Mean Old Man
Read Mean Old Man lyrics by James Taylor on LyroVerse, with linked artist context and related song paths.
The page facts to cite before the commentary
Use this page for the lyric text, linked artist context, and any LyroVerse editor's note attached to the song. Listener comments remain user-generated and should not be treated as the primary source.
Mean Old Man
The lyric stays readable and compact here; the note and related paths sit nearby so you do not lose the song while looking for context.
On my own
How could I have known?
Imagine my surprise
Just a fool
From a tree full of fools
Who can't believe his eyes
Imagine my surprise
I was a mean old man
I was an ornery cuss
I was a dismal Dan
I made an awful fuss
Ever since my life began
Man, it was ever thus
I was a nasty tyke who was hard to like
I had to misbehave
I did things in reverse
Refused to wash or shave
I was horrid to my nurse
I got back what I gave
Which only made me worse
I had to have my way
Which was bleak and gray, oh dear
Living in here
One hundred years of rain
Such a drag
This riches to rags
With just myself to blame
A dirty low-down shame
Silly me
Silly old me
Somewhere outside my mind
Clever you
Walking me through
Willing to lead the blind
Just in the nick of time
Who gets a second chance?
Who gets to have some fun?
Who gets to learn to dance
Before his race is run?
Who gets to shed his skin?
Who comes up born again?
Who was a mean old man
'Til you turned him into a golden retriever
Puppy dog
Who's a good boy
What this page can answer fast
Who performs "Mean Old Man"?
James Taylor performs "Mean Old Man", and this lyric page sits inside the James Taylor catalog on LyroVerse.
Are there related songs to explore after "Mean Old Man"?
Yes. The related section below points to Machine Gun Kelly and Angry Blues with a short reason for opening each page next.
Where can I find more songs by James Taylor?
Use the artist link near the top of the page or the related paths section below to keep moving through James Taylor's lyric pages.
Interpretations, questions, and corrections for this song
Interpretations, questions, memories, and correction notes live together here. The room stays noindex while the best insights are reviewed.
What people are saying
No listener comments on Mean Old Man yet.
A strong comment here is specific: the phrase you keep hearing, the mood you come back for, or the reason this song stays in rotation.
Sign in to post the first listener note. Reporting stays open to everyone.