Then Came the Children Jerry Jeff Walker

Paul Siebel

Well come gather around me friends of mine
While I sing to you about a minstrel band
Of children in their witches hats
Painting pictures with the pipes of pan
How a young boy and his sister played some tunes
Upon a whistle made of tin
And led me through the flower gardens
Laughing at the postman's stubby chin
And in my dizzy stupor
I was trying to forfeit all I'd known
And listen to that music that could swirl me in a magic all it's own

But somewhere in the distance
You and I, we fought our monsters to a draw
It was in those days of books and wine
With Ferlin Getty grasping for a straw
And out along the highways
We journeyed far to find that mystic smile
Chasing down identities
My God we must have run a million miles

So we can teach the children
Nothing, nothing but survival in the desert bare
They can teach us how to laugh
How to love and tie bright ribbons in our hair
So sing for us you children
Tinkle bells and rhyme the purple, greens and blues
Think of us as fighting fools
Who wintered through our seasons loving you