Lyrics Janis Ian – The Drowning Man

He said — grab any stool
Put your belly to the bar
I’m not such a fool
I know who you are

There once was a girl
Every story starts that way
She lit up my world
Like a fireworks display
And the flame drew me near
But it frightened me more
So I met her with water
And I rained ’til I poured
Now I am the drowning man
I am the drowning man

I’m drowning in jiggers
And I’m drowning in smoke
I’m drowning in rivers
Where the fish gasp and choke
I have drowned my tomorrows
Just to drown out my past
Now I drown all my sorrows
At the bottom of this glass
‘Cause I am the drowning man
I am the drowning man

I won’t die for money
And I won’t die for love
And I won’t die for beauty
Or the good Lord above
But I’ll die for a dream
Whose heart is engraved
In the rocks and the reefs
Of my watery grave
I am the drowning man
I am the drowning man