Forty Miles From Poplar Bluff
Porter Wagoner · You Gotta Have a Licence (RCA Victor) [1970]
I never had a pair of shoes that weren't all hand-me-downs
And daddy's morning coffee came from ol' left over ground
My mama wore no jewelry or any storebought stuff
'Cause home was just a hillside forty miles from Poplar Bluff.
Forty miles back in Missoury there's a different way of life
Where a man thinks of his neighbor and not his neighbor's wife
Life is far from fancy sometimes kinda rough
But contenment makes it worth it forty miles from Poplar Bluff.
Our only family treasure was a beatup radio
And it took us to the places where we knew we'd never go
We never had much money but we always had enough
Cause money never mattered forty miles from Poplar Bluff.
Forty miles back in Missoury there's a different way of life
Where a man thinks of his neighbor and not his neighbor's wife
Life is far from fancy sometimes kinda rough
But contenment makes it worth it forty miles from Poplar Bluff.
--- Instrumental ---
Well, nearly every winter when the snow was on the ground
The roads would all be closed and we couldn't get to town
But if daddy had his tabaccor and grandma had her snuff
Then the winters didn't matter forty miles from Poplar Bluff.
Forty miles back in Missoury there's a different way of life
Where a man thinks of his neighbor and not his neighbor's wife
Life is far from fancy sometimes kinda rough
But contenment makes it worth it forty miles from Poplar Bluff...
Forty Miles From Poplar Bluff
Porter Wagoner's "Forty Miles From Poplar Bluff" stands as a defining track of the 1970 country sound, blending traditional storytelling with the polished production characteristic of his RCA Victor recordings. Released on the album *You Gotta Have a Licence*, the song exemplifies Wagoner's ability to craft narratives rooted in the American West while maintaining a melodic structure that resonated across the genre. The recording captures the era's shift toward more sophisticated country pop arrangements, featuring Wagoner's signature vocal delivery that balanced warmth with a distinct twang. As part of his extensive discography, this work highlights his role in popularizing the "Nashville Sound" aesthetic, influencing countless subsequent country artists who sought to merge rural themes with mainstream appeal. The track remains a staple of his catalog, celebrated for its lyrical depth and enduring musical quality.