Daddy tried to give us kids a good life
We were raised up like the blisters on his hands
From hard work, we grew tougher
Times were either rough or rougher
That's the way it is when gambling with the land

I asked him once, "How do you keep on going?"
and "Why do things go wrong at every turn?"

He said,

"Aint no need in asking why...
Just give life your best try.
I don't know much,
but here's something that you'll learn...

The plans of a man come quick and easy
But there aint no way to say how it will be

There's the things you'll think
There's the things you'll do

and sometimes one don't lead to two

All life can guarantee
is that...

We'll see..."

In time, I left my home, my friends and family
I planned my journey and marked my boundaries
But without fail I'd always find
that somehow I'd done crossed the line
and where I was wasn't where I'd planned to be.

In time, my wandering took me homeward
Still in my prime but older than my years.
I remember Mama asked when I'd be coming back
I kissed her cheek and whispered in her ear

"The plans of a man come quick and easy
But there aint no way to say how it will be
There's the things we think
There's the things we do
and sometimes one don't lead to two
All life can guarantee
is that...
We'll see..."

I recall the time...
standing by the Reverend,
looking down at my father's grave
The preacher laid his hand upon my shoulder
and asked me if my daddy had been saved.

I told him that no one could really tell him.
Nobody knows where Papa sleeps tonight.
He said that I should know
that we all reap what we sow.
Well, a lot of farmer's know that that aint right.

Then he asked me if I knew my destination
Would my soul go to Heaven or to Hell
I said, "If I sprout wings or if I burn...
it's for God to know and me to learn
All I know is...you can never tell"

"The plans of a man come quick and easy
But there aint no way to say how it will be
There's the things we think
There's the things we do
and sometimes one don't lead to two
All life can guarantee
is that...
We'll see...
All death can guarantee
is that...
We'll see..."

***