The Old Man And His Horn
By Gene Watson
Tabbed By Larry Mofle
rmofle at satx.rr.com
5/22/04


    C       G        C               G          C
The Old man told his story about the years gone by
       F
How he played his horn down in New Orleans in some old dingy dive
C                                                             F
"I knew 'em all back then." he said as he reached out for his horn
  F                C                G                   C
He closed his eyes and wet his lips then the blues were born.


He played with so much feelin', tears came from his eyes
He stopped and reminisced a bit and then he gave a sigh!
Said, "You know, I almost made it but that was before your time
Dixieland, Po' Folks Blues, ScatMan Jack and wine."


Chorus:
F       G   C        F      C        F                  C                   
Slapped his knee and gave a grin, it sure was good back then
C                            G
Reaching for his horn on the floor
F      G  C     F   C            F               C
placed it in an old towsack that hung across his back 
   F                    C        G       C
He said "Goodbye!" then shuffled out the door


Enthused by what he told me, I never got his name
So, I called the waitress over and started to explain
A tired old man - his tarnished horn, mem'ries of years gone by
How he played his horn and reminisced, smiled with tear-dimmed eyes.


She said you are mistaken, there's been no one but you
But I know who you're talkin' 'bout, I used to know him, too
You'll find him down on Basin Street in back of an old churchyard
A stone that reads, "Rest in Peace", I tried but it sure was hard."


Chorus