A Man Who's Been Around

Version 1 (demo tape):                             Version 2 ('TPMO' #7, Tx.9, LWT 1970)                 

I've drunk the wines of life to the lees           I've drunk the wines of life to the lees
I knew the signs of life when they were trees      I knew the signs of life when they were trees
I've seen it all as near as dammit                 I've seen it all as near as dammit
Run the gauntlet and the gamut                     Run the gauntlet and the gamut
You're looking at a man who's been around          You're looking at a man who's been around

I've seen the blazing young hit the top            I've hailed the kind, the true and the rare
I've heard their praises sung and then they flop   I've sailed to find the new like Baudelaire
I've seen the weeping and the laughter             I've done the mad thing and the fun thing
Never needed looking after                         Done it all except the done thing
You're staring at a man who's been around          You're smiling at a man who's been around

     So a kid like you is nothing new to me             So a kid like you is nothing new to me
     However pleased I seem to be to see you            However pleased I seem to be to see you
     However keen I seem to be to please you            However keen I seem to be to please you
     Don't kid yourself you mean a thing to me          Don't kid yourself you mean a thing to me

I've watched a million things come to pass         I've seen the blazing young hit the top
I've watched a string of kings put out to grass    I've heard their praises sung and then they flop
I've done the mad thing and the fun thing          I've seen the weeping and the laughter
Done it all except the done thing                  Never needed looking after
You're talking to a man who's been                 You're staring at a man who's been 
Through the fat times and the lean                 Through this before, get what I mean?
You're dealing with a man who's been around        You're dealing with a man who's been around 

I've made the good scene and the bad scene              So a kid like you is nothing new to me
I've even sung the mad scene                            However pleased I seem to be to see you
You're smiling at a man who's been                      However keen I seem to be to please you
Through this before, know what I mean?                  Don't kid yourself you mean a thing to me
You're dealing with a man who's been around
                                                   I've watched a million things come to pass
                                                   I've watched a string of kings put out to grass
Version 3 (Lakeside Sessions 2001):                I've made the good scene and the bad scene
                                                   I've even sung the mad scene
I've drunk the wines of life to the lees           You're smiling at a man who's been
I knew the signs of life when they were trees      Through the fat times and the lean
I've seen it all as near as dammit                 You're dealing with a man who's been around
Run the gauntlet and the gamut
You're looking at a man who's been around

I've hailed the kind, the true and the rare
I've sailed to find the new and it was there
I've done the mad thing and the fun thing
Done it all except the done thing
You're smiling at a man who's been around

     So a kid like you is nothing new to me
     However pleased I seem to be to see you
     However keen I seem to be to please you
     Don't kid yourself you mean a thing to me

I've seen the blazing young hit the top
I've heard their praises sung and then they flop
I've seen the weeping and the laughter
Never needed looking after
You're staring at a man who's been 
Through this before, get what I mean?
You're dealing with a man who's been around 

I've watched a million things come to pass
I've watched a string of kings put out to grass
I've made the good scene and the bad scene
I've even sung the mad scene
You're smiling at a man who's been
Through the fat times and the lean
You're dealing with a man who's been around
You're dealing with a man who's been around
back to Pete Atkin Discography