Townes Van Zandt
Waiting Around to Die (1999 Version)
[Verse 1]
Sometimes I don't know where this dirty road is taking me
Sometimes I can't even see the reason why
I guess I keep a-gamblin', lots of booze and lots of ramblin'
Ah it's easier than just a-waitin' 'round to die

[Verse 2]
One time friends I had a ma, I even had a pa
He beat her with a belt once 'cause she cried
She told him to take care of me, she headed down to Tennessee
Ah it's easier than just a-waitin' 'round to die

[Verse 3]
Well I came of age and I found a girl in a Tuscaloosa bar
She cleaned me out and she hit it on the sly
I tried to kill the pain, I bought some wine and hopped a train
It seemed easier than just a-waitin' 'round to die

[Verse 4]
And a friend said he knew where some easy money was
We robbed a man and brother did we fly
But the posse caught up with me, drug me back to Muskogee
And it's two long years, just a-waitin' 'round to die

[Instrumental interlude]
[Verse 5]
Ah but now I'm out of prison, I got me a friend at last
He don't steal or cheat or drink or lie
Well his name's codeine, he's the nicest thing I've seen
And together we're gonna wait around and die
Ah together we're gonna wait around and die