Young kid stepped in from the cold, he ordered up a drink   He said don't look surprised old man   I'm older than you think      If I was the talkin' kind, I could tell you a thing or two   And since you didn't ask let me show you my tattoos   He said I got this rose in Memphis      In some back old alley dump picked this eagle up in Dallas   Man, I sure was good and drunk and you know the way I see it   If it gets any worse out there, a guy like me hasn't got a prayer      The old man poured some coffee, he said this one's on me   Set down his cigarette and rolled up his sleeve   Take a good look here my friend, you see what these are   Just my ragged old and jagged ordinary scars      He said I got this one in Paris in a war 'fore you were born   And this one when I was half your age workin' on my daddy's farm   And you know the way I see it son, you ain't seen what I've seen   'Cause tattoos and scars are different things      He said I've been here for all these years   And what I know is this, if you look and listen close   A man will show you what he is, you know the way I see it   You've been 'round but you're still green   'Cause tattoos and scars are different things      Young kid stepped in from the cold and he ordered up a drink   He said don't look surprised old man   I'm older than you think