Second Effort

(album: Turnaround - 1978)

I've been sitting here crying since long before the day began
With my pockets full of nothing but broken dreams and my head in my empty hands
The winnings that I thought I had and come so far to get
Are further away then they've ever been, they've been taken by another man

I wouldn't take a train for home even if I could
'Cause they've been saving their joy for the hometown boy who went away to make it good
I bet they cleared away the parlour so my Ma can dance me in the door
And the old man can wink, and pour me a drink and ask me what the tears are for

It's harder to try again than it was to begin
A man can play a lone hand in a high stakes game, but it doesn't mean he's gonna win
And somehow I've got to keep from getting further down
Before I buy myself a bottle of cheap escape, and a ticket to another town

I know I'm not crying 'cause I think I've had it mighty tough
I did my best with all the rest, but it just wasn't good enough
And I've been working and training too long just to make it here
To merely swallow my pride and walk outside and come back another year

It's harder to try again than it was to begin
A man can play a lone hand in a high stakes game, but it doesn't mean he's gonna win
And somehow I've got to keep from getting further down
Before I buy myself a bottle of cheap escape, and a ticket to another town
I want to drown in the grape and make my escape, on a ticket to another town