James Taylor - Mean Old Man lyrics

How could I have known?

Imagine my surprise

Just a fool

From a tree full of fools

Who can't believe his eyes

Imagine my surprise

I was a mean old man

I was an ornery cuss

I was a dismal Dan

I made an awful fuss

Ever since my life began

Man, it was ever thus

I was a nasty tyke who was hard to like

I had to misbehave

I did things in reverse

Refused to wash or shave

I was horrid to my nurse

I got back what I gave

Which only made me worse

I had to have my way

Which was bleak and gray, oh dear

Living in here

One hundred years of rain

Such a drag

This riches to rags

With just myself to blame

A dirty low-down shame

Silly me

Silly old me

Somewhere outside my mind

Clever you

Walking me through

Willing to lead the blind

Just in the nick of time

Who gets a second chance?

Who gets to have some fun?

Who gets to learn to dance

Before his race is run?

Who gets to shed his skin?

Who comes up born again?

Who was a mean old man

'Til you turned him into a golden retriever

Puppy dog

Who's a good boy