jack reminiscing

well my pa was always in gloom

and his hat was made of raccoon

he was drunk in the afternoon

nearly every day

and his mind was like a trap

where he kept a hand-drawn map

how to get to the arkansas flats

from the lights of broadway

and the holy men always say

we'll meet again someday

in that city beyond the stars

in a golden cafe

oh my ma

she loved him so

and she'd make him a cup of joe

and he'd drink it like an eskimo

as his children did play

and she'd bake him a mincemeat pie

and he'd drink when his mouth was dry

and he died on the fourth of july

in a firework display

and the holy men always say

we'll meet again someday

in that city beyond the stars

in a golden cafe

oh

i was an eagle scout

with a trumpet

i'd stomp and shout

and i'd sing of the arkansas trout

and i'd sleep in the hay

hey

but now i'm always in gloom

and my hat is made of raccoon

and i'm drunk in the afternoon

nearly every day

and the holy men always say

we'll meet again someday

in that city beyond the stars

in a golden cafe