I left my life behind to write
The way I feel ’bout you tonight

My mem’ry took me by surprise
You left me lookin’, feelin’ wise

Fifteen years of heartache left
I left my soul back where we wept
It sounds no good to come from me
Back to the rhythm and let me be

Brought up east of Hartford, knew a screw was loose to start
No school for a boy but a mountain in mind, got thrown out with the chart

I never wrote a reason more plain than hay
A man can be a boy when he needs to play
Tuck out and run to some better waysides
You gotta be you, no other decides

I found a myself in New England marsh
Where the weather is better and the tongue is harsh
Fought a mood for my mettle in a battle within
Now I’ve cleaned out my kettle ‘fore I meet my kin

If you ever reckon you’re better as last
I’ll pray for your wit to whittle smarter than fast
For a meat on your bones is a better to show
Than a man in his mind without spaces to grow

My man in the mirror, hold me on
My man in the mirror, get me gone
My man in the mirror, make me true
My man in the mirror sure can do

He’s better than I thought could be
I know him well, he sure likes me
I taught him up, I learned him good
I do it best, and knew I could