Dispatch to 16th Ave.

Dispatch to 16th Ave

I'm afraid there's another man down

Suspect was a record man

Hell-bent on changing his sound

He was naive and nineteen, new to town

Wasn't in it for the money, so he stood his ground

Damn shame to see another good one go

Like a whipped dog walking with his tail hung low

Another a murder on Music Row

Another never would've made it on the radio

Another couldn't catch a flame 'cause he played too slow

Wouldn't sing something that somebody else wrote

Should've packed up and headed on home

With his pen and pad filled with country songs

Wound up found on the side of town

Where the twang used to hang around

Dispatch to 16th Ave

I'm afraid there's another man down

Dispatch to 16th Ave

I'm afraid it's a little too late

Used to be about honest songs

But the dollar sign took its place

Whatever happened to the working man

Or cheating and lying 'bout love?

I know a few of those Highwaymen

Are probably shaking their heads above

Another murder on Music Row

Another never would've made it on the radio

Another couldn't catch a flame 'cause he played too slow

Wouldn't sing something that somebody else wrote

Should've packed up and headed on home

With his pen and pad filled with country songs

Wound up found on the side of town

Where the twang used to hang around

Dispatch to 16th Ave

I'm afraid there's another man down

There's a few of us hanging around

Yeah, maybe we missed the train

There's a lot of folks holding tight

To the "might come back someday"

If it don't, then wish me well

As I die on this hill for now

Dispatch to 16th Ave

I'm afraid there's another man down