the key to life lyrics

I'd love to hear my daddy play once again
All the songs that he taught me when I was a kid
'John Henry, ol' shep and faded love
I fall to pieces and on the wings of a dove'

Just a few chords on the banjo that was all he knew
But in the eyes of a child, man, his fingers flew
I practiced and I practiced 'til I got it right
Packed up everything and just took off one night

I made it from the beer joints to the Opry stage
He said the only difference is what you're gettin' paid
He didn't care that everybody knew my name
He said it's all for nothin' if you don't stay the same

But when he died the preacher cried and said, "He's the lucky one
He's walkin' hand in hand, in hand with God's only son"
My faith and common sense tell me the preacher's right
But I'd love to hear the banjo ring for me tonight

And I will honor my father with these words I write down
As long as I remember him he'll always be around
And the pain of losin' him cuts like a Randall knife
I learned a few chords on the banjo as the key to life

And the pain of losin' him cuts like a Randall knife
I learned a few chords on the banjo as the key to life