Janis Ian The Drowning Man song lyrics

He said, "Grab any stool, put your belly to the bar"

I’m not such a fool, I know just who you are

It’s been too many years and not enough time

Have a cup of my tears, they’ve been watered with wine

I am the drowning man, I am the drowning man

There once was a girl, every story starts that way

She lit up my world like a fireworks display

And the flame drew me near but it frightened me more

So I met her with water and I rained ‘til I poured

Now I am the drowning man, I am the drowning man

I’m drowning in jiggers and I’m drowning in smoke

I’m drowning in rivers where the fish gasp and choke

I have drowned my tomorrows just to drown out my past

Now I drown all my sorrows at the bottom of this glass

‘Cause I am the drowning man, I am the drowning man

I won’t die for money and I won’t die for love

And I won’t die for beauty or the good lord above

But I’ll die for a dream whose heart is engraved

In the rocks and the reefs of my watery grave

I am the drowning man, I am the drowning man