Name: The Old Man and the Sky
Duration: P00H03M46S
Description: Back in early 2003 when email was coming into it's own, there was a furious exchange of haiku between me and three friends that ultimately jelled into the verse for this song.

The Old Man and the Sky

from Chameleon by Robert Lindsay Nathan

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about

Back in early 2003 when email was coming into it's own, there was a furious exchange of haiku between me and three friends that ultimately jelled into the verse for this song.

lyrics

The Old Man and the Sky
Copyright March 2003: Cross, Nathan, Mahoney, Wakeland

A wrinkled wink, from a steel blue eye,
Of an old man, as he stumbled on by
Broke the heart of a clear blue sky
And as tears rained down, I wondered why

I was still seeking shining steel of pink
With one good eye, and a broken blink
I scavenged the faces for that wrinkled wink,
And the nod that only old men think

Another day break, and the skyline wrinkles
With a broken promise, and some icy sprinkles.
As the pink ray of a new day; lo
Becomes the steel of a caged rainbow

No stare or care, I rambled on by
But that old man he blinked, and so did I
Well it seems we see somewhat eye to eye
And that’s the answer to my why

Chorus:

Why indeed does that steely heart bleed?
On what moldy bread does our love feed?
For all that men know, both young and old
In the end, we’re freed to the ground so cold….so cold.

Yet still, with the knowing of an aged smile
Comes the wrinkled wink of that steel blue eye
One good eye and a broken blink
With the nod that only old men think

credits

from Chameleon, released November 16, 2018
Music by Robert Lindsay Nathan
Lyrics by Robert Lindsay Nathan, James Mahoney, Gary Cross and Charles Wakeland

Robert Lindsay Nathan: acoustic guitar, banjo and lead vocal
Mark Hallman: drums, bass, Hammond organ, bari guitar, mandolin, harmonies
Andre Moran: dobro
Noelle Hampton: harmonies
Tristin Sapp: harmonies

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about

Robert Lindsay Nathan Canyon Lake, Texas

Robert Lindsay (Bama) Nathan was born in New Orleans on September 24, 1952. He was raised in Muscle Shoals Alabama and formally educated in Texas (Gig 'em Aggies). He has been writing songs since the early 1970's and has circled the globe playing them.

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