Verse 

D                                                                       E 
Well, the whole town listened to the radio For the Smiling Bill McCall Show 
                                         D 
Everyone in Nashville Was listenin' to Bill 

I don't want to be layin' in bed When they pronounce me dead 
                                                A 
He'd stand and breathe in the microphone With his guitar hangin' to his knee bone 
 D 
All the girls just sat and dreamed When Bill began his sing 

I don't want my hat to be hung When my last song is sung 
         A         D             G                           A 
But he never let fame go to his head "This is Smiling Bill McCall", he said 
                 E                      D 
"Gonna pick and sing a song or two You all listen till I'm through" 
                      
And if you're at the house or in your car Tune in this time tomorrow 
                                                     A 
To all the boys he was a big hero They'd glue their ears to the radio 
                              D 
Then talkin' a most unusual drawl Imitatin' Bill McCall 

Daddy, can I get me a guitar 'Cause I want to be a star 
      D                        A  
The girls would say of Bill McCall Why I bet he's over six feet tall 
                                            D 
Handsomest man in Nashville They said of Smiling Bill 

He won't be plantin' potato slips When he cashes in his chips 
                                         G              A                C 
Then one day Bill didn't make the show Didn't even show up for a week or so 
               D                 E                  D 
The station's boss said to city hall "Find Smiling Bill McCall" 

It won't be hard to track him down He's got the biggest feet in town 
                                            A 
Well, there's a creek that runs through Nashville And on the bank they found Smiling Bill 
          C                         F                   G 
He's committin' suicide But they grabbed him before he tried 
 D 
"Turn me loose, I want to jump", he screamed "'Cause I can't stand that theme" 

Let this be my final breath 'Cause I'm scared to half to death" 

The big brave Smiling Bill McCall Is only four feet tall 
                                                   C                   D 
I'd rather be in the river dead Than to hear 'em laughin' at my bald head