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 an' 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."
Then he said: "I w's just comin' 'round the barn, "'Bout the time he 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,
"When 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.
"Yeah, I just climbed out of a cottonwood tree.
"Well, I was runnin' from some honey bees.
"Drip dryin' in the summer breeze "After jumpin' into Calico Creek.
"An' 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, "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 left me alone, "Right now, I'd be fishin'."
"I just climbed out of a cottonwood tree.
"I was runnin' from some honey bees.
"An' drip dryin' in the summer breeze, "After jumpin' in to 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." (Almost home).
"Man, I wish you'd just left me alone,
"I was almost home."