Could've Been James Dean

another cold day

three weeks in a row

I spend more time getting dressed than

where it is I go

there are people on the streets

shaking out their hands

some to say hello others

stay as warm as they can

I'm stopping in

for a hot cup of coffee

with an old bum who says

he could've been james dean

now the chief of police

has asked him to leave

I say no, no, no

this man's with me

he makes me laugh

he makes me smile

and sometimes I cry

and he wrecks my mind

with a simple smile

sometimes I believe in God for a while

now I give a nod to lucy

she knows my name

I've been around alot here lately

wow...someone knows my name

there's dylan on the jukebox

a song from highway 61

james says he knows dylan

that he wrote this one

[Chorus]

james has got a real name

but he prefers james

it reminds him of his youth

when he had a body just like yours

he says no one ever gives a damn

unless they've got something to sell

it's a long way back

when you've fallen through hell

I'm stopping in

for a hot cup of coffee

with an old bum who says

he could've been james dean

the chief of police

has asked him to leave

and he whispers to me

as he tugs on my sleeve

you make me laugh

you make me smile

and sometimes I cry

but you never wrecked my mind

with a simple smile

sometimes I believe in God for a while