When You Awake

(album: The Band - 1969)

Ole told me, I'm a fool
So I walked on down the road a mile
Went to the house that brings a smile
Sat upon my grandpa's knee
And what do you think he said to me?

[Chorus:]
When you awake you will remember everything
You will be hanging on a string from your...
When you believe, you will relieve the only soul
That you were born with to grow old and never know

Ole showed me the fork in the road
You can take to the left or go straight to the right,
Use your days and save your nights
Be careful where you step, and watch what ya eat,
Sleep with a light and you got it beat

[Repeat Chorus]

Ole warned me, it's a mean old world,
The street don't greet ya, yes, it's true
But what am I supposed to do
Read the writing on the wall
I heard it when I was very small

[Repeat Chorus]

Wash my hands in lye water
I got a date with the Captain's daughter
You can go and tell your brother
We sure gonna love one another all night
You may be right and you might be wrong
I ain't gonna worry all day long
Snow's gonna come and the frost gonna bite
My old car froze up last night
Ain't no reason to hang my head
I could wake up in the morning dead
And if I thought it would do any good
I'd stand on the rock where Moses stood...