Well the place was New York city
And the hour was growing late
We had walked from the streets of Harlem
To the Greenwich village gate

We were young and foolish and trying out for fame
He said James Dean was his name

And I held the rose that he gave me for an hour
He wrote down the words while I picked the
Wildwood flower

Well I used to be somebody
Lord i used to have a friend
I'd like to be somebody again
I used to be somebody
Good lord where have I been
I ain't ever gonna see James Dean again

Well I went with Elvis Presley to see Brando from a far
And I sat with Kazan and Tennessee and did
A street car named desire

We laughed a lot and we danced a lot and we
Rocked away our fears
That was back in my rock and roll years

When i held the rose that he gave me for an hour
Elvis sang the song while I picked the wildwood flower

Well I used to be somebody
Lord I used to have a friend
I'd like to be somebody again
I used to be somebody good Lord where have I been
I ain't ever gonna see Elvis again

Well I got the best man and my children they love me
And I might have done some things good enough for you to see
But sometimes if I'm feeling low I swing
Back to my fears and go back to my rock and roll years

When I held the rose that he gave me for an hour
Elvis sang the song while I picked the wildwood flower

Well I used to be somebody, Lord, I used to have a friend
I'd like to be somebody again
I used to be somebody
Good Lord where have I been

I ain't ever gonna see Elvis again
I ain't ever gonna see James Dean again
I ain't ever gonna see Patsy Cline again
Oh I ain't ever gonna see Hank Williams again