The song "Gone To Hell In A Basket" by Tom T. Hall is a humorous commentary on the life of a musician on the road. The narrator describes his experience fishing in the Everglades and hanging out with the airboat boys, but when he returns to Nashville, his peers criticize him and spread rumors that he's gone to hell in a handbasket. The phrase "gone to hell in a handbasket" is a colloquialism that means to deteriorate quickly or to be on a path of destruction. In the song, the narrator is able to laugh off the criticism and acknowledge that he's living a different lifestyle than his Nashville peers. The chorus repeats the phrase "he's gone to hell in a basket" and adds the image of a hand woven casket, emphasizing the humor in the situation. The song also pokes fun at Music City's obsession with commercial success and contrasts it with the laid-back, outdoorsy lifestyle of the Everglades. Overall, "Gone To Hell In A Basket" is a lighthearted take on the struggles of being a musician and the pressures of the music industry.
