The More I Find
Words and Music by Tom May


(Originally released on the Iris Records album. Vignette (out of print) 1978)


The old corner wasn’t crowded yesterday
Old John was passin’ pencils, he got a dollar that made his day
He’d been there 30 years and maybe more
Takin’ slugs from the ones who never stopped to care

He recognized the rhythm of my shoes
He didn’t need to see my face to know, I’d lost all I could lose
But as he leaned against the buildings weathered stone
Poor as he was, he fronted me a loan

It wasn’t money, or anything of the kind
He had hardly enough to get himself home on the Oldtown streetcar line
But he gave me advice, no price could ever repay
And I felt my fears and my loneliness slippin away
He said ...

Don’t look over your shoulder any more
Looking behind doesn’t clear your mind, it just turns now into before
And although I ain’t recommendin’ you turnin’ blind
It seems the less I look, the more I find

Old John had lost his family and his sight
He spoke about his younger years, when the future had looked so bright
Suddenly I saw my troubles for what they were
That feelin’ sorry for myself was only a part time cure

Don’t look over your shoulder any more
Looking behind doesn’t clear your mind, it just turns now into before
And although I ain’t recommendin’ you turnin’ blind
It seems the less I look, the more I find

Been a year now, since old John has passed away
Been at least 12 months since I felt as down as I did upon that day
The corner seems deserted without him there
But I pass his spirit on to anyone who’ll hear

Don’t look over your shoulder any more
Looking behind doesn’t clear your mind, it just turns now into before
And although I ain’t recommendin’ you turnin’ blind
It seems the less I look, the more I find

©1975 Blue Vignette Publishing, ASCAP