Song: Riding Shanks' Pony Poem by Dave SmithWhite

Song: Riding Shanks' Pony



I gave up my old car,
When it gave up me.
So I'm riding shanks' pony,
To new misery.

When riding shanks' pony,
You soon get to know:
When you ain't got no money,
Your story is woe.

I hump my old guitar;
I pick out a song.
But the people - distracted,
Keep moving along.

When riding shanks' pony,
You soon get to know:
That the old road's too stony,
That no life should hoe.

When riding shanks' pony
You soon get to know:
How you're falling and plunging,
To new depths of low.

Hope sweeps down funnels,
Of warm pipe and flue.
Deep in the tunnels,
The wind whistles through.

Stacked to the gunnels;
A weird homeless crew.
Mere grease on the runnels,
Of the whole crock and stew.

When under the city,
All live as we do.
But we've gotta stay scarce,
Of them damn boys in blue.

When riding shanks' pony
You soon get to know:
How life ain't too funny,
When you freeze in the snow.

When riding shanks' pony,
You soon get to know:
What's real and what's phony,
And the true status-quo.

Down on the freeway,
You hold up your sign:
"I'm hungry, I'm beaten,
Can you spare a dime? "

Out on the highway,
Some think it a crime.
They'd sure like to help ya,
But ain't got the time.

When riding shanks' pony,
You soon get to know:
The path and sad journey,
When you can't get past go.

When riding shanks' pony,
You soon get to know:
How even goodness is evil,
When it's only for show!

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