Story Behind The Song

True story about my journey to Nashville after living my entire life in Illinois. The state deemed my longtime music store "non-essential" during the lockdowns with threats of fines and imprisonment, offering no financial assistance and even charging me an Exit Tax. I sold what I could, gave a lot away and drove the rest down to Nashville with my family where I'm living very happily ever after.

Song Description

After losing everything to the state of Illinois including a longtime business, the artist drives all belongings to Nashville while listening to Skynyrd and taking up permanent residence.

Lyrics

I got the leaving Illinois
And moving to Nashville blues

I'm packing up my stuff
Sending it down
Calling all my friends to help
But they don't seem to be around
I paid my exit tax
I think I paid it twice
Well hell, that ain't nice

I got the leaving Illinois
And moving to Nashville blues
But I ain't blue
How 'bout you?

I'm driving in my car
Listening to some Skynyrd
I got 500 miles to go but
I won't stop for dinner
Cuz I gotta get out
Before I run out of money honey

I got the leaving Illinois
And moving to Nashville blues
But I ain't blue
How 'bout you?

Well they took me for all I had
They even took my business
They handed me a sump pump tax
And I said what is this?
I don't even have one
And now I'm outta cash
So I got in my car and I
Drove real fast

But I didn't break the law
I was driving the speed limit
My car was really loaded
Cuz all my stuff was in it
And I felt pretty good
When I crossed that state line

I got the leaving Illinois
And moving to Nashville blues
But I ain't blue
How 'bout you?

SOLO

I got the leaving Illinois
And moving to Nashville
I got me some new boots
Completely outta cash will
You welcome me home
I'm a Tennessean now
Hey y'all