Bootlegger King Lyrics - Singles - Red Sovine

Born just south of Knoxville to a family both humble and poor 

Never asked for anything at the early age of ten delivered newspapers door to door 

Then when he was in his teens he dreamed and scheemed for finer things 

And he finally figured out what he would do 

To be a big time business man he went and hired old Hoke and Stan 

And he started holdin' Chattanooga booze 

Soon his pockets filled with money and his fingers sported flashing diamond rings 

He had all he'd ever wanted when they labelled him the bootlegger king 

He always trusted Stan and Hoke to do exactly as were told 

They were hired to drive and not to think 

A smooth talking business man and he convinced old Hoke and Stan 

That booze was made for selling not to drink 

That old spring city fally never knew what all it carried 

But they knew when she unloaded by the banks 

Two rusty rigs roared out of there brakin' scrapin' jammin' gears 

Disguised to look like gasoline tanks 

He knew the ways of opperate runnin' Highway 58 

Right on into Kingston Tennessee 

To make the sheriff turn his back and face that old green pole and jack 

And swap the load at junction Dixie Lee 

That bootlegger king's fingers flashed with diamond rings 

And the lawman never knew quite where to wait 

But they knew it for the truth for a load of hundred proof 

He would flash his old pearl handled 38 

Then one day he met a girl the sweetest thing in all the world 

He knew the time had come to change his life 

But it kinda hurt to go to church to find the ones that got there first 

Was the same crooks he dealt with just last night 

The only thing that they believed is honor among the thieves 

And he found a lot of partners on the scene 

The choir's mouth were opened wide and that old deacon's bloodshot eyes 

Were focused on that bootlegger king 

He sat there on the mourners bench that new born baby made him think 

He knew he had a lot he must confess 

He knew enough to write a book with every name of every crook 

So he'd expose the whole rotten mess 

And now he's got his conscience clear he still don't know the name of beer 

Though true friends are few and far between 

He ain't proud of what he had to do he's heard the words that said the truth 

They're out to get that bootlegger king 

That bootlegger king's fingers...