The Ball Game

I was always a sideline player

if I even made the team

but me and that ball in that driveway

were the best of friends
I watched my brother grow up

to be over six feet tall

just when he had the chance

he got bored and put down the ball


but I never got bored

no, I just gave up

I knew it was never going to happen
so I stopped

and now each Saturday

me and some other guys play

and talk of how good we were

when we were young



This is not a ball game

it's not a school play

it's not a book that lets you bend a page

this is the one life

these are the passing days

I don't want to look back and see I've wasted


Mark and I started a band back in high school

'cause we thought it might make us cool

we did Tom Petty and the Eagles

James Taylor and U2

we got a record deal, but you know how that went

the records didn't sell and the money got spent

and we were five guys now

grown up, couldn't pay the rent


and I kept playing guitar

but somewhere I just gave up

I knew it was never going to happen

so I guess I stopped

but I stayed close enough to the things I want

and my good friends tell me that's not enough

and I'm starting to think they might be right


and I've got children and bills to pay

so show me what to hold and what is in the way