There was an old man who lived ‘round the corner
Across from the five and dime store
On his chest hung the moth eaten medals
He fought for and won in the war
I remember Jim down at the local
Delighting the people he met
With his stories so touching and vivid
Of the times he would never forget
Chorus:
Old tales and new
Tall tales and true
Ripping yarns
Men at arms
Red white and blue
Boys own adventures
Tall tales and true
Jim would walk to the park in the evenings
Sit down on his favourite seat
And he’d feed all the sparrows and finches
From a bag that he kept by his feet
All the kids from the park called him Granpa
We all loved him the way children do
Like Indians we squatted around him
As he’d tell us a story or two
Chorus:
Old tales and new
Tall tales and true
Ripping yarns
Men at arms
Red white and blue
Boys own adventures
Tall tales and true
Now the kids from the park have all grown up
We’re married with kids of our own
But the old man lies up on the hill side
Immortal he rests there in stone
And as I gaze at the grave I can see him
He’s smiling his face all aglow
And I somehow believe I can hear him
And the stories he told long ago
Chorus:
Old tales and new
Tall tales and true
Ripping yarns
Men at arms
Red white and blue
Boys own adventures
Tall tales and true
Chorus:
Old tales and new
Tall tales and true
Once upon a times
Nursery rhymes
I remember you
Boys own adventures
Tall tales and true
© Martin Robley