Old Dogs, Children and Watermelon Wine
By Tom T. Hall
Written by Tom T. Hall
Album: The Storyteller (1972)
Tabbed by Larry Mofle
11/16/02


EDIT: I redid this to reflect the capo on 3 version

Capo 3

Spoken:
D                                  G                   Em
How old do you think I am he said, I said well I didn't know
A                        G  A   D
He said I turned 65 about eleven months ago
Sung:
      D          D7           G              Em
I was sittin' in Miami pourin' blended whiskey down
          G                D        A                   D 
When this old, grey, black gentleman was cleanin' up the lounge


      D         D7               G               Em
There wasn't anyone around 'cept this old man and me     
A                                   G         A  D
The guy who ran the bar was watchin' Ironsides on TV
D          D7             G            Em  
Uninvited, he sat down and opened up his mind
   G           D       A              D
On old dogs and children and watermelon wine


Ever had a drink of watermelon wine, he asked
He told me all about it though I didn't answer back
Ain't but 3 things in this world that's worth a solitary dime
But old dogs, children, and watermelon wine

Change Key to D# (move capo to 4)

He said women think about themselves when menfolk ain't around
And friends are hard to find when they discover that you're down
He said I tried it all when I was young and in my natural prime
Now it's old dogs, children, and watermelon wine

Old dogs care about you even when you make mistakes
God bless little children while they're still too young to hate
When he moved away, I found my pen and copied down that line
'Bout old dogs and children, and watermelon wine

Key change to E (move capo to 5)
I had to catch a plane up to Atlanta that next day
As I left for my room I saw him pickin' up my change
That night I dreamed in peaceful sleep of shady summertime
Of old dogs and children and watermelon wine