FUTURE'S NOT WHAT IT USED TO BE, THE
(Mickey Newbury)


Mickey Newbury - 1971
Ronnie Milsap - 1977





I left Decatur, hell bent to forget
Bought a ticket to Skowhagen, Maine
I wound up in Seattle, so drunk and so rattled
Lord, I caught the wrong train

Found some fast easy women and some hard drinkin' men
Swore I'd drown the sorrow in me
I once had a lot, but the future was not
Not what it used to be

Ah, the years they went by, I went steadily downhill
Till I had no place left to go
Made the missions by morning, made the dives every night
Till I made a wreck of my body and soul

And then I met a lady, in time she made me forget
Her love set me free
Ah, we didn't have a lot, but the future was not
Not what it used to be

I never thought I would live to get old
Oh, the past cut a hole deep in me
But there was the chance to be here a while longer
At least I wanted to be

Somebody told me she was in town
I found out today
Lord, how it hurts me to hear that she's down
But what else can I say

I know her sorrow, I know her pain
I know her needs
I once loved her a lot, but the future's just not
Not what it used to be






(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - June 2014)