One Paper Kid Guy Clark

“One Paper Kid” by Guy Clark, released in 1995, is a #Country song that reflects on the struggles and dreams of youth. The lyrics convey themes of aspiration, resilience, and the bittersweet nature of growing up. The storytelling is enriched by Clark's vivid imagery and acoustic instrumentation, highlighting his influence in the Americana genre.

[Verse 1]
Cowboys and Indians and trees he could climb
Tomorrow came too fast but he didn't mind
Ah, the distance was short, so light it again
It don't take no time to get where I am

[Chorus]
But the one paper kid wasn't really so mean
He's just a little bit scared and a little bit green
And he'd heard of a place that was legal to dream
So he sat with his coffee and a blue Texas wind
Wrote on a rock ''The one paper kid, he's rolling again''

[Verse 2]
Ah, the driver was drunk or he just didn't see
The future was there, it'll happen to me
And all the time that he'd wasted was his once again
Ah, it never takes too long to go where you've been

[Bridge]
There's broken hearts scattered all over the past
And old bad memories trying to last
Whiskey and women and growing up fast
Fussing and loving and itching like grass

[Verses 3]
Hell the one paper kid wasn't really so mean
Just a little bit weird 'cause the times were so lean
Now he's gone to a place where it's legal to dream
No Camels, no coffee, no cold morning wind
And it's writ on the rock
"The one paper kid, he's rolling again"