Tom T. Hall is 40 now, and so is Bobby Bear, Willie Nelson's getting gray, and Farron Young don't care, But the young ones keep on coming on, the old are slow to go, Let there be country, and let the country grow. Let there be country, let the music roll along, Let there be country, and let me share the song. No one picks like Bill Monroe, and don't George Jones sing great, I can tell that the people care by the people at my gate, Well, Pearson buys the tourists in, and Ray keeps them away, Let there be country, and let the country play. Let there be country, let the music roll along, Let there be country, and let me share the song. Ernest Tubbs got all of the soul he's had for all these years, Porter Wagner's recitations still bring me to tears, And when they do play Kitty Wells, you know she's still the queen, Let there be country, and keep the country green. Let there be country, let the music roll along, Let there be country, and let me share the song. Little Jimmy Dickens still sends shivers through the crowd, Mother Maybell whispers now, but the heart comes through real loud, Gene Autry, don't sing no more, good old Tex Ritter's gone. And somewhere downtown Nashville, a young man just got off the bus, With a guitar in his hand, a pocket full of songs, A lot of talent, and a heart full of hope, And he's gonna be the next big country star, And the country wheels roll on. Let there be country, let the music roll along, Let there be country, and let me share the song. Let there be country, let the music roll along, Let there be country, and let me share the song.