THE MAN I USED TO BE
From the show “Pipe Dream” 1955
(Rodgers / Hammerstein)
Samuel Ramey & the National Philharmonic Orchestra


The man I used to be, a happy man was he
And aimless as a leaf in a gale
Whatever has become of that light-hearted bum
Who thought he had the world by the tail
The man I used to be, his life was gay and free
And aimless as a cloud in the sky
He thought he knew the game, then along came a dame
Who turned him into some other guy

I’ve got ambition now, I’ve got a mission now
I aim to reach the top of the tree
That other fly-by-night who looked so high by night
Has vanished like a sail on the sea
And I’ll never find that easy-living, 
Easy-taking, easy-giving fellow that I used to call me
You can never find the man you used to be

You’ve changed bub, you’ve changed a lot
And the gang you used to go with all concur
You’ve changed bub, you’re not yourself
If this is yourself, you’re not the man you were

The man I used to be would go to sleep at three
Or four a.m. or seven or nine
And when his weary head wasn’t near any bed
A table or chair would be fine
A man without a goal, a sort of friendly soul
He liked to play the role of a host
To any thirsty pal or a casual gal
Who’d stay to cook his coffee and toast

He was a ne’er-do-well who wouldn’t dare do well
He never saw the top of a tree
But kinda sad I was to be the cad I was
Dissolving like a sail on the sea
And I’ll never find that fatalistic,
Free-and-easy egotistic optimist who used to be me
You can never find the man you used to be