The Golden Ponies - Old joe

I was ^Gsittin’ at the bar; next to this old man he had s^Ccars on his face, old burns on his hands he was ^Gpattin’ his pockets so I offered to buy him ^Da beer He ^Gcaught me lookin’ and he smiled and said I know ^Cit’s ugly but it ain’t that bad theses ^Gscars’ve brought me more ble^Dssings than they have ^Gtears

His e^Gyes got all hazy and he stared off in space and he s^Cpun me a tale of a cold winter day he was ^Gwalkin’ home from work and a chill ran right up his b^Dack he s^Gaid he’s still not sure why he turned around the day the s^Cunday school uptown burned down but he ^Ggot those kids out s^Dafe right before it c^Gollapsed

He said thi^Gs scar on my cheek’s from laura’s fingernail she was sh^Cakin’ so bad, she was coughin’ and pale all I c^Gould see headin’t through that smoke was her ^Dgreen eyes and it ^Gmust’ve been a miracle we found the door I thought we’d all^C die in thtat inferno for sure I held o^Gnto that girl like ^Dhope until her parents ar^Grived

I ^Gsat with him for a while, put his drinks on my tab I said you keep^C in touch with ‘em, he said yeah Paul’s ^Gup in Michigan, running for Senate this ^Dfall Cha^Grlie’s a dentist, Laura's a teacher Bobby^C McGuire’s the new Baptist preacher He sa^Gid that day made him bel^Dieve in a plan for us a^Gll

So I ^Gthought about roads that turn to dead ends And of Her^Coes unseen among their fellow men How a ^Gwhisper of hope can foster the w^Ainds of change He f^Ginished his beer and slapped me on the back Said "B^Coy live each day just like it’s your last. Thanks ^Gfor the drinks, maybe so^Dmeday we can do it a^Ggain"

I sa^Gid "Tt’s my pleasure", and I watched him walk out Knowing I’^Cd look at life from different eyes now I go^Gt up and paid for my drinks still shaking my ^Dhead

Bartender said "That ^GJoe, yeah, he's sure somethin' Has a fr^Ceak accident toasting English muffins and now e^Gverynight he’s got a ge^Dnerous new fr^Giend."

I was s^Gitting at the bar next to this old man He had s^Ccars on his face; old burns on his hands he was^G pattin’ his pockets, so I^D offered to buy him ^Gbeer ^{C G}