C       G        C               G          C 
The Old man told his story about the years gone by 
       F 
How he played his horn down in New Orleans in some old dingy dive 
C                                                             F 
"I knew 'em all back then." he said as he reached out for his horn 
  F                C                G                   C 
He closed his eyes and wet his lips then the blues were born. 
 
He played with so much feelin', tears came from his eyes 

He stopped and reminisced a bit and then he gave a sigh! 

Said, "You know, I almost made it but that was before your time 

Dixieland, Po' Folks Blues, ScatMan Jack and wine." 
 

       F       G   C        F      C        F                  C                    
Slapped his knee and gave a grin, it sure was good back then 
C                            G 
Reaching for his horn on the floor 
F      G  C     F   C            F               C 
placed it in an old towsack that hung across his back  
   F                    C        G       C 
He said "Goodbye!" then shuffled out the door       
 
Enthused by what he told me, I never got his name 

So, I called the waitress over and started to explain 

A tired old man - his tarnished horn, mem'ries of years gone by 

How he played his horn and reminisced, smiled with tear-dimmed eyes. 
 
She said you are mistaken, there's been no one but you 

But I know who you're talkin' 'bout, I used to know him , too 

You'll find him down on Basin Street in back of an old churchyard 

A stone that reads, "Rest in Peace", I tried but it sure was hard." 
 
Chorus