Harmonica Man

(Tom T. Hall)



An old man stood and stared into the music store window

And he saw a sorta harmonica lyin' there in the sun

He thought of the music the harp could be playing

He closed his old eyes and he started to hum.



He hummed an old song bout an unfaithful lover

He hummed the sweet tune about children at play

He hummed a bright song about beer drinking buddies

One about Jesus and uncloudy day.



Well, he bought the harmonica and he took it on home

With his youth all behind him and livin' alone

He soon learned to play it as pure and as cool

As any great master musician could do.



He played an old song about an unfaithful lover

He played the sweet tune about children at play

He played a bright song about beer drinking buddies

And one about Jesus and uncloudy day.



Well, they found him one morning lying there on the sofa

Ah, but they didn't find his harmonica there

They lowered him down and they put the dirt on him

Ashes to ashes to Jesus a prayer.



Well, the old man's gone and of course his music went with him

And there's a sadness about him you know it seems strange to say

For all of his music and as much as he loved it

Nobody else even knew he could play...