Once i got a splinter in the joint of my little toe
and a garter snake bit my knee by the bend of the little st. joe
honey that's missouri, the land of the dust and the toad
it's a wonderful town, chicken road
Once i had a scorpion on the lobe of my good right ear
and i lived with my great-great grandma
who could hear what she wanted to hear
honey that's missouri, the land where the sky overflows
it's a wonderful town, chicken road
Beasts of burden, nip at their hay
and a poolroom banjo playin' to the close of every day
night so quiet, you could hear a mouse
tippin' through the parlor of a boarding house
Once i got a sunburn on the back of my itchin' neck
went for a ride in a model-t and i died in a beautiful wreck
honey that's missouri, the land that the lord never knowed
yes, it's a wonderful town, chicken road