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'