Bill Jones General Store Lyrics

Jud Strunk

There’s an old wood sign just outside of Stratton, Maine
And it says, “If we ain’t got it, you don’t need it --
Bill Jones General Store.”

Chorus:
I can hear the creakin’ of rusty old screen door
Smell the penny candy in Bill Jones’ General Store
The pipe smoke and tobacco, wet boots on the floor
Campbell’s Soup and shotgun shell at Bill Jones’ General Store

The cold and snow would blow against the plastic window pane
The old wood stove would kindle and try to dry the rain
I know the times are changing but it won’t be the same
For now the doors are bolted, Bill and Ruth are gone from town
The rooms are cold and empty, they’ll probably tear it down
But Herky(?), Wright, and Whitey still sit outside the door
Waitin’ for that quart of beer at Bill Jones’ General Store

(Chorus)