THE OLD FAMILY TABLE
By: Tom T. Hall (BMI)
Dixie Hall (BMI)

CHORUS: THE OLD FAMILY TABLE WHERE THE HUNGRY ALWAYS CAME
IT'S BEEN THROUGH ALL THE GOOD TIMES THE HAPPINESS AND PAIN
AS THE CHILDREN WENT AWAY THEY WOULD ALL LOOK BACK AND SAY
SAVE MY PLACE AT THE OLD FAMILY TABLE

VERSE 1: EVERY NIGHT AT SUPPER TIME WE ALL HELD HANDS TO PRAY
WE TOOK OUT A LEAF EACH TIME A LOVED ONE WENT AWAY
THE TABLE IS MUCH SHORTER AND SO MANY LEAVES ARE GONE
IF IT COULD TALK THIS TABLE COULD TELL STORIES ON AND ON

VERSE 2: THE FIRST LEAF THAT WE TOOK OUT WAS FOR LITTLE BABY JOE
WHY GOD PERMITS SUCH THINGS TO HAPPEN ONLY HEAVEN KNOWS
WE PUT HIM IN A PINE BOX AND WE LAID HIM IN THE CLAY
AND WE WEPT AROUND THE FAMILY TABLE ON THAT AWFUL DAY

REPEAT CHORUS

VERSE 3: WHEN THE GIRLS GOT MARRIED THEY WERE SO PROUD OF THEIR RINGS
WE SAT AROUND THE TABLE PLANNING WEDDINGS IN THE SPRING
WE PUT AWAY ANOTHER LEAF WHEN ANDY WENT TO WAR
NOBODY KNEW HOW MANY SLEEPLESS NIGHTS WE WALKED THE FLOOR

VERSE 4: SO MANY ELBOWS RESTED THERE UPON THAT WOODEN PLAIN
IT'S DOUBTFUL THAT THE WORLD WILL EVER SEE IT'S LIKE AGAIN
THE OLD FAMILY TABLE SCARRED AND WEATHERED TO THE EYE
WILL BE OUR FAMILY TABLE IN OUR HOME UP IN THE SKY

REPEAT CHORUS
TAG: SAVE MY PLACE AT THE OLD FAMILY TABLE