Be Careful Who You Love (Arthur's Song)

(album: Pure Hank - 1991)

The old guitar picker had run out of liquor
So I sat down beside him and bought him a drink
Then I bought him another and finally some color
Returned to his cheeks and he said with a wink

"Son, I worked with your daddy, I knew Ernest and ol' Lefty
I played on the Oprey back when it was strong
But it's show-biz you know, sometimes it gets slow
So buy me another and I'll sing you a song"

"Be careful who you love, for love can be untrue
Be careful who you love, be sure she loves you too"

Well, you like it, I see and that's real pleasing to me
'Cause Bocephus, I've wrote hundreds and some you know well
I wrote and sold 'em, they bought 'em and stoled 'em
But paper is cheap, why they're just tunes, what the heck

Then he tried to sell me the song he'd just song me
I told him that song is a piece of your soul
"Keep your song, here's some money", said Hank Jr.
"Bless you, son"
And I heard him singing as I walked out the door
He said, "Now Hank remember"

"Be careful who you love, for love can be untrue
Be careful who you love, be sure she loves you too"

Well, that was about a year ago and now friends wouldn't ya know
The songs a big hit, some superstar claims he wrote
He sings it and grins and the money rolls in
It's a wonder the words don't stick in his throat

Now I think of that writer, his name was Arthur and I often wonder
Just how many hit songs he sold in his time
And how many men take the gift that God gave 'em
And throw it away for the pretty red wine, quite a few

Be careful who you love, for love can be untrue
Be careful who you love, be sure she loves you too