what did I really know?

born in northern South Dakota

without a feather in my cap;

crying for my first drink before taking another nap,

saw my mother on the morning of my birth:

she said it would be hard to calculate my future net worth;

and i began using drugs at the age of five,

seeing Indians on their reservations barely staying alive

when i rode my favorite horse,

finding it impossible to stay on an acceptable course:

looking around for the high ground,

following footsteps

listening for any sound

to tell me a better way to go,

but, what did i really know?

wondering about all the ages long ago,

it was so hard to stay in school.

damn near broke every rule

and then hitting age nine,

crossing over the nearest county line

marrying the girl of my dreams;

she worried that I lied:

i told her i was nineteen 

and wanted her for my bride.

but without a job at the age of twenty,

in the world of good and plenty,

couldn't pay the rent:

sleeping in my ragged circus tent,

rolling smokes and telling jokes.

dreaming of living off the land,

but with no cash in hand,

it was impossible

for a white boy with no facial hair;

people laughed and stopped to stare.

i'd try the beach if it didn't seem out of reach

or the plains but there were too many hard rains,

and when the air got cold, i'd start to feel old.

but the girl, she stayed by my side

even though it was clear i lied:

all the stories 

of my past glories;

among all the people that i played

she stayed

in the long hours of night and the settled days of sun,

but we never made it to the starter's gun

for the dash 

to the fabled piles of un-marked cash.

born in northern South Dakota

without a feather in my cap;

crying for my first drink before taking another nap,

saw my mother on the morning of my birth:

she said it would be hard to calculate my future net worth;

and i began using drugs at the age of five,

seeing Indians on their reservations barely staying alive

when i rode my favorite horse,

finding it impossible to stay on an acceptable course:

looking around for the high ground,

following footsteps

listening for any sound

to tell me a better way to go,

but, what did i really know?

wondering about all the ages long ago,

it was so hard to stay in school.

damn near broke every rule

and then hitting age nine,

crossing over the nearest county line

marrying the girl of my dreams;

she worried that I lied:

i told her i was nineteen 

and wanted her for my bride.