Orange Claw Hammer

A thick cloud caught a piper clubs tail

The match struck blue on a railroad rail

The old puff horse was just pullin' through

And a man wore a peg leg forever



I'm on the bum where the hobos run

The air breaks with filthy chatter

Oh, I don't care there's no place there

I don't think it matters



My skin's blazin' through

And my clothes in tatters

And the railroad looked

Like a 'Y' up the hill of ladders



One shoe fell on the gravel

One stick poked down

Gray of age fell down on a pair of ears

An eagle shined through my hole watch pocket



A gingham girl, baby girl

Passed me by in tears

A jack rabbit raised his folded ears

A beautiful sagebrush, jack rabbit



And an oriole sang like an orange

His breast full a worms

And his tail clawed the evenin' like a hammer

His wings took the air like a bomber



And my rain can caught me a cup a water

When I got into town

Odd jobs mam, ah, yer horse, I'll fodder

I'm the round house man



I once was yer father

A little up the road a wooden

Candy stripe barber pole

And above it read a sign, 'Painless Parker'



Lic, licorice twisted around under a fly

And a youngster cocked her eye

God before me if I'm not crazy

Is my daughter



Come little one with yer little dimpled fingers

Gimme one and I'll buy you a cherry phosphate

Take you down t' the foamin' brine and water

And show you the wooden tits



On the Goddess with the pole out s'full sail

That tempted away yer peg legged father

I was shanghaied by a high hat beaver mustache man

And his pirate friend



I woke up in vomit and beer in a banana bin

And a soft lass with brown skin

Bore me seven babies with snappin' black eyes

And beautiful ebony skin



And here it is I'm with you my daughter

Thirty years away can make a seaman's eyes

A round house man's eyes flow out water

Salt water