The Only Way to Die

The way his shoulders bore the world
You could see he'd loved the girl
He looked like he'd walked through hell
On a road the rest of us knew well
I said, "friend, I've worn those shoes
You've won a scar you'll never lose
But good things come with misery,
And the first one's on me"

When the night comes crashing down
A wounded man can surely drown
Just go easy on yourself
And don't turn down a glass of help
Loneliness destroys your mind
So take it one night at a time
And let the bottle raise you high
It's the only way to die

His thirsty lips were downward drawn
And all the regulars looked on
Their ghostly faces fairly shone
As they recognized one of their own
Too strong to weep, too weak to run
Afraid to face the loaded gun
For him, a fall more soft and slow
And a few gray men to watch him go