old dogs, children and watermelon wine

'How old do you think I am?' he said
I said, well, I didnt know
He said, 'I turned 65 about 11 months ago'
I was sittin in Miami pourin blended whiskey down
When this old gray black gentleman was cleanin up the lounge
There wasnt anyone around cept this old man and me
The guy who ran the bar was watchin Ironsides on tv
Uninvited, he sat down and opened up his mind
On old dogs and children and watermelon wine
'Ever had a drink of watermelon wine?' he asked
He told me all about it, though I didnt answer back
'Aint but three things in this world thats worth a solitary dime
But old dogs and children and watermelon wine'
He said, 'Women think about they-selves, when menfolk aint around
And friends are hard to find when they discover that youre down'
He said, 'I tried it all when I was young and in my natural prime
Now its old dogs and children and watermelon wine'
'Old dogs care about you even when you make mistakes
God bless little children while theyre still too young to hate'
When he moved away I found my pen and copied down that line
Bout old dogs and children and watermelon wine
I had to catch a plane up to Atlanta that next day
As I left for my room I saw him pickin up my change
That night I dreamed in peaceful sleep of shady summertime
Of old dogs and children and watermelon wine