Guy Clark - Ramblin Jack and Mahan Lyrics

Now a Ramblin' Jack Elliot said:
I got these lines in my face
Tryin' to straighten out the wrinkles in my life
When I think of all the fools I've been
It's a wonder that I've sailed this many miles

To which Larry Mahan replied,
He said, "The sweet bird of youth
Was sittin' on my shoulder yesterday
But she's always changin' partners
And I always knew she'd up and fly away"

[
He said, "I recall a time
I set my soul on fire just for show
All it ever taught me was
The more I learn the less I seem to know"

Ol' Mahan crawled out from behind a couch and said:
"Jack, as far as I can see
Mistakes are only horses in disguise
Ain't no need to ride 'em over
'cause we could not ride them different if we tried

[Chorus]