A Front Row Seat to Hear Ole Johnny Sing
Shel Silverstein Lyrics

Now you know some fellahs, they want fame and fortune
There are people who aspire for recognition and wealth in their lives

Yeah, and other fellahs they just wanna swing
On the other hand, some people just want to take things easy and enjoy life

But all I wanted all my life
The singer has a single, lifelong desire

Was a TV set and a truck and a wife
These are the simple things that the artist desires for his life

And a front row seat to hear ole Johnny sing.
Being able to sit in the front row and enjoy listening to Johnny sing is the cherry on top for the artist

Yeah the TV and the truck I got on credit.
The singer had to obtain the TV and truck using credit

And I got that girl with a little old Woolworth ring
The singer managed to court his wife using a small, low budget ring

And life was warm and life was sweet
The artist was content with his life despite not having everything

But still, it was kinda incomplete
There was a small part of the artist's life that was missing

Without a front row seat to hear ole Johnny sing.
The artist's life will only be complete if he can fulfill his desire to listen to Johnny sing from the front row

Hey, John you walk the line,
This is a shout out to Johnny Cash's famous song 'I Walk the Line'

Do "Deelia" one more time
The artist hopes that Johnny will perform his song titled 'Delia'

And when you do them Cottonfields
The singer would also love it if Johnny performs his song titled 'Cottonfields'

You warm this heart of mine.
The singer would be deeply touched and impressed if Johnny does indeed sing these songs

So, one day I thought, Hey, I'm gonna do it!
The singer decides to take the plunge and pursue his desire to listen to Johnny sing from the front row

(That's what I said)
This is an indicator that the artist is thinking to himself

So, I mortgaged the farm and pawned her wedding ring.
The artist had to take drastic measures to obtain the funds required to travel and buy tickets

I sold the gold tooth out of my mouth
The singer had to sell parts of himself to fund his trip

And jumped in the pickup and headed South.
The singer set off on his journey to be in the front row of Johnny's performance

For a front row seat to hear ole Johnny sing.
The artist's ultimate goal and desire is to sit in the front row and enjoy listening to Johnny sing

I hit Nashville cold and wet and hungry.
The artist finally makes it to Nashville but under harsh conditions

I said, "I'm here, bring him on let him do his thing."
The artist is excited and ready to experience Johnny's performance

But they told me down at the Old Pit Grill
The singer receives disappointing news

I'd have to go all the way to Andersonville
The artist must travel further than originally expected to make it to Johnny's performance

For a front row seat to hear ole Jonny sing.
The singer's desire for a front row seat at Johnny's performance seems to get further and further away

I found his house knocked on the door and it was opened
The singer goes to Johnny's house to seek his performance

By a brown-haired girl and a baby with a teethin' ring.
Johnny's house is opened by family members of his wife's sister

I said "I seen you somewhere before
The artist had a hunch that he's seen Johnny's family members somewhere

But don't stand there and block the door
The artist is impatient and eager to enter the house

I want a front row seat to hear ole Johnny sing."
The singer makes his intentions crystal clear

(chorus)
The singer goes back to reminiscing Johnny's songs

She said I'd have to go down to The Opry
Johnny's family members suggest the artist goes to The Opry for his front row seat

And the feller there said I'd have to wait till Spring.
The artist is informed that he needs to wait months before he can secure a front row seat

He said, "We've been sold out for months and months
The artist is hit with more disappointing news

And this poor insane fellah wants
The singer is seen as insane by others for his desires

A front row seat to hear ole Johnny sing."
The artist's desire for a front row seat hasn't faded

Well, he said a couple more things, and I started cryin'
The singer breaks down when he is denied a front row seat

And then he laughed at me and that's when I started to swing.
The singer is frustrated and breaks out into a rage against the unfair situation

Well I bust through the doors in a roaring rage,
The singer takes matters into his own hands and breaks into The Opry to get to the front row

Crawled over the crowd till I reached the stage
The artist climbs over the crowd as they watch from below to reach the front row

For a front row seat to hear ole Johnny sing.
The artist has finally achieved his lifelong desire

(chorus)
The singer sits back and basks in the atmosphere whilst listening to Johnny's songs

Then some crazy guard started shootin'
The singer gets into an intense situation with a security guard

I shot back, and the next thing I know I was winged
The artist got hit by a bullet unexpectedly

And on the floor
The artist falls to the ground

When a guy in a voice kinda deep and low
A mysterious figure enters the scene

Says, "Boy that's a mighty long way to go
The mysterious figure thinks the singer went too far for a front row seat

For a front row seat to hear ANYBODY sing."
The mysterious figure thinks the artist's journey is excessive no matter who they go to listen to

And I guess that judge, he weren't no music lover.
The singer lands himself in prison due to the events that unfolded at The Opry

I got fifteen months but that don't mean a thing.
The singer is apathetic about getting sentenced to 15 months in prison

'cause' yesterday in the prison yard
Despite the conditions, something heartwarming happened to the singer

A show come through and HAR! de HAR!
A comedic performance took place

I had a front row seat to hear ole Johnny sing.
The artist relives the joy he got from his front row seat experience

(chorus plus some typical Shel ranting and raving)
The singer's story ends on a high note as he reminisces the great moments he had while listening to Johnny sing