Here’s a lyric that I wish everybody would use as a spiritual guidepost — “Happy Tracks” by Ray Pennington. I particularly like this 1967 version by The Browns:
“Happy Tracks“
The Browns (1967)
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Chorus
Leave a lotta happy tracks as you go down life’s road
Leave a lotta happy tracks everywhere you go
Leave a lotta happy tracks and keep this in mind
Others will have to follow in the path you leave behind
Verse 1
I know you’ve heard people say many many times
Don’t pass through this world but once you’ll get yours and I’ll get mine
And I’ve got a philosophy I believe I’d rather go by
And if you’ll just listen you may want to give it a try
Chorus
Leave a lotta happy tracks as you go down life’s road
Leave a lotta happy tracks everywhere you go
Leave a lotta happy tracks and keep this in mind
Others will have to follow in the path you leave behind
Verse 2
As you walk the tangle streets of life notice your fellow man
When he gets in trouble lend him a helping hand
Sow good seeds in your fields of life as you go along
Let others reap your happiness a long time after you’re gone
Chorus
Leave a lotta happy tracks…
Verse 3
Don’t ever use a good friend for a personal game
To game wealth and lose one friend would only be in vain
Let your happy tracks be many leave ’em everywhere you go
Cause others will have to harvest each and every seed you sow
Chorus
Yeah leave a lotta happy tracks…
Others will have to follow in the path you leave behind
Musicians on the Browns Sing The Big Ones From The Country album include Weldon Myrick on steel guitar, David Briggs on piano, and Jerry Reed, and Wayne Moss on guitars.
Ray Pennington‘s biographical details —
Ray Pennington first performed in a western swing band called The Western Rhythm Boys, which performed in Ohio. In 1958, he signed with King Records and released “Three Hearts in a Tangle” under the name Ray Starr. However, Pennington was dissatisfied with the recording, so he asked that it be withdrawn as a single. Pennington then took up record producer and artists and repertoire jobs at the label, including a production credit on Hawkshaw Hawkins’ final album, Lonesome 7-7203, one of the first country albums to feature both black and white session musicians. He also produced for The Stanley Brothers and Reno and Smiley, playing drums for the latter.
“Happy Tracks” would also be covered by an artist who – like Ray Pennington – was a pretty big music figure from the Ohio Valley — Kenny Price:
“Happy Tracks“
Kenny Price (1969)
Born in Florence, Kentucky, Price played live music at the tender ago of fourteen on Covington, KY radio station WZIP. After a brief stint at Cincinnati’s College – Conservatory of Music (CCM), Price became a musician on WLW‘s Midwestern Hayride program and later its host until the show went off the air in the early 1970s. Six feet tall and nearly 300 pounds, the RCA artist enjoyed the nickname “Round Mound of Sound” – before slimming down in later years.

Price went on to national fame as part of the Hee Haw TV show cast, especially it’s long-running Hee Haw Gospel Quartet, with Grandpa Jones, Buck Owens, and Roy Clark.
Billboard
February 11, 1967
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LINK to Honky Tonk on Zero to 180