I was sittin' in a diner
Down in Tennessee,
When this waitress spilled hot coffee
All over me.
She said, "Sorry, Honey! Let me get a
Towel for you."
I said, "That's all right, mama,
Some napkins'll do."
She looked down at me like I came
From outer space,
And said, "You mean you don't know
What they call this place?"
When I couldn't answer the question
That she hurled,
She yelled, "This is the music capital
Of the world! And honestly, Honey,
That is why

There are no napkins in Nashville;
The songwriters grab every one.
There'll be no napkins in Nashville
Till the very last song is done."
These lines passed me by,
And the napkins caught them all.
Yeah, they wrote down every line,
And that is why there are no napkins at all
Here in Nashville.

I looked around and saw that what she
Said was true.
Every time someone spoke, the pens
And pencils flew.
No idea expressed was too large
Or too small.
The pens and pencils flew; the napkins
Caught it all:

I'm gonna miss her until I get
My scope fixed.
I'm shaken, but I'm not stirred;
My feelings are mixed.
I feel like we've bonded, and I'm
Coming unglued,
So, play those milk cow blues to put me
In the mood.

There are no napkins in Nashville;
The songwriters grab every one.
There'll be no napkins in Nashville
Till the very last song is done.
These lines passed me by,
And the napkins caught them all.
Yeah, they wrote down every line,
And that is why there are no napkins at all
Down here in Nashville.