I seen an old fighter tired and in trouble
Who just couldn't take anymore
Something inside him kept fightin' to finish
With only his feet on the floor.

Lord, I know that it's worth any price you could pay
To see truth in whatever disguise
But I'd've played double for one look of pleasure
A piece of relief in his eyes.

Ain't that clown laughin' like crazy
Ain't his eyes empty and deep
Don't he sound sad as a baby
When she cries out in her sleep.

We measured the space between Waylon and Willie
And Willie and Waylon and me
But there wasn't nothin' like Billy Joe Shaver
What Billy Joe Shaver should be.

When he showed up sick later all bit by a spider
And crazy to look in the eye
He put on a show that was sad as it should've been
And nobody even knew why.

Ain't that clown laughin' like crazy
Ain't his eyes empty and deep
Don't he sound sad as a baby
When she cries out in her sleep...