From the recording Shallow Water
TK & Tom Prasada-Rao
©2000
In concert I’ve shared many times of the brief afternoon encounter TPR and I had with a homeless man in Houston, a fellow who called himself “The Can Man”. Something about the Can Man’s bright spirit made a strong and lasting impression on us. Tom and I played a show at Anderson Fair later that evening, and afterwards we were up half the night talking about the Can Man–and about the world and what was dear to us and scary to us. The next night in Austin this song came out.
I’ve heard it said that you teach what you need to learn, and I imagine it’s also true that sometimes you write what you need to hear.
Lyrics
If I met you on the corner
Would I know you as you are
Would I take you for a stranger
And brush past you in the door
If you called me would I hear you
Would I walk away too soon
If I lingered for a moment
Would I see myself in you
If I fought you as a soldier
If I had you in my sight
Would you ask me to remember
Who imagined I was right
If you witnessed my surrender
Do I know what I would do
If you held me like my brother
Would I see myself in you
Well I dreamed my end was near
I was almost gone
If I dream that dream from here
Can I still come home
If you called me would I hear you
Do I know what I would do
If you held me like my lover
Would I see myself in you
If you held me like my mother
Would I see myself in you
Words & music by Tom Kimmel & Tom Prasada-Rao
©2000 Chrysalis Music/Drala Music (ASCAP)/Simple Gift Music (BMI)