The Old Man And His Horn

The old man told his story About the years gone by How he played his horn down in New Orleans In some old dingy dive "I knew 'em all back then" he said As he reached out for his horn He closed his eyes and wet his lips Then the blues were born He played with so much feelin' Tears came from his eyes He stopped and reminisced a bit And then he gave a sigh Said, "You know, I almost made it But that was before your time Dixieland, Po' Folks Blues ScatMan Jack and wine" Slapped his knee and gave a grin It sure was good back then Reaching for his horn on the floor Placed it in an old towsack That hung across his back He said "Goodbye" And shuffled out the door Enthused by what he told me I never got his name So I called the waitress over And started to explain A tired old man, his tarnished horn Mem'ries of years gone by How he played his horn and reminisced Smiled with tear-dimmed eyes She said you are mistaken There's been no one but you But I know who you're talkin' 'bout I used to know him, too You'll find him down on Basin Street In back of an old churchyard A stone that reads, "Rest in Peace" I tried but it sure was hard" Slapped his knee and gave a grin It sure was good back then Reaching for his horn on the floor Placed it in an old towsack That hung across his back He said "Goodbye" And shuffled out the door He said "Goodbye" And shuffled out the door --- The Old Man and His Horn - Gene Watson