Old Man Tell Me Lyrics

I′ve seen the old men sittin' ′round
The courthouse square back home in town
Talkin' '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 somethin' 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?

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 fallin′ 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 turned my head and cried
Never understandin′ why
He′d set up that checkerboard
When he knew I couldn't play