When I was sixteen, I met this man on the street.
His clothes were dirty, with worn out shoes on his feet,
But he had a guitar, and played his music so sweet,
Everybody walking by was stepping to his beat.
I had a dollar; I dropped it into his case.
I thought I'd leave then, but then I looked at his face--
He seemed to stare through me and right on into space,
Like he was thinking of a distant time and place.
And he said, "Listen here, sonny. You're in the clear!
You got a lot to give.
So forget fear itself, boy--you've nothing to fear.
To fear is not to live.
"But now my kitchen's full--I got too many cooks.
If killing time is a crime, I guess I'm a crook.
So jump the gun. Have your day in the sun.
I'll tell you, sometimes, boy, you gotta leap before you look."
I said, "Excuse me--you talking riddles to me?"
He said, "Well, not quite--just idiomatically.
See, life's a journey, enigma though it may be,
So take your lessons where you find 'em--'cause ain't none of 'em free.
"So get back in the saddle and paddle your boat;
Strum your own guitar.
Get out, run about, go and sow your wild oats!
Wish upon a star!
"So let's get this party started, get this show on the road!
But keep your eyes well peeled while you lock and load.
Now there's a knife and a spoon and a fork in the road.
You got a real short fuse--just mind you don't explode!"
He said, "My kitchen's full--I got too many cooks.
If killing time is a crime, I guess I'm a crook.
So jump the gun. Have your day in the sun.
I'll tell you, sometimes, boy, you gotta leap before you look."
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