Mean Old Man Lyrics - October Road - James Taylor

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?