The Pacific Breakstones - Man On The Ground

If I were a cowboy, I’d ride the plains all day
Round up the cattle
Fight any battle
Strong as a lion, smooth as ballet
If I were a cowboy, I’d find gold like no one knew
Take out the bad guys
Nonstop from sunrise
But my favorite part would be riding back to you

If I were a sailor, I’d ride the seas all say
Bring in the big fish
Cut ‘em like you wish
Sharp as a shark, smooth as Tanqueray
If I were a sailor, I’d find treasures no one knew
Tackle the big waves
Fight pirates and stingrays
But my favorite part would be sailing back to you

If I were a pilot, I’d fly the skies all day
Take off and land it
Just like we planned it
Fast as a shot, smooth as Sade
If I were a pilot, I’d find worlds nobody knew
Discover islands
Find hidden diamonds
But my favorite part would be flyin’ home to you

Well, I ain’t no cowboy, and when I sailed I nearly drowned
And I ain’t no pilot, I’m just a man on the ground
But I can still come ridin’
I’m gonna sail home real soon
Yea, my favorite part’s still flying back to you
My favorite part’s still sailing back to you
My favorite part’s still riding back to you

©2025 Terry Breakman

Dallas Cowboys everywhere
Texas hats all up in here
I’m at the airport again
Hit me up another round
I’m still waitin’ on the ground
My plane is leaving, but when?

She’s been there at the bar corner
She’s not dressed like a mourner
But she is one
What is it she’s grieving?
She is not deceiving
Anyone

Take a deep breath, no one’s lookin’ at me
Let it all out, no one’s gonna see
Is it just all the fears?
Is it just so many years?
Am I facing any stares or steers?
Martini and tears

There she goes again
Shoulders shaking now and then
What should I do?
She wants to be alone, no doubt
Or is that my easy way out?
What could I do

Take a deep breath, I can handle this
Let it all out, and just reminisce
Is it all of these repairs?
Have I used up all of my prayers?
Too many little spears
Martini and tears

She is not deceiving anyone
Because there ain’t no one
Paying attention
Except me
And you can see
I’ve got some apprehension

Take a deep breath, I think I’m okay
Let it all out, somehow and some way
Have I climbed too many stairs?
Do I know anyone who cares?
The heart has how many gears?
Martini and tears

Just a woman at the corner of the bar
In an airport, far
From where she’s supposed to be
Just like me

©2026 Terry Breakman

It’s a bar on land that’s cursed
Run down tables
The menu’s mislabeled
But it always quenches your thirst
Half the time, there is no bill
Run by an old vet
Who used to fly fighter jets
They call him Uncle Manuel

Uncle Manuel
Sits behind the well
You can never tell
What he’s been through
He serves up the drinks
Empty glasses in the sink
All his patrons think
He only cares about you

All the drinkers yell, “Aww hell, Manuel!”
When he rings his bell

He’s taken a hundred more shots than you
Prostate cancer
Really bad dancer
But he doesn’t have time to sing the blues
Instead, he cranks up Jimmy Buffet
Cheeseburger song
Can’t go wrong
‘Cause all his people love it

All the drinkers yell, “Aww hell, Manuel!”
When he rings his bell

He doesn’t say that much at all
He smiles and listens well
When he does talk, between sips of beer
You lean in to make sure you hear

‘Cause whether you’re shoutin’ or whisperin’
His eyes tell you he’s listenin’

Sherrif busted in to shut it down
It’s an illegal speakeasy
The floor is wicked sleezy
Manuel asked him to just sit down
Sherrif wound up spillin’ all his guts
Manuel listened good
Sheriff shed a tear and stood
His report said all he found was peanuts

Uncle Manuel
Sits behind the well
You can never tell
What he’s been through
He serves up the drinks
Empty glasses in the sink
All his patrons think
He only cares about you

All the drinkers yell, “Aww hell, Manuel!”
When he rings his bell

©2025 Terry Breakman