Old Man Tell Me

I've seen the old man sitting' 'round

The courthouse square back home in town

Talkin' about the big war back in 1943

Saying' how much good it's done

Medals gleaming' in the sun

Cussing' at my long hair

And my talk of being' 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 hand 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

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

Setting' up his battle plans

On checker boards at his command

Watching' all his gallant kings go fallen' 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'd set up that checker board

When he knew I couldn't play