(Lord, Have Mercy On A) Ramblin' Man

Lord, have mercy on a ramblin' man
Because The Devil knows his name
He's singing these songs to anyone who'll listen
He ain't looking for fortune or fame

Lord, have mercy on a ramblin' man
Keep him a long way from the cops
'Cos if The Lord knows something 'bout a ramblin' man
It's that a ramblin' man won't stop
No he'll never stop

His eyes are smiling through the thrift and the flack
He's got the sun on his face and the wind at his back
If he sleeps at all, it's out in the open
The only thing he knows is to keep going

Lord, have mercy on a ramblin' man
'Cos there's a woman on his case
She's trying to change the ways of this rambling man
But a rambling man don't change
He'll never change

So, Lord, have mercy on a ramblin' man
Because he walks this life alone
You can give him your heart if you want to
But his hearts out on the road
It's on the road

His eyes are smiling through the thrift and the flack
He's got the sun on his face and the wind at his back
Wherever his heart is now you know it's probably broken
The only thing he knows is to keep going

Lord, have mercy on a ramblin' man
'Cos it's a long road to the grave
He's as handsome as he's funny as he's modest and clean
He's a sure fine soul to save

Lord, have mercy on a ramblin' man
Turn his feet into the wings of a bird
Make him a joke to anyone who needs a laugh in this world
And ears to those who need to be heard

His eyes are smiling through the thrift and the flack
He's got the sun on his face and the wind at his back
His feelings are buried down deep but his scars are showing
The only thing he knows is to keep going

Lord, have mercy on a ramblin' man
Keep him a long, long way from death
Keep the blood in his veins and the air in his lungs
Keep these crazy ideas in his head

'Cos his eyes are smiling through the thrift and the flack
He's got the sun on his face and the wind at his back
It's killing him, this life he has chosen
The only thing he knows is to keep going

Mortgages & 9-5's

She said I was crazy
Living like I do
I said I cannot imagine what it's like being you
She said she wished she'd lived more
And she said I was brave
And I laughed to myself 'cos I feel like I'm always afraid
Mortgages and 9-5's are scarier than just running away

Her eldest kid got cancer
And he died at 23
I'm sad that he died but I'm glad it was not me
'Cos ain't that just the way the world works
We're all counting down the days
We just dance across the dirt as best we can all the while the music plays
Mortgages and 9-5's are scarier than cancer anyway

These days money's like religion
And God's a venture-capitalist
He's peddling a heaven or a house as big as his
I know I was born with nothing
And I'll probably die the same
But I don't need nothing more than I was born with anyway
Mortgages and 9-5's are scarier than Hell-fire anyway
Mortgages and 9-5's are scarier than just running away