The old man told his story   About the years gone by   How he played his horn down in New Orleans   In some old dingy dive    "I knew 'em all back then." he said   As he reached out for his horn   He closed his eyes - and wet his lips   Then the blues were born.      He played with so much feelin'   Tears came from his eyes   He stopped and reminisced a bit   And then he gave a sigh!   Said, "You know, I almost made it   But that was before your time   Dixieland, Po' Folks Blues    ScatMan Jack and wine."      Slapped his knee and gave a grin   It sure was good back then   Reaching for his horn on the floor   Placed it in an old towsack   That hung across his back   He said "Goodbye!"   And shuffled out the door.      Enthused by what he told me   I never got his name   So, I called the waitress over   And started to explain   A tired old man - his tarnished horn   Mem'ries of years gone by   How he played his horn and reminisced   Smiled with tear-dimmed eyes.      She said you are mistaken   There's been no one but you   But I know who you're talkin' 'bout   I used to know him, too   You'll find him down on Basin Street   In back of an old churchyard   A stone that reads, "Rest in Peace   I tried but it sure was hard."      CHORUS      He said, "Goodbye" then shuffled out the door.