down in louisiana on a cotton plantation little tent room shack and a third grade education two stringed wood guitar i taught myself how to play yes i did kept the whole family up all night and i told them that you ll all thank me one day yes i did my sister would scream boy you just got to stop you re waking up the whole family everybody is going to be hot two stringed wood guitar and i sure enough taught myself how to play she said turn it down buddy i said shut up you re gonna thank me someday you re gonna thank me one day did you hear what i said that was sixty years ago now my mom and dad is gone i go see my sisters and brothers and the grand kids come along i give the little ones my guitar i tell em close your eyes and play don t even worry about the neighbors y all gonna thank me someday down in louisiana on a cotton plantation a little tent room shack and i only got a third grade education that s why i taught myself i m telling you that s why i taught myself how to play yes i did i kept my family up all night and now they re thanking me everyday oh yeah they re thanking me everyday