Almost Home

(album: I Love It - 2003)

He had plastic bags wrapped 'round his shoes
He was covered with the evening news
Had a pair of old wool socks on his hands
The bank sign was flashing 5 below
It was freezing rain and spitting snow
He was curled up behind some garbage cans
I was afraid that he was dead
I gave him a gentle shake
When he opened up his eyes
I said, "Old man are you ok?"

He said,"I just climbed out of a cottonwood tree
I was running from some honey bees
Drip drying in the summer breeze
After jumping into Calico creek
I was walking down an old dirt road
Past a field of hay that had just been mowed
Man I wish you'd just left me alone
'Cause I was almost home"

He said "I was just coming round the barn
'Bout the time you grabbed my arm
When I heard Momma holler, "Son hurry up"
I was close enough for my old nose
To smell fresh cobbler on the stove
And I saw daddy loading up the truck
Cane poles on the tailgate
Bobbers blowing in the wind
Since July of '55
That's as close as I've been"

He said,"I just climbed out of a cottonwood tree
I was running from some honey bees
Drip drying in the summer breeze
After jumping into Calico creek
I was walking down an old dirt road
Past a field of hay that had just been mowed
Man I wish you'd just left me alone
'Cause I was almost home"

I said,"Old man you're gonna freeze to death
Let me drive you to the mission"
He said,"Boy if you'd left me alone
Right now I'd be fishin'"

He said,"I just climbed out of a cottonwood tree
I was running from some honey bees
Drip drying in the summer breeze
After jumping into Calico creek
I was walking down an old dirt road
Past a field of hay that had just been mowed
Man I wish you'd just left me alone
'Cause I was almost home"

Man I wish you'd just left me alone
Cause I was almost home (almost home)

Man I wish you'd just left me alone
I was almost home