A Normal Conversation

      It was a rainy day I was slipping down the street     

      Goin' down to Mack's to get me somthin' to eat

      By the time I got there my appetite was dead

       I decided what the heck I'll get a beer instead

       I took a big swig and lit a cigarette

       Me and the waitress started chewin' the fat

       Just a normal conversation, everybody knows

       It's, "Whatcha up to? How's it goin'?" That's the way it goes

       "Workin' some, playin' some, same ol' thing I guess"

      Ya shake your head, shrug your shoulders, and get it off your chest

       Well, I knew it was too early but I ordered up another beer

        Put a dollar in jukebox, said, "Whatcha wanna hear?"

        "Oh, it don't matter, play anything at all

       except 145... it drives me up the wall

        And don't play Eminem or any rap stuff

        And don't play Conway Twitty, I've heard that thing enough

        218's alright if ya like that sort of thing

        I think Dylan's pretty good myself...if he'd just learn how to sing"

        Well, I played Knockin' On Heaven's Door

        And somthin' by the Stones I'd heard a thousand times before

        Then the regular lunch crowd started driftin' in the place

        Meat and two vegetables at six bucks a plate

         I sat back down on my stool and ordered up one more

         It was about this time an old best friend of mine wandered in the door

         I wouldn't have recognized him 'cept for the tattoo on his arm

         but I didn't act surprized or show any kind of alarm

         It was plain to see he didn't know me, though I didn't think I'd changed much at all

         His eyes were cloudy 'n he couldn't see straight thru the maze of alcohol

         His shirt was all dirty and ripped up the side

         His barn door was open 'n his shoes were untied

         Well, he walked over 'n sat on the stool next to mine, lookin' the other way

          I wanted to say somthin' to him, but I didn't know what to say

          He ordered up a burger and a beer

          Then our eyes happened to meet in the reflection in the mirror

          He turned to me kinda slow, stuck out a shakin' hand

          He said, "Hey, it's been a long time, how ya doin' man?

          Ya know I knew ya when I first came in the door   

          I didn't think ya knew me or I'd've shook your hand before"

          Then he said, "What brings you back to this Godforsaken town?"

          I said, "Oh, I'm goin' up to West Virginia, just dropped by to have a look around"

         He said, "Man, there ain't nothin' left here for anybody to see

          I been here the past twenty years 'n take a look at me"

          Then there was a moment of silence...seemed like an eternity

          when I had nothin' more to say to him 'n he had nothin' more to say to me

          Well, I called the waitress over 'n ordered us up another beer

          Slipped him a dollar for the jukebox...he said, "Whatcha wanna hear?"

          I said, "Oh, it don't matter, play anything at all

          except 145, cause it drives her up the wall

          And don't play Eminem or any rap stuff

          And no Conway Twitty...she's heard that thing enough

          218's alright if ya like that sort of thing

          I think Dylan's pretty good myself, if he'd just learn how to sing"

         Yeah, it was just a normal conversation everybody knows

          Whatcha up to? How's it goin'? That's the way it goes

          Workin' some, playin' some, same ol' thing I guess

          Ya shake your head, shrug your shoulders....'n get it off your chest.