A SHOWMAN'S LIFE

Jesse Winchester - 1978
Buddy Miller & Emmylou Harris - 2002


A showman's life is a smokey bar, 
The fevered chase of a tiny star, 
It's a hotel room and a lonely wife 
From what I've seen of a showman's life

Nobody told me about this part 
They told me all about the pretty girls and wine 
The money and good times 
No mention of the wear and tear on an old honkey-tonker's heart 
Well, I might have known it 
But nobody told me about this part

A boy will dream as children do 
Of a great white way, 'til the dream comes true 
And a phoney smile in a colored light 
Is all it is to a showman's life

Nobody told me about this part 
They told me all about the pretty girls and wine 
The money and good times 
No mention of the wear and tear on an old honkey-tonker's heart 
Well, I might have known it 
But nobody told me about this part



(Contributed by Nancy - May 2003)