Guy Clark's "Maybe I can paint over that"

By Mona Goldwater, Roots/Americana Music Ed.

Guy Clark's song from his new album.  Another knockout. Guy is a master who has been writing and recording for decades.  And now, late in life, he comes up with a masterpiece like this,

"Maybe I can paint over that."

I've smeared my heart on my sleeve
I've tagged my name on the wall
It's prob'ly time for me to leave
Actin' big and talkin' small

I've tracked blood in on the floor
I put my first through the wall
I've dragged trouble through the door
And I've spilled wine on it all

(chorus)
Maybe I can paint over that
It'll prob'ly bleed through
Maybe I can paint over that
But I can't hide it from you

I've got some ink beneath my skin
A good idea at the time
I won't be doing that again
Not with any arm of mine

And I have stumbled in my time
I left my footprints down the road
And the part of me that shines
Ain't the part of me that's showed

Maybe I can paint over that
It'll prob'ly bleed through
Maybe I can paint over that
But I can't hide it from you

---o0o---