Best Song Lyrics (Part VIII)

Before I was 10 years old, in the late 60s and early 70s, I heard a lot of music that my older siblings listened to, presumably the best pop/rock there was to offer at the time.  I recall one summer in the early 70s, all they wanted to listen to was Bad, Bad, LeRoy Brown by Jim Croce.

Lyrics meant nothing to me at the time, but it had a good beat and it was fun to sing along to, so I figured this was a cool guy.  It wasn't until I was much older that I figured out what a great library of music he had.  For someone who died in a plane crash at age 30, you might even say it was prolific; he released 6 albums and 11 singles in that time.

And as is the case with the other musicians I mention in this blog, the songs he performed had meaning, or at least told a story.  I recall listening to a greatest hits CD of his (Photographs and Memories) while traveling with my own family, and even the kids singing along to the refrain from You Don't Mess Around With Jim:

You don't tug on Superman's cape
You don't spit into the wind
You don't pull the mask of that old Lone Ranger
And you don't mess around with Jim

Here are some of the lyrics from one of his all-time greats, I Got A Name, about finding your way on life's journey while staying true to yourself:

Like the pine trees lining the winding road
I've got a name, I've got a name
Like the singing bird and the croaking toad
I've got a name, I've got a name
And I carry it with me like my daddy did
But I'm living the dream, that he kept hid
Movin' me down the highway
Rollin' me down the highway
Movin' ahead so life won't pass me by

Like the north wind whistlin' down the sky
I've got a song, I've got a song
Like the whippoorwill and the baby's cry
I've got a song, I've got a song
And I carry it with me and I sing it loud
If it gets me nowhere, I'll go there proud
Movin' me down the highway
Rollin' me down the highway
Movin' ahead so life won't pass me by

And I'm gonna go there free.....
Like the fool I am and I'll always be
I've got a dream, I've got a dream
They can change their minds but they can't change me
I've got a dream, I've got a dream
Oh, I know I could share it if you want me to
If your going my way, I'll go with you
Movin' me down the highway
Rollin' me down the highway
Movin' ahead so life won't pass me by