People You Meet

I met a kid in Brooklyn and he pointed at the skies

he had liquor on his breath and he had fire in his eyes

he staggered at me and stumbled and I helped him to his feet

I led him up the stairs and sat upon his balcony

he wielded up his glass and waved it around just like a sword

but one more sword of whiskey left me feeling pretty bored

he said, "I'd rather take dead aim than shoot my pistol in the air

I'd rather be a traitor than a man who doesn't care."

oh oh oh

a man who doesn't care

oh oh

I met a girl here in Ithaca

she took to me at once

I look just like her brother who had died when she was young

she whispered me her secrets and she whispered me her fear

and said so many things that I would never want to hear

she tried to draw me in just like a sickness in the soul

and said, "my little confidant together we must go

if they ask you for your papers, just respectfully decline

it's true I was born here but this country isn't mine."

oh oh oh

this country isn't mine

oh oh

so listen well son

to conversation

and always take from the words of the people that you meet

if you do this

better witness

you might help a little still

and out in California

with an old dear friend

we drank expensive burbon

and we tried to talk again

he looked out at his watch

and ran a hand across his head

said, "I'm working in the morning

man I've got to get to bed."

I nodded yes of course

and I was happy to oblige

and we both took one more sip

before the gray light over skies

he said one thing I remember every evening in these hills

"the sun may set on friendship

but never on your bills."

oh oh oh

never on your bills

oh oh

so listen well son

to conversation

and always take from the words of the people that you meet

if you do this

better witness

you might help a little still