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Guy Clark — Homeless
Album: The Dark
Avg rating:
7.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 291








Released: 2002
Length: 4:16
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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Cardboard sign old and bent, says "Friend for Life 25¢"
When did this start makin' sense man it's really getting cold
Sometimes I forget things and I get confused
I could still be working but they refuse
Now I'm livin' with the bums, the whores and the abused
Man I hate gettin' old

Homeless...get away from here
Don't give 'em no money they just spend it on beer
Homeless...will work for food
You'll do anything that you gotta do when you're homeless

Betty sings a song that no one hears
The wind begins to freeze her tears
She says God it's been so many years
She's way past complainin'
She sings a heartfelt melody
One that begs for harmony
Yah it's not what she thought it'd be
But hey it could be rainin'

Homeless...get away from here
Don't give 'em no money they just spend it on beer
Homeless...will work for food
You'll do anything you gotta do when you're homeless

You know life ain't easy it takes work
It takes healin' cause you're going to get hurt
You can lose your faith you can lose your shirt
Lose your way some time
Ah, you never really have control
Sometimes you just gotta let it go
When the final line unfolds
It don't always rhyme

Homeless...get away from here
Don't give 'em no money they just spend it on beer
Homeless...will work for food
You'll do anything that you gotta do when you're homeless

Homeless...get away from here
Don't give 'em no money they just spend it on beer
Homeless...will work for food
You'll do anything that you gotta do when you're homeless

Cardboard sign old and bent, says "Friend for Life 25¢"
Comments (29)add comment
I seldom comment.   Just needed to say thanks Bill. 
and thanks Guy.
Posted 2 years ago by Cubby01    [ Reply ]
UNA VERA POESIA non avevo mai ascoltato prima questo autore molto bella 
Posted 2 years ago by mario_1954    [ Reply ]
beautiful :) and sad :(
Posted 2 years ago by garrettb    [ Reply ]
This....this stopped me in my tracks.  WOW
Posted 2 years ago by clewis1028    [ Reply ]
The legendary Guy Clark.  Deeply loved and respected by all aficionados of country, alt country, bluegrass, et al.  A true master of his understated craft.
RIP brother.
Posted 2 years ago by DW4554    [ Reply ]
Guy Clark is near the top of the pantheon of songwriters.
I don't recall hearing this one before. Wow.
c.

edit:
I listened to an interview with Hayes Carll, about songwriting in general and Guy Clark in particular. Apparently Guy wrote his songs out on graph paper - each letter in a box. He'd start with the bar napkins and post-its with song ideas, and transcribe them. Meticulous.  Hayes Carll said, after that, he took his own songwriting far more seriously.
c.
Posted 2 years ago by cc_rider    [ Reply ]
Thanks for playing this. I regularly work with homeless individuals. The number of them that are caught up in the web of homelessness not of their own choices is amazing.  Even those who have given up deserve some help getting through another day.  We have to do better as individuals when we encounter them and as a society.
Posted 2 years ago by bluesboy    [ Reply ]
 LuvsMusic wrote:

I grew up being taught not to give money to the homeless.  I've since decided that wasn't the best advice.  If the money makes their life better, I'm in.  Just something to consider the next time you have that choice.   Good song Bill.



Always amazes me how many self-identifying liberal people will say Don't give them money, they'll only spend it on drugs. Very few people would choose to be homeless by choice. It's my money, I'll help whoever I want with it. Thanks Bill. 
Posted 2 years ago by reallylost    [ Reply ]
 idiot_wind wrote:

alice...

dallas alice



Uncanny.
Posted 2 years ago by reallylost    [ Reply ]
Why is this out of RP's wheelhouse (according to Bill)? Seems like it fits right in. Very moving. I'd like to hear more of this. 
Posted 2 years ago by smartn1    [ Reply ]
Great song too bad this guy died
Posted 2 years ago by jp33442    [ Reply ]
I grew up being taught not to give money to the homeless.  I've since decided that wasn't the best advice.  If the money makes their life better, I'm in.  Just something to consider the next time you have that choice.   Good song Bill.
Posted 3 years ago by LuvsMusic    [ Reply ]
Bill - You are on a roll today - just an awesome last 3 hours. THANKS
Posted 3 years ago by jmsmy    [ Reply ]
 idiot_wind wrote:

alice...

dallas alice



That's exactly what I thought.
Posted 3 years ago by reallylost    [ Reply ]
alice...

dallas alice

Posted 3 years ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
Man...some heartfelt stuff right there...this world is lacking so much of this kind of empathy...
Posted 3 years ago by sfoster66    [ Reply ]
 stonesmaster wrote:
Reminds me of Lowell George's Willin.
 
Same here
Posted 3 years ago by AbileneTexas    [ Reply ]
They will just spend it on beer or drugs... Oh Wait, that's what I'm going to spend it on...
Posted 3 years ago by mjbaumann    [ Reply ]
 AC wrote:
Who's that singing harmony? It almost sounds like Rosalee Sorrells.
 
Gillian Welch
Posted 3 years ago by William    [ Reply ]
Who\'s that singing harmony? It almost sounds like Rosalee Sorrells.
Posted 21 years ago by AC    [ Reply ]
\"It\'s not what she thought it\'d be.\" Genius is packing this much truth in a throw-away line.
Posted 21 years ago by AC    [ Reply ]
Reminds me of Lowell George\'s Willin.
Posted 21 years ago by stonesmaster    [ Reply ]
Originally Posted by melissa: Excellent song writer...love his voice too! Never hear him on the radio, though, unless of course it's Radio Paradise! Thanks!
Are you surprised? After all, Clear Channel (and our other burgeoning media monopolies) would NEVER allow you to hear this sort of thing. We're just supposed to hear happy talk, listen to Rush and Howard, and pretend everything's peachy keen. Just wait until the FCC deregulates the TV broadcast and newspaper industries. (Sorry, no more soapbox for me. Too damn depressing. Gotta get back to work.)
Posted 21 years ago by rgrace    [ Reply ]
This song makes me very glad I have a job, especialy living in the hideously expensive Bay Area with one of the worst job markets in the country. (Then again, since Bush didn\'t win California I guess it doesn\'t really matter much to the Repubs now, huh?) What I like about it is that it isn\'t a hard-core advocacy song. He takes a reasonably light touch and brings out the pain in the situation.
Posted 21 years ago by rgrace    [ Reply ]
man...this is really depressing me....even moreso since I am unemployed right now. At least I have a home, and a home computer to listen to Radioparadise on!
Posted 21 years ago by Relayer    [ Reply ]
Excellent song writer...love his voice too! Never hear him on the radio, though, unless of course it\'s Radio Paradise! Thanks!
Posted 21 years ago by melissa    [ Reply ]
Wonderful song, very moving. Gotta hear more of this CD.
Posted 22 years ago by jrenfro    [ Reply ]
What an appropriate song for Christmas Eve... I\'m touched. :(
Posted 22 years ago by BC_Night_Heron    [ Reply ]