Picasso's Mandolin

Guy Clark

Like Picasso said in 1910
“I'm gonna paint me a mandolin”
Could be cubes, it could be curves
I like to mix the paint with nerve
I'm load my brush and fire away
Paint me a hole in the light of day

Well, you can play it straight or play it from left field
You got to play it just the way you feel
Come on boys, play it again
Play it on Picasso's mandolin

Well, it's colorin' books and drinkin' wines
It’s hard to stay between the lines
Now there ain’t no rule if you don't break it
Ain’t no chance if you don't take it
Said the damndest thing he'd ever heard
Was tryin' to learn to sing from a mockingbird

Well, you can play it straight or play it from left field
You got to play it just the way you feel
Come on boys, play it again
Play it on Picasso's mandolin

Like Picasso said before he died
“There’s one more paintin' I'd like to try”
Well, the doctor held his breath
And then Picasso nailed a mandolin
He’s born in Spain and died in France
He was not scared of baggy pants

Well, you can play it straight or play it from left field
You got to play it just the way you feel
Come on boys, play it again
Play it on Picasso's mandolin

Play it straight or play it from left field
You got to play it just the way you feel
Come on boys, play it again
Play it on Picasso's mandolin