

And try to have a story to tell.

I've known love, I've known pain

Got a little rusty in the rain

Yeah I've been lost, I've been found

I left my mark on my little bitty town

I raised me a few good babies

I raised me a whole lotta hell

And if I ever get to heaven

I'm gonna have a story to tell, yeah

If I get there, I'll have a real good story to tell.

Nah nah, yeah-eh, I'll have a real good story to tell.