It Sure Was Better Back Then – Steve Forbert

Live version – Folk Live from Mountain Stage



(guitar Intro)

 

Working on the Georgia Line the live long day

Ninety nine degrees and only half past May

Nailing down the metal with the crosstime blues

I had creosote all over my shoes

I hated it, you know, now I find I miss it

Every time my little pension check rolls in   

Course I had it bad... not as bad as this is

It sure was better back then

yeah It sure was better back then



Working in the rain beneath surplus tarp

Foreman in  the wagon twanging a sad Jews harp  

Passing out at night still in my mud caked jeans

I was living off of berries and beans

I hated it, you know, now I swear I miss it

Every time I look down on my pale white skin 

Course I had it bad... not as bad as this is

It sure was better back then

It sure was better back then



 (guitar lead)



Well, the cable caught my leg, and, boy, the damn thing bled

Foreman sewed the muscle up with tarp patch thread

Sit me by the camp, gonna have the cook clean pans

And scrub them down with Georgia red sand... 

I hated it, you know, now I really I miss it

Staring in my TV till the broadcast ends

Course I had it bad... not as bad as this is

It sure was better back then

It sure was better back then

It sure was better back... one more time... 

It sure was better back then



(guitar lead) 



(spoken over guitar lead) Let's go on off with 'em (??)

...Some kind of beat happenin' (audience clapping) 

...that's gonna do, that's good... (??)



Well, the cable caught my leg, and, boy, the damn thing bled

Foreman sewed the muscle up with tarp patch thread

Sit me by the camp, gonna have the cook clean pans

And scrub them down with Georgia red sand... 

I hated it, you know, now I really I miss it

Starin' in the TV till the broadcast ends

Course I had it bad... not as bad as this is

It sure was better back then

It sure was better back then

It sure was better back... one more time...

It sure was better back then



(guitar out)