[Strings]
How could I ever look at any other woman when I've got Ann
Oh I feel so good when she takes my hand
I'm a gonna go tell her daddy what I think about her say thank you man
For giving me your daughter Ann
When I come home and I feel like I've been run over
By a ten-ton truck she can rub my shoulders and soothe my aches and pains
If I lose my job and I'm down to a silver dollar
And I feel like a dried up gourd in a holler she soothes my brow like summer rain
If the good Lord worked all night a making me a female plan
I'd say no thanks you Lord I'll just keep Ann
Oh no thanks you Lord I'll just keep Ann
[Strings]
You think that I don't even mean a single word I say
It's only words and words are all I have to take your heart away
It's only words and words are all I have to take your heart away
It's only words and words are all I have to take your heart away
When a man is one and twenty, he thinks he knows it all
He can't see down the road of life where he'll ever fall
But fall he will as he travels through life
With all its pitfalls troubles and strife
Now at fifty, he's going real strong
He has him a family and a nice little home
But old age is creeping up his spine
And the day is coming when the sun won't shine
Now at sixty, he won't have to guess
He's already missed the boat that leads to success
But he's done his best and he can't see why
The fame of life just passed him by
Now at seventy, he can see the light
And he knows he's never been very bright
But he's done his best as he's travelled by
And now all he can do is just sit and sigh
[Chorus]
Now at eighty, he's ready for the wreath
He's wore out his hair and two sets of teeth
He has rheumatism in his hands and feet
And nothing seems good to eat
So you can pity him as he goes up the line
As he wobbles on the spindle and he's almost blind
And you can tell by the way that he travels alone
That it won't be long before he's going home
But if he's kept the commandments as he's travelled through life
He'll have a home in heaven where there'll be no strife
He's worked all his life to get things the way he wants them
He comes here against his will and he goes away disappointed
The photograph album she takes from the closet and slowly turns the page
And carefully picks up the crumbling flower
The first one he gave her now withered with age
She closes her eyes and touches the housedress that suddenly disappears
And just for a moment she's wearing the gown
That broke all their minds back so many years
Ah such are the dreams...
Ah such are the dreams...
Ah such are the dreams...
Sometimes my thoughts may find me in Mexico,
Drinkin' tequila goin' out of my mind.
Havin' a ball on a couple 'a bob,
Treatin' the ladies to corn on the cob,
Leavin' the straight life behind.
Suddenly all my silly thoughts disappear,
She comes to me softly with crackers and beer,
Winkin' and blinkin' and blowin' in my ear,
Runnin' away with my mind.
It's great to be in love,
I'm not really thinkin' of
Leavin' the straight life behind
I'm just playin' a game in my mind.
Once in a while in my mind I go bummin',
Goin' to nowhere, with no worry of time
Runnin' along chasin' after a train,
Hummin' a song in the sun and the rain,
Leavin' the straight life behind.
I can just see me on a tropical island,
Ridin' the surf and drinkin' coconut wine.
Havin' me fun with the girls in the sand,
Chasin' the sun through an innocent land,
Leavin' the straight life behind.
Suddenly all my silly thoughts disappear,
She comes to me softly with crackers and beer,
Winkin' and blinkin' and blowin' in my ear,
Runnin' away with my mind.
It's great to be in love,
I'm not really thinkin' of
Leavin' the straight life behind,
I'm just playin' a game in my mind.
If I gave you time to change my mind
I'd find a way
And I'd leave the past behind
Knowing that you lied straight faced
While I cried
Still I look to find a reason to believe
Someone like you
Makes it hard to live without
Somebody else
Someone like you
Makes it easy to give
Never thinkin' of myself
If I listened long enough to you
I'd find a way
To believe that its all true
Knowing that you lied straight faced
While I cried
Still I looked to find a reason to belie-ie-ieve
In you...
Say your prayers before you go to bed
Make sure you get yourself to school on time
I know you'll do the things your mother asks
She's gonna need you most to stay in line
Keep in mind your mama's gonna need
Your help a whole lot more than she ever did before
No more fightin' over little things 'cause
I won't be here to stop them anymore
I know you don't want this, But neither do we
But sometimes things happen, That we can't foresee
So try to be calm, kids, And don't look so sad
Just cause I am leavin', I'll still be your dad
But just remember I love you, And though I'm not here
Just call if you need me, I'll always be near
Say your prayers before you go to bed
Make sure you get yourself to school on time
I know you'll do the things your mother asks
She's gonna need you most to stay in line
Keep in mind your mother's gonna need
Your help a whole lot more than she ever did before
No more fightin' over little things 'cause
I won't be here to stop them anymore
Well, I have to go now, So kiss me goodbye
My eyes are just red, kids, I'm too big to cry