The man in the checkered shirt and black sunglasses slams on his guitar
And he screams off key into the microphone like thunder trying to make some sense of it all

He may be old and lonely and tired and broken down and beaten up
But I believe every word that he says
The truth rings out on Main Street like a shotgun
Echoing in my head

The tents go up like a three ring circus pitched and pointed and poised for the day
While young girls with loose curls in tank tops dance and twirl just listening to the local boys play

They may be young and crazy and may be sweet enough to slay me
But man they don’t have the words to make me weak
The truth rings out on Main Street like a siren
That you won’t hear unless you seek

But baby it’s alright
Don’t make me wait
Give it to me fast I’ll take it straight

I’d rather see it shoved in my face
Than hide behind your gates
Cast the line and I’ll take the bait

The parade goes by like a million crazy cattle with the cowboys coming close behind
In their high top floats they chant for everybody’s peace and hope and maybe a little money on the side

They may be asking all the questions I never had the guts to mention
But I don’t have the balls to join their cause
The truth rings out on Main Street like a bullhorn
Telling everyone my flaws

But baby it’s alright
Don’t make me wait
Give it to me fast I’ll take it straight

I’d rather hear it blast in my ears
Than quiet and sedate
Cast the line and I’ll take the bait

The queen of the callouts is beating on her drum
I can’t give her nothing, so I just give her some
I turn out all the lights and sit and wait for her to come
Spin an old James Taylor record and stroke my glass of r um
In my mind I pack my bags for Spain and start to make a run
But it’s time to introduce myself to the man that I’ve become
Is it that guy I always thought I’d be way back when I was young?
Is it that crazy college kid who tried all those things I’d never done?
Is it he who’s tired of telling stories and missing all the fun?
Is it he who’d rather break the rules than follow anyone?

The hip heads with long dreads smoke their meds and stay in bed ‘til it’s time to hit the boardwalk for a stroll
With no shirts on they walk along humming song let freedom dawn and purify the contents of their souls

They maybe glad and garsish and full of life and love and cherishing
The things that root the human in us all
But the truth rings out on Main Street like a silence
That never answers to their call

But baby it’s alright
Don’t make me wait
Give it to me fast I’ll take it straight

I’d rather see it shoved in my face
Than hide behind your gates
Cast the line and I’ll take the bait