This Old Porch - Robert Earl Keen Jr., Lyle Lovett (condensed)

©LyleLovett.com Photographs ©Michael Wilson.

This old porch is like a big old red and white Hereford Bull
Standing under a mesquite tree
And he just keeps on playing hide and seek
With that hot august sun
Just a-sweatin' and a-pantin'
Cause his work is never done

Main Street, Christoval, Texas. Credit:Old-Photos.blogspot.com

And this old porch is like a steaming, greasy plate of enchiladas
And you can get 'em down at the Lasalle Hotel
With iced tea and a waitress
And she will smile every time

Credit: Lasalle Hotels by Magnolia Hotels-Bryan

Credit: EyalNow

And this old porch is the palace walk-in
On the main street of Texas
That's never seen the day
Of G and R and Xs
With that '62 poster
That's almost faded down
And a screen without a picture
Since Giant came to town

Credit: Texas Escapes.com

Credit: Texas Escapes.com

And this old porch is like a weathered, gray-haired
Seventy years of Texas
Who's doing all he can
Not to give in to the city

Mexican women sitting on porch, San Antonio, Texas. Credit: Library of Congress 

And you know his brand new Chevrolet
Hell it was something back in '60
But now there won't nobody listen to him
'Cause they all think he's crazy

Credit: Gordon Berry Collection ©

And this old porch is just a long time
Of waiting and forgetting
And remembering the coming back
And not crying about the leaving
And remembering the falling down
And the laughter of the curse of luck
From all of those passerby
Who said we'd never get back up.

Old farmer and his wife on front porch of their home near Marshall, Texas. Credit: Library of Congress

Sometimes I convince myself that I’m about a halfway decent writer. Then something like this comes along. Damn.  Here’s the full version, sung as only Lovett can.