Old Man Tell Me Lyrics - David Allan Coe

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 

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