Lyrics:

(Rosanne Cash)

The old man is laughing tonight
He's young beyond his fears
But then the smile drops from his eyes
And we all wind up in tears

The old man's crying tonight
'Cause it all happened so fast
He's frightened by the future
Embarrassed by the past

So let him be who he wants to be
'Cause he ain't ever gonna be young again
And let him see who he needs to see
'Cause he never had too many friends
And ask him how he remembers me
'Cause I want to know where I stand
How I love my old man

The old man's restless tonight
Just trying to kill his pain
He believes what he says he believes
But that don't make him a saint

The old man's lonesome tonight
And he just wants to go home
All those fools who stand in his way
Why can't they leave him alone

So let him be who he wants to be
'Cause he ain't ever gonna be young again
And let him see who he needs to see
'Cause he never had too many friends
And ask how he remembers me
'Cause I want to know where I stand
How I love my old man