then came the children

well

come gather around me friends of mine

while i sing to you about a minstrel band

of children in their witches hats

painting pictures with the pipes of pan

how a young boy and his sister played some tunes

upon a whistle made of tin

and led me through the flower gardens

laughing at the postman's stubby chin

and in my dizzy stupor

i was trying to forfeit all i'd known

and listen to that music that could swirl me in a magic all it's own

but somewhere in the distance

you and i

we fought our monsters to a draw

it was in those days of books and wine

with ferlin getty grasping for a straw

and out along the highways

we journeyed far to find that mystic smile

chasing down identities

my god we must have run a million miles

so we can teach the children

nothing

nothing but survival in the desert bare

they can teach us how to laugh

how to love and tie bright ribbons in our hair

so sing for us you children

tinkle bells and rhyme the purple

greens and blues

think of us as fighting fools

who wintered through our seasons loving you

think of us as fighting fools

who wintered through our seasons loving you

cause you can teach us how to laugh

how to love and tie bright ribbons in our hair