Richey Lee was his Father's boy Big, loud, Hard-drinkin' bundle of Joy A walkin' laugh wrapped up in corduroy Richey couldn't do no wrong
Grew up with a fast runnin' crowd Good bunch of boys, just a little too loud Can't fault a man for being proud Richey kept rollin' on
Spent his days in a rock-n-roll band Tellin' jokes, a guitar in his hand Tryin' hard to meet every demand Of all of those late-night shows
Whiskey-drunk on a Saturday night She caught his eye comin' out of the light Half way there he had to get in a fight Back home that's just the way it goes Chorus Strange days, they leave you in a wonder And good times, they don't always stay And true love, it will shake you like thunder But old friends just fade away Old friends just fade away
Summertime on the river again Fishin' poles and a two-dollar grin Ain't ever gonna laugh like that again Fallin' right to the ground
Count the miles down to New Orleans Borrowed cash and dirty bluejeans Couple of boys lookin' for Cajun queens Thinkin' they own the town
But we all left to find work out of town Even the wild ones, they slow down Richey felt like he was comin' unwound Got tired of playin' the game
Liquor bottles pillin' up before noon Richey said he just needed some room We all saw the end comin' way too soon And man that's an awful shame.