Clark, Guy - Instant Coffee Blues Lyrics

I'm not at the moment relating to the rest of the lyrics, but I always come back to this tune when I'm stuck in S-hole countries where I'm forced to drink instant coffee for months on end. That is all. Oh, and Guy Clark is a treasure.

One of the best songs ever written!

Here because of Maxwell House Instant Coffee.

For the love of God in Heaven above Guy was a remarkable talent - one given to him by The Man he is playing for this very moment. With Townes backing him up, of course

I heard Guy Clark sing this song live in Austin & matter fact I caught the elevator with him & a band member & I got him to sign his name on this album.

It's all done with mirrors least we forgot.

He washed all the road dirt from his face and from his neck
And sat down at her table and she picked up his check.
And she took him home for reasons that she did not understand.
And him, he had the answers but did not play his hand.
For him he knew the taste of this wine very well.
It all goes down so easily but the next day is hell.

Morning - "Man was I drunk," she wispered in the shower.
While he lay there and smoked his way there through the final hour.
And she felt wholly empty like she'd felt it every time.
And he was feelin' just the same, 'cept he was tryin' to make it rhyme.
Time was of the essence so they both did their best,
to meet up in the kitchen feelin fully dressed.
She just had to go to work, and he just had to go.
And she knew where and he knew how to blow it off and so.

They shot the breeze quite cavalier to the boilin' of the pot.
And sang the Instant Coffee Blues and never fired a shot.

And him he hit the driveway with his feelin's in a case.
And her she hit the stoplight and touched up her face.
So you tell them the difference between caring and not.
And that it's all done with mirrors, lest they forgot.

I said it's all done with mirrors, of which they have none.
To blend the instant coffee blues into the morning sun

parrish pay hope parrish last of the hardcore troubadours.

What a wonderfully quirky, truthful song.

thank you for this..
may Guy rest in peace

Just a hard pill to swallow right this minute.

Texas flag should go to half-mast.

+thousandwatts Funny you mention that. Yesterday, the day Guy died, I was a passenger riding on I-35 entering Austin, Texas, when I read the news online. I looked up and the first thing I saw was a flag at half-mast. No idea why the flag was that way; maybe whoever did it was a Guy Clark fan too.

Yeah, there was a hollow feeling that day...MOST definitely ... funny thing, i was just listening to Guy on my iPod while landing at BergStrom Austin Airport... my mind drifted off to how he was doing... i knew he wasn't well......then hearing the news once i landed :(( there was a moment when time froze.... felt like we had just lost another Cornerstone of the OLDschool ....who did his Craft (and very well at that) for the love of it and that just pure truth and why so many loved Guy ...nevermind being a musical genius... pure classy real Southern Gentleman.... Well, i decided to hit a bar get a drink....and that evening went to the CHILLI PARLOR BAR ....which was packed !!! The Bartender said they made over 400 Maddog Margaritas
...i believe i was the 401st..
anyway the owner poured out 58 shots of tequila and we did a salute to Guy that night in the Chilli Parlor ... godless you GC

How sweet it was...

Some one should make a video to go with this.

this has always been one of my favorites

Guy Clark is the greatest poet / songwriter to call Texas home, the concept for this song had to be a real event that maybe pasted and was too painful to revisit over and over. The lyrics along with his voice cry-out yet never fired a shot. Great stuff here !!!

Wouldn't it be great if some talented soul made videos of these great Guy Clark songs. The done to Always Trust Your Cape is wonderful. I'd love to see this one done.

Guy is still performing, with Verlon by his side.

been a fan for 25 yrs

a master at his craft

Who knows? He simply may not feel comfortable performing it. The language is a little odd. This could have been tough for him to get it to a place he was happy with in a studio let alone live. His songs go pretty deep, they aren't the way they are by accident, it is a great song and that is how we relate to it, but for him, getting it on record could have meant something different. His answer to the question "Why?" might be more interesting than the performance.

that the 64k question bill...this was back in the late 70's , early 80s when i saw him in houston ... twice in fact and even when requested would not play it

Great song. Thanks very much for uploading. I'll go buy some songs from him now. A favorite for decades.

any serious guy clark fans know why guy won't play this live (when he was still performing)...there's gotta be a reason

He played it May 2005 in Austin.

One of my favorite songs from one of my favorite albums. Thanks.

My favorite country song, I did not find this song in here, so I've uploaded it for you all, hope you like it.