How old do you
think I am? - he
said.
I said, well, I
didn't know.
He said, I
turned 75
About 11 months
ago.
I was sitting in
Miami
Pouring blended
Whiskey down
When this old
gray black
Gentleman
Was cleaning up
the Lounge
There wasn't
anyone around
'Cept this old
Man and me
The Guy who ran
the Bar
Was watching
Ironsides on TV
Uninvited, he
sat down
And opened up
his Mind
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 three
Things in this
World
That's worth a
solitary Dime,
But old Dogs and
Children
And Watermelon
Wine.
He said, Women
think about
them-selves,
When Men Folk
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 its old Dogs
and 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.
I had to catch a
Plane
Up to Atlanta
that next Day
As I left for my
Room
I saw him
picking up my
Change
That night I
dreamed in
peaceful Sleep
Of shady
Summertime
Of old Dogs and
Children
And Watermelon
Wine.
( T. Hall )
*** 
