Oh, my, but you have a pretty face
Why, you favor a girl that I knew
An' I imagine that she's still in Tennessee, boy
And by God, I should be there too
'Cause I've a sadness that's too sad to be true

But I left Tennessee, in a hurry, dear, now
In the same way that I'm leaving you
Because love is mainly just memories, you see
And everyone has got him a few
So when I'm gone, I'll be glad to love you

At the brand new Tennessee Waltz
You were literally waltzing on air
At the brand new, oh, Tennessee Waltz
It's just no telling who will be there

When I leave it'll be like I found you, love
Descending Victorian stairs
And I'm feeling like one of your photographs, girl
Oh, ah, I'm trapped while I was putting on air
So I get even by sayin', "Well, who cares?"

At the brand new Tennessee Waltz
You were literally waltzing on air
At the brand new, oh, Tennessee Waltz
It's just no telling who will be there

So have all of your passionate violins
Play a tune for a Tennessee kid
Who, this feeling, like leaving another town, now
But with no place to go if he did
'Cause they'll catch you wherever you hid

At the brand new Tennessee Waltz
You were literally waltzing on air
At the brand new, oh, Tennessee Waltz
It's just no telling who will be there