He had plastic bags wrapped 'round his shoes
   He was covered with the evening news
   Had a pair of old wool socks on his hands
   The bank sign was flashing 5 below
   It was freezing rain and spittin' snow
   He was curled up behind some garbage cans
   I was afraid that he was dead
   I gave him a gentle shake
   When he opened up his eyes
   I said, "Old man are you ok?"
  
   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 creek
   I 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"
  
   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 truck
   Cane poles on the tailgate
   Bobbers blowin' in the wind
   Since July of '55
   That's as close as I've been"
  
   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 creek
   I 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"
  
   I 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'"
  
   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 creek
   I 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"
  
   Man I wish you'd just left me alone
   Cause I was almost home (almost home)
  
   Man I wish you'd just left me alone
   I was almost home