I shook my head as he walked up, thought he wanted a couple bucks
In those ragged clothes and hair down to his shoulders
But he said, "I bet, you aren't even 30 yet
You hang your head like your life is almost over"
I said, "Old man, leave me alone, I just got laid off
Besides, when's the last time you even had a job?"
He said it was '68, as about your age in a chopper over Hanoi
He got shot down and even now I'm afraid to sleep at night
After five long years in a bamboo cage, the army calls you crazy
And take your wings away, I know where you're coming from
Been there and then some
♪
I said, "Old man, I'll give you that I never had it quite that bad
But losing a job ain't all that there is to it"
Three weeks ago, my wife moved out
I just got home from being out of town
You don't know what that's like 'til you been through it
Can you imagine how it feels to hear she found someone
Then I asked him, "When's the last time you lost a love?"
He said when that C-130 touched the earth on a runway out in Dover
Man, I was coming home, had my medals on but she was nowhere in the crowd
When you're MIA, two thousand days
She thinks you're dead and your best friend
Takes your place, I know where you're coming from
Been there and then some
That old man made me realize that you never give up hope
He got there in the nick of time with those stories that he told
And he saved my life, I was going to end it all that night
It's been three years, that's why I'm here
I don't get paid, I'm a volunteer
I'm living proof you can get your life together
So don't hang up the phone, it ain't worth it son
Do us both a favor, put down that gun
I know where you're coming from
Been there and then some
Been there and then some