The Last Thing On My Mind

Since the start of The Jovial Crew, Paul included this in his usual repertoire; Cliff tells me that Paul learned it from him.  It’s a Tom Paxton composition and best sung at a leisurely pace, although sometimes when the room is simply to energized, this song suffers from more of a jogging speed.

Cliff has recently brought this back out and I understand that Paul still performs it at his Florida venues.

 

It’s a lesson too late for the learnin’
Made of sand, made of sand
In the wink of an eye my soul is turnin’
In your hand, in your hand.

Chorus:
Are you going away with no word of farewell?
Will there be not a trace left behind?
Well, I could have loved you better,
Didn’t mean to be unkind.
You know that was the last thing on my mind.

You’ve got reasons a-plenty for goin’.
This I know, this I know.
For the weeds have been steadily growin’.
Please don’t go, please don’t go.

Chorus

As we walk, all my thoughts are a-tumblin’,
Round and round, round and round.
Underneath our feet the subways rumblin’,
Underground, underground.

Chorus

As I lie in my bed in the mornin’,
Without you, without you.
Every song in my breast dies a bornin’,
Without you, without you.

Chorus

 

And I recently heard that someone had written a parody verse for this song and that it amused Paxton, for he’s sung it in performance and can be found on his “Live in the UK” Album.
Well I met this young girl at a folk club,
Like you do, like you do.
So I bought her a drink and we chatted,
Wouldn’t you, wouldn’t you.
And then after the show she invited me home,
And she said we were two of a kind,
Then she played me every record
That Tom Paxton ever made,
And you know that was the last thing on my mind.

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