His daddy was a fiddler in an old timers' band He was born with a guitar in his hand All he had to do was walk down the furrow Learn to dance and how to put on a show They had to listen, they had to sit down For the next in line to wear the crown He made music like a sailor rides the wind He played his hand even if he knew he couldn't win Denis was the king of the night He was always the last one standing When there was no one in his sights He kept on drinking and singing Whether he was all alone Or singing at the town arena When he picked up his old guitar He would play it like a rock and roll star There were never clear skies ahead Never knew how to land when the needle hit the red He only had one way of livin' There was never nothing he wasn't givin' Took to the stage like a wild dog a-howling Went to his grave with his fist still a-swinging Some people said he was way out of line They can say what they want he just knew how to shine Denis was the king of the night He was always the last one standing When there was no one in his sights He kept on drinking and singing Whether he was all alone Or singing at the town arena When he picked up his old guitar He would play it like a rock and roll star