Lyrics

Old Man (Old Ball Playin' Man)

In a park not so far from my home
An old man would sit on the bench
He'd play with the children
Remember their names
And remind them how things aren't the same

He would share all his stories of days past
Back in his prime what he did
Then they'd throw him the ball
And he'd miss
He'd say "yeh but I really could hit"

chorus
Old man
Old man
Old ball playin' man
Not ready to leave it behind
Old man
Old man
Old ball playin' man
Chasin' a dream he can't find

Then they'd gather around as he told them
'Bout the time when the bases were full
How he stepped to the plate
And he flirted with fate
And they search for that ball this day still

He would point to that gate in the corner
And say "second base used to be there"
But their eyes filled with doubt
Then their heads turned about
As he put on that cap he still wears

chorus
Old man
Old man
Old ball playin' man
Not ready to leave it behind
Old man
Old man
Old ball playin' man
Chasin' a dream he can't find

It's been many years since I've seen him
His face is still clear in my mind
All his stories and rhymes
As I look through the Times
Come back, how I wish he was here

But there in the paper I read it
A ballplayer died yesterday
Says he never did play
In the big time
Well what do they know anyway

chorus
Old man
Old man
Old ball playin' man
Not ready to leave it behind
Old man
Old man
Old ball playin' man
Chasin' a dream he can't find

bridge
Now he's comin' 'round third
And he's headed for home
Like his words that I know now by heart
For the old man
The story is over
Except for the finishing part
As he crosses the plate for the last time
And awakes from what must seem a dream
There to greet him
Are all hall of famers
The old man at last made the team

chorus
Old man
Old man
Old ball playin' man
Finally able to find
Old man
Old man
Old ball playin' man
Leavin' the old team behind

chorus
Old man
Old man
Old ball playin' man
Finally able to find
Old man
Old man
Old ball playin' man
Has left the old team behind

copyright 2013 Bill Lauderbach

Bill Lauderbach
Lauderbach@att.net
www.BillLauderbach.com