The Key To Life

I'd love to hear my daddy play once again All the songs that he taught me when I was a kid 'John Henry, ol' shep and faded love I fall to pieces and on the wings of a dove' Just a few chords on the banjo that was all he knew But in the eyes of a child, man, his fingers flew I practiced and I practiced 'til I got it right Packed up everything and just took off one night I made it from the beer joints to the Opry stage He said the only difference is what you're gettin' paid He didn't care that everybody knew my name He said it's all for nothin' if you don't stay the same But when he died the preacher cried and said, "He's the lucky one He's walkin' hand in hand, in hand with God's only son" My faith and common sense tell me the preacher's right But I'd love to hear the banjo ring for me tonight And I will honor my father with these words I write down As long as I remember him he'll always be around And the pain of losin' him cuts like a Randall knife I learned a few chords on the banjo as the key to life And the pain of losin' him cuts like a Randall knife I learned a few chords on the banjo as the key to life