Old Man Tell Me

I've seen the old man sittin' 'round

The courthouse square back home in town

Talking bout the big war back in 1943

Sayin' how much good it's done

Medals gleamin' in the sun

Cussin' at my long hair

And my talk of bein' free

Their vision like their battle scars

Of other wars has faded

Like the colors on the ribbons

From the battles that they've won

If there's one thing I've learned it's this

You just can't shake hands with a fist

And I once did my talkin' with a gun

And, old man, I know what you've seen

But yours is not the only dream

I have to believe in something more

Than yesterday

Let it die, just like the past

I believe there's hope at last

Old man, did you ever have to pray

Old man, can you show me the way

[ harmonica ]

He shakes his head from time to time

And rambles somewhere in his mind

Mumbling 'bout the Civil War

And how we should have won

Settin' up his battle plans

On checkerboards at his command

Watchin' all his gallant kings

Go falling one by one

And son he'd say there's not much time

For you to straighten out your mind

But you never listen to

The things I try to say

And I just turn my head and cry

Never understanding why

He's set up that checkerboard

When he knew I couldn't play