I've seen the old man sittin' 'round The courthouse square back home in town Talking bout the big war back in 1943 Sayin' how much good it's done Medals gleamin' in the sun Cussin' at my long hair And my talk of bein' free Their vision like their battle scars Of other wars has faded Like the colors on the ribbons From the battles that they've won If there's one thing I've learned it's this You just can't shake hands with a fist And I once did my talkin' with a gun And, old man, I know what you've seen But yours is not the only dream I have to believe in something more Than yesterday Let it die, just like the past I believe there's hope at last Old man, did you ever have to pray Old man, can you show me the way [ harmonica ] He shakes his head from time to time And rambles somewhere in his mind Mumbling 'bout the Civil War And how we should have won Settin' up his battle plans On checkerboards at his command Watchin' all his gallant kings Go falling one by one And son he'd say there's not much time For you to straighten out your mind But you never listen to The things I try to say And I just turn my head and cry Never understanding why He's set up that checkerboard When he knew I couldn't play