Tom T. Hall - Ode To A Half A Pound Of Ground Round Lyrics






This is the song about the time I nearly starved to death in Roanoke Virginia
I woke up Wednesday morning in my little motel bed
Knowing I would die the minute that I move my head
I felt around to make sure I was in my bed alone
I meet some friendly people when I'm stoned
My payday was on Friday I had two more days to go
Even in my agony I knew that I was broke
Lemme pay the check I said and keep the change my friend
She wiggled out of sight with my last ten
At noon I realized there wasn't any way to eat
For lunch I just went out and shuffled up and down the street
At four o'clock I had a funny feeling in my chest
How long's it take to starve a man to death
I found some pennies in my junk and bought a candy bar
Divided it in pieces and I ate one every hour
I just rolled into town and didn't know a single soul
There wasn't any way to make a loan

Thursday morning I was nearly panicked on the job
I heard my stomach growlin' and my head began to throb
I contemplated murder of the folks that brought their lunch
The sudden smell of food would make me jump
Thursday night they run all food commercials on TV
I slept till nine or ten and then I walked the floor to three
Friday morning I looked for some ketchup on my shirts
My mind was gone my legs began to hurt
The last few minutes up to payin' time were all the worst
The minutes were the years it took to build the universe
Finally it came I got my check and made a dash yes I said the man will eat at last
Running down the sidewalk I could see the words so sweet
The sign was flashin' on and on Eat Eat Eat
A half o'pound of ground round ma'm and please don't cook it long
The frizzle of the grill was like a song
I've traveled this world over and I ain't been hungry much
I've been down in my thinking and I've been down on my luck
But the sweetest meal I've ever had in anybody's town
Was a half a pound of plain ground round ground round





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Tom T. Hall Ode To A Half A Pound Of Ground Round Comments
  1. c.... h....

    I was going around in my mom's and grandparent's records and I found this record also with "Pinto the wonder Horse is Dead" on the other side. Funny that it mentions the city I live in..... The second one not so funny...

  2. A.... L....

    The sign that flashes "eat, eat, eat" still flashes and is my favorite resturant, Texas Tavern!

  3. w.... k....

    Like a lyrical cartoon...

  4. G.... L....

    Thank you for your voice and your sing and your one of the greatest singers of all time and a great American.

  5. D.... M....

    He is truly 'The Story teller'.

  6. P.... D....

    Tom T., right up there with the best singer, songwriters of the last 50 years.

  7. D.... B....

    Old WBLU 1480 AM

  8. W.... M....

    I meet some friendly people when I'm stoned too

    W.... M....

    Kind of wonder why he said people, and not women in his bed? I heard about those southern country boys.

  9. E.... B....

    Oh man. This guy is an angel of inspiration.

  10. m.... ....

    awesome song......

    m.... ....

    Tom T, one of the classic Country artist. Singer, Songwriter, Poet Extraordinaire

  11. J.... S....

    I enjoyed laughing at this.  Eased the stress.

  12. S.... ....

    Saw him perform at the John Wayne Theater and Knotts Berry Farm wayyyy back when.  He just *owned* that audience :)

  13. l.... ....

    anything that tom t does is great he tells such a great story.I love playing his lps

  14. r.... f....

    a true  down home  country  singer   I miss  hearing  him.

  15. K.... T....

    This song is an ode to a DJ in Roanoke, VA who just had his first week on the air. And starving until his first payday. Which is why that Ground Round never tasted better. Anyone who has worked as a lowly disc jockey in a small market will understand this song too well, it really hits home. 

    K.... T....

    I WAS a disc jockey in a little thousand watt AM radio station in Dothan, Alabama...WAGF. I had a great time even though I didn't make a lot of money.

    K.... T....

    Same here. Earned 99 dollars a week after taxes. At our station Christmas party our boss unlocked the pop machine for 15 minutes-- "you can have any flavor of pop you want FOR FREE" -- and gave us each a tiny canned ham and two free passes to the movie house.

    K.... T....

    Same here. Earned 99 dollars a week after taxes. At our station Christmas party our boss unlocked the pop machine for 15 minutes-- "you can have any flavor of pop you want FOR FREE" -- and gave us each a tiny canned ham and two free passes to the movie house.

    K.... T....

    Tom T was telling of his time at WBLU actually in Salem, VA.

  16. S.... G....

    those pennies wouldn't buy a candy bar here in Roanoke or anywhere else!

    S.... G....

    They would 50-60 years ago. I remember being so starved back then I would take a rare, ancient dime out of my coin collection and buy a Peanut Plank out a machine that made you pull a rod like a pinball machine.

  17. R.... M....

    try being homeless. thank god for what i have.

  18. P.... G....

    Yeah, if only it WAS ground round! ! !

  19. m.... ....

    40 years ago this was a funny song, still is.... but I hope this isn't what is going to happen to us a few years into the future..... it could become reality....

  20. O.... I....

    to Ms TurtlesSherri u sure said a mouthful there .. an yer right the man can sing about anythin from coffee to ground round and make it beauty!!! I love this guys Music have so fer more then 40 yrs ...

  21. b.... h....

    tom t would come to rocky mount va while going to college in roanoke. he would play at the american legion. he"s the best!!

  22. b.... ....

    I once worked with a guy who did this 3 different times. He woke up broke Sunday morning, and no one would loan him money because he owed everybody from all of the other Sunday mornings. He learned after the third time. Cash check, grocery store, THEN the bar.

  23. R.... W....

    Thanks for putting a bounce in my step. Used to listen to Tom T. with my Dad when I was young.

  24. A.... P....

    @48beano Amen to that, about the best singer/songwriter out there.

  25. O.... N....

    " The MAN will eat at last " LOL

  26. d.... ....

    love the song

  27. F.... L....

    Tom T Hall is the only person that could write a song this good about ground round!! Awesome!!

  28. M.... H....

    All he has recorded is great!

  29. w.... ....

    If you ever have been truly hungry this song will ring true. Every word!

  30. d.... ....

    I went down to rice for me and the dogs

  31. k.... ....

    I love this song, you can't find it. thanks.