Shell Game - Jerry Jeff Walker

How many times in the lonely night

Someone you’d like to know passed you by

With heartfelt words a chance to speak

But two ladies down the street

Cast off that shell

Don’t resist the unknown

Your understandin' is open-handed

Hold it closed and you’re alone

Shame ourselves with petty games

Bill folds swells with tight remains

To find a road that leads someplace

When we fasten it everyday

Cast off that shell…

To stand naked for the sun

Well that’s the ends of everyone

To be old is to be free

To enclosed as a channel be

Cast off that shell…

So don’t you wait until you’re stranded

Ask somebody to throw a hand in

Just a ditty in ¾ patterns

Shackle games in high form matter

Cast off that shell…