This song was written by our friend, Keith Gattis An amazing songwriter, singer, and guitar slinger We lost Keith way too soon He wrote this song with another Texas legend, Guy Clark Keith, we miss you, brother But I know we're gonna see you again someday
He worse a sweat-stained open road Stetson hat A domino king from way on back Jack of all trades with an old jon boat And he spent his last days just makin' it float And every now and then, he'd pick me up When he knew the water wouldn't be too rough He was known for never sayin' too much We'd get in that boat and he'd open right up
He said, "The war took my brother The good Lord took my mother And the years, well, I don't know where they all went Until that roll is called up yonder All I can do is wonder If I even did enough to make a dent But I made a few good friends And I always paid my rent"
Sometimes we'd just sit and laugh About girls and dogs and friends we had He said the good'ns are the hardest to come by And I'd get him to tell me 'bout the days gone by He'd bait his hook, wipe his brow Start resurrectin' ups and downs We'd drift offshore while the daylight burned And I'd hang on to every word
He said, "I've done my share of livin' Found a woman who was willin' And through the years, I learned how to bend Until that roll is called up yonder I can't help but wonder If I even did enough to make a dent But I made a few good friends And I always paid my rent"
Last time I saw him, he was movin' slow Said, "I ain't got much farther to go But I'd like you to have this boat Take her out and make her float I can't tell you how to live your life But if you find a good girl, hold on tight Treat her good and pay your bills Your friends will help you climb the hills"
He said, "That road is long and windin' And when I look behind me But I'd like to think that it was time well spent Until that roll is called up yonder I can't help but wonder If I even did enough to make a dent But I made a few good friends And I always paid my rent"
He wore a sweat-stained open road Stetson hat A domino king from way on back Jack of all trades with an old jon boat And he spent his last days just makin' it float Mm-mm-mm-mm-mm-mm