Woody Guthrie's ghost and I went out for a walk

And we talked of the world's state of affairs

And we talked of the state of my life's disrepair

"And Woody," says I, "I've got all these songs

In my head that I just can't write

And tonight all I've got is these 2 or 3 chords

A 5-string guitar and a couple of words."

And Woody he says, "Kid, quit showing off

In my day that was more than enough."

Me and John Brown's ghost went for a drive past the armory

And he started to smirk, I shook my head I laughed

I said, "Johnny boy, a lot's changed in a century and a half

And besides," says I, "I don't have a family quite like did you."

"Well that's true," he said, "But families are made

You don't have to get guns, but you can't get afraid

Ain't nothing different than anything we ever did

Never stopped us when I was a kid."

Me and my grandpa George's ghost went down to the Delaware shore

And we sat on the porch as the sun went down

I said, "Grandpa, lord we all miss you around

It seems since you're gone, this town, well this town just ain't the same

I came here first when I was 9 months old

And just like you this is where I'm gonna grow old."

And grandpa and me played pennies once more that night

I said, "Grandpa, there's this song I gotta go write."