A young kid stepped in from the cold
And he ordered up a drink
He said don't look surprised old man I'm older than you think
If I was the talkin' kind I could tell you a thing or two
And since you didn't ask, let me show you my tattoos

He said I got this rose in Memphis in some back old alley dump
Picked this eagle up in Dallas, man I sure was good and drunk
And you know the way I see it, if it gets any worse out there
A guy like me hasn't got a prayer

The old man poured some coffee
He said this one's on me
Sat down his cigarette and rolled up his sleeve
Said take a good look here my friend
You see what these are
Just my ragged old and jagged ordinary scars
He said I got this one in Paris in a war 'fore you were born
And this one when I was half your age workin' on my daddy's farm
And you know the way I see it, son you ain't seen what I've seen
Cause tattoos and scars are different things

He said I've been here for all these years
And what I know is this
If you look and listen close
A man will show you what he is
You know the way I see it, you've been 'round but you're still green
Cause tattoos and scars are different things
A young kid stepped in from the cold
And he ordered up a drink
He said don't look surprised old man
I'm older than you think