By townes van zandt



Well, the clouds didn't look like cotton

They didn't even look like clouds

I was underneath the weather

My friends looked a crowd

The swimmin' hole was full of rum

I tried to find out why

All i learned was this my friend

You got to swim before you fly





I got two girls

One's in heaven and one's below

Oh, one i love with all my heart

And one i do not know.





Two lonesome dudes on an ugly horse

Passed by not long ago

They asked me where the action was

I said i did not know

As they disappeared into the brush

I heard the driver say







He's a little slow between the ears

He's always been that way.





Jolly jane just lays around

And listens with her mouth

She's had about a dozen husbands

But the last one pulled out

Now, who's gonna bring her dinner

Through the weary years ahead

All she'll get from me is sympathy

Got no time to see she's fed.





It's cold down on the bayou

They say it's in your mind

But the moccasins are treadin' ice

And leavin strange designs

Cajuns say the last time

That this happend they weren't here

All beaumont's full of penguins

And i'm a-playin' it by ear.