I left Decatur hell bent to forget I bought a ticket back to Skowhegan, Maine I wound up in Seattle, so drunk and so rattled Lord, I caught the wrong train Found some fast easy women and some hard drinkin' men Swore I'd drown the sorrow in me I once had a lot but the future was not, not what it used to be Oh, the years they went by and I went steadily down hill 'Till I had no place left to go Made the missions by morning, made the dives every night 'Till I made a wreck out of my body and my soul Then I met a lady and in time she made me forget Her love set me free We didn't have a lot, the future was not, not what it used to be I never thought I would live to get old The past cut a hole deep in me But there was a chance to be here a while longer At least, I wanted to Somebody told me that she was in town I found out today Lord, how it hurts me to hear that she's down But what else can I say I know her sorrow, I know her pain, I know her need I once loved her a lot, but the future's just not, not what it used to be