I was on the road in Georgia When I heard Merle had passed away Well, I thought he'd live forever He shaped every note I played Tonight these old white lines look different Than they usually do He was my greatest inspiration The reason why I sang the blues He taught me how to play the guitar And write a country song He spent time in San Quentin For the things that he done wrong He made me proud to be an old king And God knows we paid our dues He was my greatest inspiration The reason why I sang the blues Oh, I'm lost in a world without a record Oh, tell the truth to you and me Oh, I'm lost in a world without a record It's a world I thought I would never see Oh, I'm lost in a world without a record It's a world I thought I would never see Oh, I'm lost in a world without a record It's a world I thought I would never see He gave his life to country music And he's the best it's ever been He honours the voice of reason Like we won't see him again If I could hear one last song It's the one that I would choose He was my greatest inspiration The reason why I sang the blues He was my greatest inspiration The reason why I sang the blues