A young kid stepped in from the coldnAnd he ordered up a drinknHe said don't look surprised old man I'm older than you thinknIf I was the talkin' kind I could tell you a thing or twonAnd since you didn't ask, let me show you my tattoosnnHe said I got this rose in Memphis in some back old alley dumpnPicked this eagle up in Dallas, man I sure was good and drunknAnd you know the way I see it, if it gets any worse out therenA guy like me hasn't got a prayernnThe old man poured some coffeenHe said this one's on menSat down his cigarette and rolled up his sleevenSaid take a good look here my friendnYou see what these arenJust my ragged old and jagged ordinary scarsnHe said I got this one in Paris in a war 'fore you were bornnAnd this one when I was half your age workin' on my daddy's farmnAnd you know the way I see it, son you ain't seen what I've seennCause tattoos and scars are different thingsnnHe said I've been here for all these yearsnAnd what I know is thisnIf you look and listen closenA man will show you what he isnYou know the way I see it, you've been 'round but you're still greennCause tattoos and scars are different thingsnnA young kid stepped in from the coldnAnd he ordered up a drinknHe said don't look surprised old mannI'm older than you think