I've seen the old man sittin' 'round
the courthouse square back home in town
talking bout the big war back in 1943
sayin' how much good it's done
medals gleamin' in the sun
cussin' at my long hair
and my talk of bein' free
their vision like their battle scars
of other wars has faded
like the colors on the ribbons
from the battles that they've won
if there's one thing i've learned it's this
you just can't shake hands with a fist
and i once did my talkin' with a gun
and, old man, i know what you've seen
but yours is not the only dream
i have to believe in something more
than yesterday
let it die, just like the past
i believe there's hope at last
old man, did you ever have to pray
old man, can you show me the way
[ harmonica ]
he shakes his head from time to time
and rambles somewhere in his mind
mumbling 'bout the civil war
and how we should have won
settin' up his battle plans
on checkerboards at his command
watchin' all his gallant kings
go falling one by one
and son he'd say there's not much time
for you to straighten out your mind
but you never listen to
the things i try to say
and i just turn my head and cry
never understanding why
he's set up that checkerboard
when he knew i couldn't play