They Call Me Hank

Woke up in the sand with my head about to burst

My mouth was so damn dry I thought I'd already died of thirst

By the time I made it to my knees the sun was in the west

Another day at the office I guess

By the time the dark finally overtook the sun

I made it to the bench where I met up with the one

Who somehow made some money that paid for last night's drink

He said "You need a shower man you stink"

Waited for the wrecking crew who showed up in good time

We sat along the bench eating food and drinking wine

"Man this stuff smells like vinegar" I said and then I drank

My name is Bill but they call me Hank

They call me Hank

I live by the river

I fish for whatever I can sell

They call me Hank

I live by the river

I fish for whatever I can sell

They call me Hank

Got up to leave said I'm going home to sleep

But on my way I stopped into the bar on Morgan Street

It's the last bar in town that let's me in the door

To be honest with you I don't know what for

I guess they know that sometimes I pay part of my bill

If I sell a catfish to the store on Sutter's Hill

I bring them what I can and they serve me up a beer

They ask me "Hank how'd you end up here?"

I tell them it was easy it's right on my way home

They laugh and say they know more about me than I let on

They know I had a wife and a son who lost his way

They know I turned up just about that day

They call me Hank

I live by the river

I fish for whatever I can sell

They call me Hank

I live by the river

I fish for whatever I can sell

They call me Hank

My home's not much to look at but it holds all that I need

A bed with some old sleeping bag I found last Christmas Eve

A rocking chair a table a spoon a plate a bowl

And of course my trusty fishing pole

But the finest thing I own is my little wooden boat

Keeps my mind from wandering and keeps my life afloat

Brings me down the river where the biggest catfish lay

And it also keeps my memories at bay

They call me Hank

I live by the river

I fish for whatever I can sell

They call me Hank

I live by the river

I fish for whatever I can sell

They call me Hank