I keep dreaming

I need to dream

it's a problem I have

because no matter where I am

I can't be satisfied

I just can't help it

I need it so bad

it's a feeling inside me

that cannot be denied

          so I keep dreaming

          like a natural born fool

          I don't know what else to do

          'cause my dreams 

          always lead me back 

          to you

my story

hopefully I have some good years left

but you can never tell

I could fall off the highest mountain

or jump into a well

but I'm still out here trying

I can still live as myself

and hope that my story is not over

I don't remember much of childhood

but I got through it anyway

everything is still a blur

when it comes to younger days

so I'm out here making memories

what more can I say?

I'm hoping that my story is not over

          because there's so much to see

          friends that I don't know

          grant me just a little time

          we'll see how far I can go

          this planet is a great big world

          with lots of room to grow

          and still my story continues

each day is passing quickly

and old age is not a myth

and if you ask me what it's all about

I'll have to plead the fifth

but I still have the skills and tools

to spend my life with

I hope that my story is not over

          because there's so much to see

          friends that I don't know

          grant me just a little time

          to see how far I'll go

          this planet is a great big world

          with lots of room to grow

          and still my story continues

old man returning

I am an old man returning

to the secrets of my youth

back when my soul was burning

and I could see the truth

I am an old man returning

to the land of my home

it's the sweetest place I have ever known

I live inside my memories

today is not my friend

I cannot do what I please

I see hope growing thin

I live inside my memories

I cry sometimes and laugh

thinking about when I walked a straighter path

          oh, Lord, take me back

          when life was never wrong

          to the hometown of my childhood

          back where I belong

now I live in silence

I spend my days in fear

life has shown its violence

the end is drawing near 

now I live in silence

my future now has passed

I used to believe life would always last

I am an old man returning

to the scene of my youth

back when my soul was burning

and I could see the truth

I am an old man returning

to the land of my home

it's the sweetest place I have ever known

I forgive everyone

I am an old, old man

I live in a hospital bed

I'd rather be in the fatherland

but I'm here instead

now I'm crossing the final river

in a world hard and rough

I used to wish I could live forever

now I feel I've had enough

          but I have one thing to say

          before I see my setting sun

          I have reached the end of my days

          and I forgive everyone

I fought all the fights I found

I never ran afraid

my consequences knew the sound

of choices I have made

three children I have fathered

with my loving wife

I never yearned for anything other

I'm satisfied with my life

          now I have one thing to say

          at this time I can't outrun

          listen before I fade away

          I forgive everyone

          everything I've ever seen

          somehow became a part of me

          everything I've ever known

          has been welcome in my home

all those who have wronged me

I will not think of you now

my heart always belonged free

of the hate that time will allow

but I know before I go

my soul will live forever

I will fly swiftly as the crow

when I cross my final river

          now I have one thing to say

          now that my time is done

          I have no choice, I cannot stay

          and I forgive everyone

          I forgive everyone

my adopted hometown

a cup of good strong coffee

and I'm lost in memory

feeling kind of lonesome

for where I used to be

I was not born and raised there

but I'm always hanging around

in my adopted hometown

sometimes I remember

the faces of old friends

lately in my nightly dreams

I'm seeing them again

I'm counting all my blessings

for the peace that I once found

in my adopted hometown

          in my adopted hometown

          in my adopted hometown

          if I could, I'd settle down

          in my adopted hometown

the sunrise in the country hills

bluebonnets in the wild

musicians everywhere you go

the way the ladies smile

waiting for a moonlit night

just around sundown

in my adopted hometown

          in my adopted hometown

          in my adopted hometown

          if I could, I'd settle down

          in my adopted hometown

I always thought that I would

end up there one day

I cannot fully explain

just why I moved away

I pray someday I will return

to my place of sacred ground

in my adopted hometown

          in my adopted hometown

          in my adopted hometown

          if I could, I'd settle down

          in my adopted hometown

don't tell me to calm down

I don't want to calm down

don't tell me to calm down

I'm not gonna calm down

I just want to be angry at you

why do you do what you do

I can't believe what you do

I've thought the whole thing through

and I find no use for you

          don't tell me to calm down

          please just stop hanging around

          peace is nowhere to be found

          don't tell me to calm down

don't be hanging 'round my door

just like the ways you did before

I've got no choice but to ignore

the lump of stupid known as you

who the hell do you think you are

all you leave me with are scars

I'm heading to the local bar

because you do not have a clue

          don't tell me to calm down

          please just stop hanging around

          peace is nowhere to be found

          don't tell me to calm down       

one more thing before I go

that I believe you should know

no more putting up a show

leave while the getting's good

I don't like you being here

let me make this statement clear

it's time for you to disappear

leave like you know you should

          don't tell me to calm down

          please just stop hanging around

          peace is nowhere to be found

          don't tell me to calm down

when I get out of prison

when I get out of prison

I'll tell you what I'll do

eat a burger

chug some wine

and make sweet love to you

make sweet love to you

when I get out of prison

I'll tell you what I'll see

I'll look into your pale brown eyes

and you'll look back at me

you'll look back at me

          I'll do away with yesterdays

          and stare straight ahead

          at the destiny that's yet to be

          from the safety of my bed

when I get out of prison

there'll be no one to answer to

the  only one to share my soul

will be the likes of you

and you know that's true

when I get out of prison

I will not be on trial

I'll be living for the future

and the glory of your smile

the glory of your smile