Lyrics

The King Of Better Days

I watched a man sing and play for tips
His heart there on his sleeve
Some folks dropped a buck or two
But he watched most of em leave

His voice was pure but his eyes told tales
Of faded dreams of gold
It seems that some grow famous
While others they just grow old

A bandana to catch the sweat
An old hat to catch the sun
Bold tattoo of an eagle
That was only partly done

All hail the king of better days
His tears and hopes are the notes he plays
I sit transfixed hearing heaven's rays
From the cowboy on the corner
The king of better days

A guitar case once lined with felt
His best friend at his feet
Gnarled fingers find the melody
Worn boots keep the beat

A Colt forty-five sits next to him
The liquor not the gun
It holds secrets about the man
With his audience of one

All hail the king of better days
His tears and hopes are the notes he plays
I sit transfixed hearing heaven's rays
From the cowboy on the corner
The king of better days

In between songs he humbly asked me
If I had any requests
I, in turn asked him to play
The song that he like best



He looked at me and back through time
Then stared down for a while
When he looked up his face was set
with the saddest, sweetest smile

"Son", he said, "Here's one for you
that I don't do much anymore
It's a song I wrote in seventy-one
When I got home from the war

As the chords turned into melody
I recognized his song
As one I'd heard a million times
He winked and said, "Sing along"

(instrumental break)

When he was done, I sat there stunned
And he just said, "Thank you, Son
For listening a while
To dreams that I once had
Of better days before the haze of habits turned them bad

I only had five dollars
And I needed that to eat
Still I handed him the bill
But he rose to his feet

As he handed me back the money
He said, "Son, run along
And take this piece of advice from me
Don't ever stop singing your song"

All hail the king of better days
His tears and hopes are the notes he plays
I sit transfixed hearing heaven's rays
From the cowboy on the corner
The cowboy on the corner
The cowboy on the corner
The king of better days