The Drowning Man

Janis Ian

He said - Grab any stool
Put your belly to the bar
I'm not such a fool
I know who you are
It's been too many years
and not enough time
Have a cup of my tears
They've been watered with wine
I am the drowning man
I am the drowning man

There once was a girl
Every story starts that way
She lit up my world
like a fireworks display
And the flame drew me near
but it frightened me more
so I met her with water
and I rained ‘til I poured
Now I am the drowning man
I am the drowning man

I'm drowning in jiggers
and I'm drowning in smoke
I'm drowning in rivers
where the fish gasp and choke
I have drowned my tomorrows
just to drown out my past
Now I drown all my sorrows
at the bottom of this glass
‘cause I am the drowning man
I am the drowning man

I won't die for money
and I won't die for love
and I won't die for beauty
or the good Lord above
but i'll die for a dream
whose heart is engraved
in the rocks and the reefs
of my watery grave
I am the drowning man
I am the drowning man

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