It was winter time in Nashville,
And I was lookin' for a place to
get myself out of the cold.
To warm the frozen feelin'
that was eatin' at my soul.
Keep the chilly wind off my guitar.
My thirsty wanted whisky; my
But it'd been of month of paydays since
I'd heard that eagle scream.
So with a stomach full of empty
and a pocket full of dreams,
I left my pride and stepped
I saw that there was just one old
And in the mirror I could see him checkin'
An' he turned and said: "Come up here boy,
and show us what you are."
I said: "I'm dry." He bought me a beer.
He nodded at my guitar and said:
"It's a tough life, ain't it?"
I just looked at him. He said: "You
ain't makin' any money, are you?"
I said: "You've been readin'
He just smiled and said: "Let
"If you waste your time a-talkin' to
to the people who don't listen,
"To the things that you are sayin',
who do you think's gonna hear.
"And if you should die explainin' how
the things that they complain about,
"Are things they could be changin',
who do you think's gonna care?"
There were other lonely singers in
a world turned deaf and blind,
Who were crucified for what they
And their voices have been scattered by
the swirling winds of time.
'Cause the truth remains that
no-one wants wants to know.
Well, the old man was a stranger,
but I'd heard his song before,
Back when failure had me locked out
on the wrong side of the door.
When no-one stood stood behind
me but my shadow on the floor,
You see, the devil haunts a hungry man,
If you don't wanna join him,
I ain't sayin' I beat the devil,
but I drank his beer for nothing.
And you still can hear me singin'
to the people who don't listen,
To the things that I am sayin',
prayin' someone's gonna hear.
And I guess I'll die explaining how
the things that they complain about,
Are things they could be changin',
hopin' someone's gonna care.
I was born a lonely singer,
and I'm bound to die the same,
And if I never have a nickle,
I won't ever die ashamed.
'Cause I don't believe that no-one wants
