Rockies naturalist, writer, interpretive guide, speaker, instructor & consultant, now retired
Rockies naturalist, writer, interpretive guide, speaker, instructor & consultant, now retired

Mean Old Man

Ben wrote this in 1970 after his son Willy, age three, had been doing things that Ben had disapproved of. Willy then had a nightmare about a man who looked like Ben and scratched his feet with sandpaper.





          Am      G    Am, then G and back to Am

I’m a mean old man

  Stay in Am, then G after “no,” and back to Am

And I always say no

  Stay in Am, then G after “you,” and back to Am

And I’m always watching you

           G           Am       G after “go,” and back to Am

Wherever you go

  Stay in Am, then G after “room,” and back to Am

I come into your room

              G                    Am      G after “asleep,” and back to Am

When you’re fast asleep

                             Dm

And late in the night

       F                      Am

I scratch at your feet

***