Robert Earl Keen: Front Porch Song

This ol' porch is just a big ol' red and white Hereford bull
Standing under a mesquite tree in Agua Dulce Texas
He just keeps on playin' hide-n-seek with that hot August sun
He's sweatin' and a pantin' 'cause his work is never done
He's got them cows and that red top cane

This ol' porch is just a steamin' greasy plate of enchiladas
With lots of cheese and onions and a guacamole salad
You can get 'em at the LaSalle Hotel in old downtown
With iced tea and a waitress who will smile ev'ry time...yes she will
I left a quarter tip on my ten dollar bill

This ol' porch is the Palace walk-in on a main street in Texas
It ain't never seen or heard the days of G and R and X's
With a '62 poster that's almost faded down
And a screen without a picture since Giant came to town
I love them Junior Mints and them Red Hots too, yes I do
And old movie pictures

This ol' porch is just a weathered gray hair 70 years of Texas
He's doing all he can not to give in to the city
And he always takes the rent late, so long as I run his cattle
He picks me up at dinnertime, I listen to him rattle
He says, "The Brazos still runs muddy like it's run all along
There ain't never been no cane to grind, the cotton's all but gone
And you know this Chevrolet pickup, she was somethin' back in '60"
But ain't nobody listenin' to him, 'cause they all think he's crazy

This ol' porch is just a long time waitin' and forgettin'
And rememberin' the comin' back, not cryin' 'bout the leavin'
And rememberin' the fallin' down and the laughter
And the curse of luck from all those sons of bitches who said we'd never get back up

This ol' porch is just a big ol' red and white Herford bull
Standing under a mesquite tree in Oedossa Texas
He just keeps on playin' hide-n-seek with that hot August sun
He's sweatin' and a pantin' 'cause his work is never done

I've known a whole lot of ol' bulls in my life
And their work is never done.