I went down to the Country Music Hall of Fame They had asked me to bring them more of daddy's things They said, "Hank, you know, someday you may go in here with him" And I thought about the note he wrote, but I've never told none of them I've got songs of his no-one has seen and momentoes that sure chill But that note I found in his guitar case, it made me cry like a whippoorwill He said, 'Son, this is my old guitar, and it's for you only to play And I hope you make it ring and talk in our good ol' family way And if you make it to the top, Bocephus, boy I'll be so proud But listen to me, son, when the time comes, take this guitar and hand me down Hand me down if you're weary Hand me down, son, if you get sick or tired Hand me down when the time comes Don't hang on too long to these sad ol' songs Hand me down So I took his note and put it back into his guitar case And I realized how long I've been on the road and how many shows I've played And sometimes late at night standing in front of some big crowd I swear I've heard him call my name and tell me, "Hand me down" Hand me down if you're weary Hand me down, son, if you just get tired Hand me down, my son, to your son Teach him all your songs and how his granddaddy moaned And tell that boy to carry on You teach him all your songs And how his granddaddy moaned And tell that boy "Hand me down"