EarlI met him on the streets of Ashville A man all broke and tired It seems like at his age He should have long since retired. He said he spent the night Beneath the bridge beside the creek He asked me for a cigarette And a bite to eat And I said come inside and have a seat And over cups of coffee He just said my name is Earl And I am a simple man A lost soul in this world He said he got so cold last night He thought he'd freeze to death He leaned over close to me I smelled liquor on his breath And he just smile and said God Bless He had his name tattooed On the fingers of his hand When he was younger He must have been a prouder man Said he was a sailor On a big ship in the war And he's got a wife He doesn't hear from anymore She kicked his drunk ass out the door And I've got a son in Atlanta In fact that's where I'm headed now 'Cause if I make it to Atlanta I know that I'll get there somehow, somehow, somehow He sat there quietly And stared off for a while Then he looked up And he said thank you with a smile And he got his bag And he slowly walked away And he was gone as quickly As he'd come into my day And Earl when I think of you I'll pray And I hope you've made it to Atlanta In fact I hope you're there right now 'Cause if you've made it to Atlanta I know that you'll get there somehow Somehow, somehow I met him on the streets of Asheville A man all broke and tired |