David Allan Coe - Old man tell me

^DI've seen the old man sittin' round The courthouse square back home in town ^GTalkin' about the big ^Emwar, back in ^G194^A3 ^DSayin' how much good it's done Medals gleamin' in the sun ^GCussin' at my ^Emlong hair And my ^Gtalk of bein' ^Afree.

Their ^Dvision like their battle scars Of ^Aother wars has faded Like the ^Gcolors on the ribbons From the battles that they've ^Dwon If ^Gthere's one thing I've learned it's this You ^Djust can't shake hand ^Bmwith a fist And I once did my ^Emtalkin' with a ^Agun.

And ^Dold man I know what you've seen But ^Ayours is not the only dream ^GI have to ^F#mbelie^Emve in something ^Gmore than yester^Aday ^DLet it die just like the past ^AI believe there's ^Ghope at last Old man, did you ever have to ^Apray Old man, can you show me the ^Dway.

^DHe shakes his head from time to time And rambles somewhere in his mind ^GMumblin' bout the ^Emcivil war And ^Ghow we should have ^Awon ^DSettin' up his battle plans On checker boards at his command ^GWatchin' all his ^Emgallant kings go ^Gfallen one by ^Aone.

And ^D"son he'd say there's not much time For you to straighten out your mind ^GBut you never listen, to the ^Emthings I try to ^Asay And ^DI just turn my head and cry Never understanding why ^GHe'd set up that ^Emcheckerboard ^AWhen he knew I couldn't play.