Guy Clark - Ramblin' Jack & Mahan Lyrics

Now a Ramblin' Jack Elliot said:
I got these lines in my face
Tryin' to straighten out the wrinkles in my life
When I think of all the fools I've been
It's a wonder that I've sailed this many miles

To which Larry Mahan replied:
He said, "The sweet bird of youth
Was sittin' on my shoulder yesterday
But she's always changin' partners
And I always knew she'd up and fly away"

[Chorus:]
Stayin' up all night
In the Driskill Hotel
Ramblin' Jack and Mahan
Was cowboyed all to hell
The room smelled like bulls
The words sound like songs
Now there's a pair to draw to boys
I would not steer you wrong

So ol' Ramblin' Jack said:
He said, "I recall a time
I set my soul on fire just for show
All it ever taught me was
The more I learn the less I seem to know"

Ol' Mahan crawled out from behind a couch and said:
"Jack, as far as I can see
Mistakes are only horses in disguise
Ain't no need to ride 'em over
'cause we could not ride them different if we tried

[Chorus]