Tee Tot Payne

Long time ago, in Alabama.

A little country town, Georgiana

A Black man played blues out on the street

Box of pennies by his feet

While a white boy watched everyday

He said “Old man, can you teach me to play?”

I bet you never heard of Tee Tot Payne

Never got rich or had a famous name

Country music wouldn’t be the same

‘Cept for an old blues man, Tee Tot Payne

The kid watched his fingers playin’ licks

Copied his rhythms, learned his tricks

Studied hard, just like school

His teacher was patient, wise and cool

The old man taught him blues guitar

Turned that boy into a star

I bet you never heard of Tee Tot Payne

Never got rich or had a famous name

But country music wouldn’t be the same

‘Cept for an ol’ blues man,Tee Tot Payne

The boy learned songs by the dozen

Country and blues are first cousins

Things he heard stayed in his brain

You can learn a lot from Tee Tot Payne

 

All the way from the corner to the Opry

Songs became music history

Songs about folks tryin’ to get by

Sounded so lonesome you could cry

Some make millions, others hardly any

Just a bottle of tea and a box full of pennies.

I bet you never heard of Tee Tot Payne

Never got rich or had a famous name

Country music wouldn’t be the same

‘Cept for an old blues man

‘Cept for an old blues man

‘Cept for an old blues man

Tee Tot Payne