Tom's Ballad
Tom was a man from Louisiana
how I met him doesn't really matter
Tom never went to far
and when he did his wife drove the car
Tom was always happy
he had a kid, he named her Kathy
she's out west, she's out west, she's at college doing' fine
and old' Tom, old' Tom's never been outside, outside of the state line
He works at the bakery down the street
he makes those cream filled treats
makes about a hundred every week
says he really loves jazz wants to go to New Orleans, New Orleans
Well Tom ain't rich but Tom ain't poor
he says I got love and that matters more
I said let me buy you a drink old boy, old boy
and we'll talk about, talk about everything
He said "My father was raised in Louisiana just like me,
worked at the steel plant to support the family
he never had much ambition
I remember when he used to take me fishing, mom spent most the time in the kitchen
well I gotta go it's getting late
and I don't want to keep my wife waiting"
and with that he said goodbye
I sat and watched him walk outside
I never seen Tom again
but I consider him a very good friend
if I ever see his face again
I hope it's in some other place like New Orleans
New Orleans
Me and Tom in New Orleans
listen to that jazz band playing, they'll be playing
When the saints go marching in
when the saints go marching in
I want to be in New Orleans
when the saints go marching in