Old Ways
Album - 1985 - Debaser id 24041

In the lonely shack by the railroad track
I spent my younger days
And I guess the sound of the outward bound
Made me a slave to my wanderin' ways.

And the wayward wind is a restless wind
A restless wind that yearns to wander
And I was born the next of kin
The next of kin to the wayward wind.

Oh, I met him down in the border town
He vowed we'd never part
Though he tried his best to settle down
Now I'm all alone with a broken heart.

And the wayward wind is a restless wind
A restless wind that yearns to wander
And I was born the next of kin
The next of kin to the wayward wind.

And the wayward wind is a restless wind
A restless wind that yearns to wander
And I was born the next of kin
The next of kin to the wayward wind.

The next of kin to the wayward wind.

Are there any more real cowboys
Left out in these hills?
Will the fire hit the iron
One more time?
And will one more dusty pick-up
Coming rolling down the road
With a load of feed before the sun gets high?
Well, I hope that working cowboy never dies.

Not the one that's snortin' cocaine
When the honky-tonk's all closed
But the one that prays for more rain
Heaven knows
That the good feed brings the money
And the money buys the clothes
Not the diamond sequins shining on TV
But the kind the working cowboy really needs.

Are there any more country families
Still working hand in hand
Trying hard to stay together
And make a stand?
While the rows and rows of houses
Come creepin' up on the land
Where the cattle graze and an old grey barn still stands
Are there any more real cowboys in this land?

Are there any more real cowboys in this land?

Up in that new space station
Living Kennedy's dream
There was an automatic camera
Shooting elephantine.

Well the crew was relaxing
Before the video screen
Watching old re-runs
Of Mohammed Ali.

The voice of Houston callin'
Brought them back to the scene
Except the sky is fallin'
Do you know what that means?

Out on that Texas sidewalk
Through the hotel mezzanine
There walked a see-thru' hooker
To a suite with two TVs.

But by the elevator
She began to sneeze
With an attack so uncontrolled
It brought her to her knees.

And then the hotel doctor
With nurse and stethoscope
Announced the worst is over
But for her there is no hope.

Way down in South Dakota
On the Needles Highway
There's a lone red rider
On the road today.

And though his war is over
He's fightin' on anyway
Although he's seldom sober
He's drinking whisky all day.

Down in that old box canyon
Where only misfits can go
He rides with no companion
But saloon and rodeo.

Up in that new space station
Living Kennedy's dream
There's an automatic camera
Shooting elephantine.

Well the crew is relaxing
Before the video screen
Watching old re-runs
Of Mohammed Ali.

The voice of Houston callin'
Brought them back to the scene
Except the sky is fallin'
Do you know what that means?

I remember long ago
How I wondered where I'd go
While the blizzards, cold wind and snow
Pounded outside my window.

California sunset
Going down in the West
All the colors in the sky
Kiss another day goodbye.

Land of beauty, space and light
Land of promise, land of might
You're my home now and it's true
California, here's to you.

California sunset
Going down in the West
All the colors in the sky
Kiss another day goodbye.

California sunset
Going down in the West
All the colors in the sky
Kiss another day goodbye.

The golden state!

Why are you growin' up so fast
My boy?
Oh, you'd better take your time.
Why are you growin' up so fast
My son?

Almost time to live your dream
My boy.
Oh, you'd better take your time.
Almost time to make some plans
My son.

Vacation gone, school is out,
Summer ends year in year out.

Oh, you'd better take your time
My boy.
I thought we had just begun.
Why are you growin' up so fast
My son?

Vacation gone, school is out,
Summer ends year in year out.

Why are you growin' up so fast
My boy?

Why are you growin' up so fast
My son?