Rent

This song was written by our friend, Keith Gattis
An amazing songwriter, singer, and guitar slinger
We lost Kieth way too soon
He wrote this song with another Texas legend, Guy Clark
Kieth, we miss you, brother
But I know we're gonna see you again someday

He wore a sweat-stained open road Stetson hat
A domino king from way on back
Jack of all trades with an old johnboat
And he spent his last days just makin' it float
And every now and then, he'd pick me up
When he knew the water wouldn't be too rough
He was known for never sayin' too much
We'd get in that boat, and he'd open right up

He said, "The war took my brother
Good Lord took my mother
And the years, well, I don't know where they all went
'Til that roll is called up yonder
All I can do is wonder
If I even did enough to make a dent
But I made a few good friends
And I always paid my rent"

Sometimes we'd just sit and laugh
'Bout girls and dogs and friends we had
He said the good'ns are the hardest to come by
And I'd get him to tell me 'bout the days gone by
He'd bait his hook, wipe his brow
Start resurrectin' ups and downs
We'd drift offshore while the daylight burned
And I'd hang on to every word

He said, "I've done my share o' livin'
Found a woman who was willin'
And through the years, I learned how to bend
'Til that roll is called up yonder
I can't help but wonder
If I even did enough to make a dent
But I made a few good friends
And I always paid my rent"

Last time I saw him, he was movin' slow
Said, "I ain't got much farther to go
But I'd like you to have this boat
Take her out and make her float
I can't tell you how to live your whole life
But if you find a good girl, hold on tight
Treat her good and pay your bills
Your friends will help you climb the hills"

He said, "That road is long and windin'
And when I look behind me
But I'd like to think that it was time well spent
Until that roll is called up yonder
I can't help but wonder
If I even did enough to make a dent
But I made a few good friends
And I always paid my rent"

He wore a sweat-stained open road Stetson hat
Was a domino king from way on back
Jack of all trades with an old johnboat
And he spent his last days just makin' it float
Mm, mm-mm