WISHFUL THINKING

My daddy is a hell of a man

And the highest price he ever paid

Was for every single time that he saved my skin

His hair would turn a little more grey

His words of wisdom echo in my thoughts

His hand is on my shoulder laid

Despite my best efforts he aint ever stop

And despite his he got no hair that can fade

He used to tell me

Wish into one hand shit into the other

See which fills up faster as you go about your day

You can't spit into a frying pan and then call it supper

You want some food for thought my friend

I think you need a bigger plate

When I was a youngun talk was cheap

The teachings of elders fell on deaf ears

There weren't nothing you could save me from through speech

And so I learned the hard way despite my fears

Wisdom taught is cheaper than wisdom bought

And I was never one to let learning go unpaid for

Wisdom learned is cheaper than wisdom earned

And we'll see how long 'til my hair starts to fade boy

I hear him saying

Wish into one hand shit into the other

See which fills up faster as you go about your day

You can't spit into a frying pan and then call it supper

You want some food for thought my friend

I think you need a bigger plate

God willing and the creek don't rise

My mama won't lose no more sleep

To save me from myself and hell

She put a Bible underneath my sheets

The Good Word might've changed my dreams

But borrowed goodness never lingered long outside my bed

I weren't ever too ashamed to wrong

But always too ashamed to repent

Grey hair to some might not seem

To be just a bit too high a price to pay

Oh well my beards still red I 'spose it aint for me to say

Thank God I came before my brothers

I reckon that I helped to pave the way

For them both my parents worried

But I taught my parents how to pray

I hear them saying

Wish into one hand shit into the other

See which fills up faster as you go about your day

You can't spit into a frying pan and call it supper

You want some food for thought my friend

I think you need a bigger plate