Born to poor sharecroppers, one of eleven children in Sledge, Mississippi, Pride is a timeless everyman, revered by his musical peers and adored by countless millions of fans around the globe. Charley Pride unofficially started his music career in the late 1950s as a ballplayer with the Negro American League’s Memphis Red Sox singing and playing guitar on the team bus between ballparks. Self-taught on a guitar bought at the age 14 from Sears Roebuck, Pride would join various bands' onstage as he and the team roved the country. After a tryout with the New York Mets, Pride decided to return to his Montana home via Nashville. It was there he met Jack Johnson, who upon hearing the singer perform, sent him on his way with the promise of a management contract and a newly forged relationship that would last for over a decade.
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Able Bodied Man Lyrics

Charley Pride

I'm calling from the station and I haven't got much time to let you know
Got a ticket for Misoury and there's things I need to say before I go
If I could I'd have you meet me but I don't see how I can
I don't have enough to pay your fare
There's a factory in Columbus hiring now I understand
And they're looking for an able bodied man
You should meet some money in the letter that I mailed two days ago
But when I wrote the letter saying you could come to me I didn't know
And I was goin' to lose my job in such a little while
So now we're gonna have to change our plan
They may not hire me in Columbus but I'm pretty sure they will
Cause they're looking for an able bodied man
[ steel ]
If I'd've more education now I'd've made a better life for me and you
But just simple manual labor is the only kind of work that I can do
The bus is loadin' for Misoury so I guess I'd better go
I'll call you just as soon as I can
I'll be sending you a ticket cause I think I'll get a job
If they're looking for an able bodied man and remember I'm your able bodied man