The One I Was Then - William Clark Green

I’ve been on the road so long

The straight-and-narrow I’ve been on

Is crooked as this smile that I fake

And I need you like I need a drink

Or a cigarette and some time to think

About the choices that you and me make

And I feel lonely

And I’m so sorry

And I remember the morning of Christmas Day

I was still drunk and you were so afraid

To end up with someone like me

And then it all seemed to fall apart

In a foreign land, ridin' in your car

As you sang, «I still don’t know what love means»

And man, that hurt me

Just like I hurt you

And I have done some thinking and changing along the way

And I wish that you could just see who I am today

I know I’m a damn good man

I know you did the best you can

With the one I was then

I never wanted all of this

But oil and water, they never mix

Until you light a match and turn it to a flame

And there won’t be another time around

I had my chance and I shot it down

Just a bird and rifle to blame

Man, I hate that song

I play it all night long

And I have been thinking and changing along the way

And I wish that you could just see who I am today

I know I’m a damn good man

I know you did the best you can

With the one I was then

And I’ve learned from my mistakes

The next one won’t be afraid

Of the one I was then