Just One Time
Merle Haggard was still with us when I wrote this, and I did wish that somehow the song could catch on and I could shake his hand. As of now, Dolly and Willie are still very much alive. Who knows?
What if you could go back in time? Where and when would you go? Sit down and talk with Mark Twain or Einstein? Or spend an afternoon in Boston with the sounds of sailing ships and horses?
This song took its own path, asking me to expand beyond the simpler wishes, through time and space.
Just one time, just for once,
I'd shake hands with old Merle Haggard,
I would tell him Mama Tried,
That's my favorite country song
Just one time, just for once,
I would sing with Dolly Parton,
Sing that Coat of Many Colors,
That her momma made for her.
Just one time, just for once,
I'd get high with Willie Nelson,
Smoke some weed, sing some songs,
Get the munchies, eat ice cream.
CHORUS:
Trees that walk, stars that talk,
Everlasting flyers,
Hurry down and take them up,
Before your world expires.
Just one time, just for once,
I'd play catch with Sandy Koufax,
Learn to throw a real good curveball,
Hear some classic baseball tales.
Just one time, just for once,
I'd have lunch with Samuel Clemens,
How's Tom Sawyer? How's Huck Finn?
Telling tales and telling lies.
Just one time, just for once,
I would sit with Albert Einstein,
Talking space, talking time,
Talking energy and matter.
CHORUS
Just one time, just for once,
1830 seaside Boston,
Sailing ships, horses' hooves,
Grazing cows on Boston Common.
Just one time, just for once,
Be a bee up in a beehive,
Visit flowers, Make some honey,
And just maybe meet the queen.
Just one time, just for once,
I would visit our future,
How'd we do? Did we blow it?
Did we trash our pretty world?
CHORUS