"Danny And My Ponies" lyrics

Danny laid back and surveyed the view
A king on his bench, he was cold, he was blue
I asked for permission to give him a note
He nodded, not movin', just scratched at his throat

Always smiled slightly, seemed so bemused
Like he was the one, who was glad to be used
I had a sense he was playin' a part
But I had to help, for he tore at my heart

He would walk, his feet wrapped in rags
He wandered the neighborhood, carrying his bags
The pride in his eyes would so clearly flash
Like I was the one who needed the cash

The tramps in our England, have always to walk
From billet to dosshouse, a fifteen mile stalk
The tramps in our country have no wares to hawk
Only spirits give comfort, there's no time to talk

Danny would lay, he'd never speak
Here was a man who had attained his peak
No fables to tell, and nothing held back
This was a man who had led a strong pack

Old soldier, perhaps, or a worn old jailbird
Who'd never an inkling and never a word
At two hundred down, my project had fled
Danny was gone or may well have been dead

He walked slowly, no hurryin' to death
Took in turn his view with his very last breath
The river, the mist and the slightly grey sky
Danny was waiting, patient to die

The tramps in our England, have always to walk
From billet to dosshouse, a fifteen mile stalk
The tramps in our country have no wares to hawk
Only spirits give comfort, there's no time to talk

Danny laid back, looked down at the plain
The king on his bench with magnificent mane
I asked his permission to give him a note
He nodded, not movin', just scratched at his throat

It's dangerous to patronize those who live rough
Danny was a giant, solid and tough
He allowed me to gift him and scribble this song
Without me and my ponies, he'd live just as long