Young kid stepped in from the cold, he ordered up a drink
He said don't look surprised old man
I'm older than you think
If I was the talkin' kind, I could tell you a thing or two
And since you didn't ask let me show you my tattoos
He said I got this rose in Memphis
In some back old alley dump picked this eagle up in Dallas
Man, I sure was good and drunk and you know the way I see it
If it gets any worse out there, a guy like me hasn't got a prayer
The old man poured some coffee, he said this one's on me
Set down his cigarette and rolled up his sleeve
Take a good look here my friend, you see what these are
Just my ragged old and jagged ordinary scars
He said I got this one in Paris in a war 'fore you were born
And this one when I was half your age workin' on my daddy's farm
And you know the way I see it son, you ain't seen what I've seen
'Cause tattoos and scars are different things
He said I've been here for all these years
And what I know is this, if you look and listen close
A man will show you what he is, you know the way I see it
You've been 'round but you're still green
'Cause tattoos and scars are different things
Young kid stepped in from the cold and he ordered up a drink
He said don't look surprised old man
I'm older than you think