Old And Only In The Way

(album: High Wide & Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project - 2009)

When you walk along the street how oftentimes you meet
Some poor old man who's gotten old and gray?
With age his back is bent, in his pockets not a cent
And for shelter he has no place to stay

His relations by the score, they'll turn him from the door
They'll see him on the street and pass him by
If you ask them why they do, they'll turn and say to you
He is old, he's gray, he's only in the way

Now let us cheer them on, for they won't be with us long
Don't sneer at them because they're old and gray
Just remember while you're young that for you the day may come
When you'll be old and gray and only in the way

Now my message I am sure is for rich as well as poor
For take a rich man when he's growing old
His relations 'round him stand and take him by the hand
They all want him to die, they want his gold

And what it's truly worth to own the riches of this earth
He'll discover at the closing of the day
After all he's like the poor when his journey's nearly o'er
He finds he's old and gray and only in the way

Now let us cheer them on for they won't be with us long
Don't sneer at them because they're old and gray
Just remember while you're young that for you the day may come
When you'll be old and gray and only in the way