Here is the latest version I have on this song. It is a little more hooky than the last version, but to tell the story, it gives up all the info on the girl and the nice Kentucky imagery the second verse of the pervious version had. If you liked the previous version better, then by all means don't hesitate to tell me.

On the positive side, it tells more of a story, giving specific info on where the guy went and what exactly he was looking for. My thinking is that it is better than the original as far as modern country music is concerned, but it still isn't hooky enough to be a hit. I had a few A&R people tell me this song was at the level of an album cut but not hooky enough to be a hit, otherwise it could have gotten signed. Even all the Taxi reviewers said positive things about it but didn't forward it because they felt the lyric wasn't 'country' enough.

I tend to be my biggest critic so I will let you all take a stab at critiquing it. Remember, I am in no way overly sensitive to negative criticism and would prefer an overly critical eye if you have some suggestions on improving the lyric. I am going after a hit here and I am not going to let pride get in the way of that. The best writers are often those who use negative criticism to make their writing better and don't have the kinds of egos that become their own worst enemies. On the other hand, don't just be negative because I want you to be. Tell me the truth.

NOTE - Big Jim, don't worry about chunkiness or flow. It works well with the melody and phrasing I have in mind but I can't show that until I get the song re-demoed, which I won't do until I am satisfied that the lyric has hit potential.


Sweet Kentucky Rose

There were tears in my sweet Rose's eyes
Standin' at that bus stop wavin' at me
A rambling boy with my head in the sky
I had dreams to catch and things I had to see
I rode out of town on the last greyhound bus
Never knowing where the next stop would be
Chasin' rainbows and searchin' for gold
Unaware of where those colors would lead
Or where my search for gold would finally take me

My sweet Kentucky Rose
I'm comin' home; I'm comin' home
My sweet Kentucky Rose
I'm comin' home; I'm comin' home
Girl, I'm coming home

I set my sights on the lights of Broadway
Workin' days up at a New York deli
I drove a taxi up and down music row
With dreams of playin' at the Grand Old Opry
I tended bar down on Sunset and Vine
Tryin' to make it in the lights of LA
Seemed like with each new dream I'd chase down
That pot of gold only got farther away
Till I realized that I was headin' the wrong way

My sweet Kentucky Rose
I'm comin' home; I'm comin' home
My sweet Kentucky Rose
I'm comin' home; I'm comin' home

Crusin' casinos on the Las Vegas strip
Found no gold inside them bright slot machines
Just enough cash to make one last trip
Back where my heart always knew that gold would be
I only hope that she's still waiting there for me

My sweet Kentucky Rose
I'm comin' home; I'm comin' home
My sweet Kentucky Rose
I'm comin' home; I'm comin' home
My sweet Kentucky Rose
I'm comin' home; I'm comin' home
My sweet Kentucky Rose
I'm comin' home; I'm comin' home
My sweet Kentucky Rose
You know I'm comin'
Yes I'm comin' home to be right next to you
My sweet Kentucky Rose
You know it won't be long
It won't be long till I'm back home with you
My sweet Kentucky Rose
My sweet, sweet, sweet Kentucky Rose

Fisherman hook fish; songwriters fish for hooks

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