He had plastic bags wrapped 'round his shoes
He was covered with the evening news
Had a pair of old wool socks on his handsThe bank sign was flashing 5 below
It was freezing rain and spittin' snow
He was curled up behind some garbage cansI was afraid that he was dead
I gave him a gentle shake
When he opened up his eyes
I said, "Old man are you okay?"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 creekI 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 own nose
To smell fresh cobbler on the stove
And I saw daddy loadin' up the truckCane 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 runnin' from some honey bees
Drip dryin' in the summer breeze
After jumpin' into Calico creekI 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 homeI 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 creekI 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 homeMan, I wish you'd just left me alone
I was almost home