Date: 1/2/98; 1:48:29 PM
From: ah827@rgfn.epcc.Edu (Gene L. Graham)
Subject: OLD MAN WITH A HORN


THE OLD MAN WITH A HORN
Recorded by Gene Watson
Writer: Not Listed

The [C] Old man told his story
About the years gone by
How he [F] played his horn down in New Orleans
In some old dingy dive 
[C] "I knew 'em all back then." he said
As he reached out [C7] for his [F] horn
He closed his eyes - and [C] wet his lips
[G7] Then the blues were [C] born.

[C] He played with so much feelin'
Tears came from his eyes
He [F] stopped and reminisced a bit
And then he gave a sigh!
[C] Said, "You know, I almost made it
But that was be-[C7] fore your [F] time
Dixieland, [C] Po' Folks Blues [G7]
ScatMan Jack and [C] wine."

[G7] Slapped his [C] knee and [F] gave a [C] grin
It [F] sure was good back [C] then
Reaching for his horn on the [G7] floor
Placed it [C] in an old towsack
That [F] hung across his [C] back
He said [F] "Goodbye!"
And [C] shuffled [G7] out the [C] 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."

CHORUS

TAG: He [F] said, "Goodbye" then [C] shuffled [G7] out the [C] door.