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 an' spittin' 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,"Oh man are you ok?"


He said, "I just climbed out of a cottonwood tree
I was runnin' from some honey bees

Drip dryin' in the summer breeze
After jumpin' into Calico creek
I was walkin' 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..."


Then he said,"I was just comin' 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 loadin' up the truck
Cane poles on the tailgate
Bobbers blowin' in the wind

Since July of '55
That's as close as I've been"


"Yeah, I just climbed out of a cottonwood tree
I was runin' from some honey bees
Drip dryin' in the summer breeze

After jumpin' into Calico creek
I was walkin' down an old dirt road
Past a field of hay that had just been mowed

Man I wish you'd just left me alone
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'"

"I just climbed out of a cottonwood tree

I was runnin' from some honey bees
Drip dryin' in the summer breeze
After jumpin' into Calico creek

I was walkin' 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

I was almost home..."