[Verse 1] He came in with a bent-back case Shoes worn thin from a hundred towns Cape Town rain and a Memphis trace Salt on his coat, dust on his crown He learned that song from a railroad spike From a porch light glow and a field hand's prayer Every scar had a story to write Every note said, "I was there" [Pre-Chorus] Hands like bark, voice like sand Still he sang when the hours ran long Lift your glass for the old man's band He keeps the flame in the old blues song [Chorus] Old blues man, take my hand Sing me home, slow and low Old blues man, make me stand From the hurt I used to know Old blues man, old blues man You were fire in a worn-out coat Old blues man, take my hand Keep that river in your throat [Verse 2] He played for rent and he played for rain For a bus depot bench in a sleepless night For a broken love and a war back then For the trainyard whistle calling white He saw the bright stage turn to rust Saw the young ones chase that shiny sound But he kept that ache, he kept that trust Kept the deep old truth he found [Pre-Chorus] Tired eyes, steady aim Still the room leans in when he starts Calling names that time can't tame He turns the past into a living heart [Chorus] Old blues man, take my hand Sing me home, slow and low Old blues man, make me stand From the hurt I used to know Old blues man, old blues man You were fire in a worn-out coat Old blues man, take my hand Keep that river in your throat [Bridge] Now the years sit close on his chair And the night has silver in his hair But the room goes still when he breathes Like the whole long story waits there He ain't asking for a crown Just a little room, just a little light For the ones who fell and kept on down To hear their names in the smoke tonight [Final Chorus] Old blues man, take my hand Sing me home, slow and low Old blues man, make me stand From the hurt I used to know Old blues man, old blues man You were fire in a worn-out coat Old blues man, take my hand Keep that river in your throat [Outro] Keep that river in your throat Old blues man, don't let go Old blues man, don't let go
