Young kid stepped in from the cold
He ordered up a drink
He said, "Don't look surprised old man
I'm older than you think"

If i was the talkin' kind
I could tell you a thing or two
And since you didn't ask
Let me show you my tattoos"
He said, "I got this rose in memphis
In some back old alley dump
Picked this eagle up in Dallas
Man, I sure was good and drunk
And you know the way I see it
If it gets any worse out there
A guy like me hasn't got a prayer"

The old man poured some coffee
He said, "This one's on me"
Set down his cigarette
And rolled up his sleeve
"Take a good look here my friend
You see what these are?
Just my ragged old
and jagged ordinary scars"
he said, "I got this one in paris
In a war 'fore you were born
And this one when I was half your age
Workin' on my daddy's farm
And you know the way I see it
Son you ain't seen what I've seen
'Cause tattoos and scars
Are different things"
He said, "I've been here
For all these years
And what I know is this:
If you look and listen close
A man will show you what he is
You know the way i see it
You've been 'round
But you're still green
'Cause tattoos and scars
are different things"

Young kid stepped in from the cold
And he ordered up a drink
He said, "Don't look surprised old man
I'm older than you think"