Didn’t Catch a Fish

You ever spend forty dollars Trying to catch a six-dollar fish? Yeah. Let me tell you how that went. Bought a little bait at a quarter past eight, Man behind the counter said, “Today’s your day.” Well, somebody oughta tell them bass, ’Cause they watched my worm go floating past. First cast caught me a low-hanging limb, Second cast nearly reeled me in. Third one landed where the big ones hide— Then my folding chair laid down on its side. Coffee in the gravel, tackle in the weeds, Little bit of mud where my britches oughta be. Fella in a bass boat hollered, “Any luck?” I said, “Still got my truck!” Didn’t catch a fish, caught a good day, Watched a little muddy water carry my hurry away. Had a whole lot of nothing tugging on my line, But that sun felt good and I took my time. Let that old reel squeal, let that harmonica play, Didn’t catch a fish— Caught a good day! Phone kept buzzing in my tackle box, Somebody somewhere talking ’bout stocks. Somebody mad at somebody’s post, I was trying to keep my sandwich from a hungry crow. He took one chip, came back for two, Had a look that said, “What else you got, dude?” I said, “You got wings and you’re stealing my lunch? Go find you a drive-through, I ain’t got much!” Hooked my sleeve, lost my float, Glad I didn’t spend no money on a boat. By half past noon, I could plainly see, Everybody eating out here but me. Even the bait’s getting lunch. I’m buying worms a waterfront vacation. Didn’t catch a fish, caught a good day, Watched a little muddy water carry my hurry away. Had a whole lot of nothing tugging on my line, But that sun felt good and I took my time. Let that old reel squeal, let that harmonica play, Didn’t catch a fish— Caught a good day! Sat there quiet when the laughing stopped, Heard a woodpecker working in the treetops. Water on the rocks, breeze across my face, For once I wasn’t thinking ’bout the next place. Thank You, Father, I can sit right here, With a muddy pair of boots and another year. I left that last worm underneath a tree, Figured something oughta get a meal on me. Didn’t catch a fish, caught a good day, Watched a little muddy water carry my hurry away. Had a whole lot of nothing tugging on my line, But that sun felt good and I took my time. Got an empty little cooler, got a grin on my face, Might come back tomorrow— Try that very same place! Let that old reel squeal, let that harmonica play, Didn’t catch a fish— Caught a good day! Stopped for a fish sandwich coming home. Caught that one at the window.