Well, I set sail for brighter horizons
For good will and prosperity
But, the wind began to change, and I turned from my course
When I fell for a girl out at sea
My, my, my. Head the words of the wise
Tell your brother that you love him
Kiss your mama goodbye
Don't give yourself away, cause everything's got a price
Don't sell your soul for something you can buy
Well, I settled down with my little lady
She was the prettiest girl I'd ever seen
But, she stabbed me in the back and shattered my name
Then, she threw me in a hole dug just for me
Well, I crawled my way out of the darkness
I crawled til I got back to Tennessee
I crawled into a tavern down on Washington Street
And, I crawled into a glass of Jim Beam
My, my, my. Head the words of the wise
Tell your brother that you love him
Kiss your mama goodbye
Don't give yourself away, cause everything's got a price
Don't sell your soul for something you can buy
My mama taught me all about religion
All the rules and the laws that I should keep
Well, I followed all the steps in that old recipe
But, I still couldn't change my destiny
I hope there is a Heaven
And, I pray that I can go there someday
Cause, Heaven's now the only place that I'll get to see
That smile on her beautiful face
My, my, my. Head the words of the wise
Tell your brother that you love him
Kiss your mama goodbye
Don't give yourself away, cause everything's got a price
Don't sell your soul for something you can buy
Don't give yourself away, cause everything's got a price
Don't sell your soul for something you can buy