His daddy said when he was a baby
He was impossible to hold
He'd fuss and fight and then he'd giggle all night

Terrify the whole household

But he'd listen to his betime stories

He believed what he was told
About gypsy camps, saddle tramps
And rainbow gold


He had about a million questions
Liked to drove everybody wild

He'd ask them stuff that was just too tough
They all told him, "hush up child"


So it came as no surprise
When he left his home so young
Looking for some kind of paradise

I don't know what else he could have done

He was a scholar

Though he never really went to school
He stood amazed at the world's ways
And he followed the golden rule


He knew a little bit about everything
He could pretty much guess the rest

And he always seemed to know what you mean
If you took him in your confidence


Now most people run around in circles
But he ran a real straight line
The only thing wrong was that before too long

He left everyone who loved him behind

So it came as no surprise

When he left his home so young
Looking for some kind of paradise
Looking for something that he hadn't already done


Well he got to be hard to keep track of
Everybody was a little confused

And then one time the old grapevine
Whispered the strangest news


Now maybe he didn't mean to do it
I understand it if you've got your doubts
But I got a good idea that the coast was clear

And he figured he'd just bust on out

Now friends I'm not saying that it was a good thing

I'm not saying that it makes much sense
I just know that he was the kind to cross every line
Jump every single last fence


So it comes as no surprise
That he left his home so young

Still looking for some kind of paradise
The fool thought he had to go all the way to kingdom come


The only thing that I really wonder about now
Keeps running across my mind
If he ever caught his breath between his birth and death


If he ever caught his breath between birth and death
I swear I don't know where he ever found the time


Some kind of paradise