Well, I was searchin' by myself
Singin' old songs, see if they help
I took the low way along the sea
Met an older man and he said to me ..

'Sing me a song, son, lay it down'
'Bring it forth then stand your ground'
It smelled like winter, it all felt fine
In that dry bone hazy late November time.

He said : 'I've known high times, more than once'
'Now I stick strictly to the honky tonks'
'And I've known danger and I've known defeat'
'I've seen whole generations fall to sleep'.

'I've danced with angels, I've drank my fill'
'I've talked with God out on the hill'
'And I know my face but I live my name'
'But I go by Charlie Hawker all the same'.

Where are you goin' tonight ?
Where are you goin' so late ?
Your country needs you, boy, don't wait
Where are you goin' ?
Where are you goin' ?

And then he stopped : 'Come here to me'
'So that I can look at you, so that I can see'
But then he smiled, he let me know
And in that space lies all the things I'll never know.

And then the sun sank in the West
He said : 'Boy, you know you may never be at rest'
I turned around to face the light
And with a heavy heart I walked into the night.

Where are you goin' tonight ?
Where are you goin' so late ?
Your country needs you, boy, don't wait
Where are you goin' ?
Where are you goin' ?

La la la la, la la la, ...