"Take good care of what you've got,"
My father said to me
As he puffed his pipe and Baby B
He dandled on his knee
"Don't fool with fools who'll turn away
Keep all good company."
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh
Take care of those you call your own
And keep good company
Soon I grew and happy too
My very good friends and me
We'd play all day with Sally J
The girl from number four
And very soon I begged her, "Won't you keep me company?"
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh
Come marry me for evermore
We'll be good company
Now marriage is an institution. Sure
My wife and I, our needs and nothing more
All my friends by a year
By and by disappear
But we're safe enough behind our door
I flourished in my humble trade
My reputation grew
The work devoured my waking hours
But when my time was through
Reward of all my efforts: my own limited company
I hardly noticed Sally as we parted company
All through the years
In the end, it appears
There was never really anyone but me
Now I'm old, I puff my pipe
But no one's there to see
I ponder on the lesson of my life's insanity
Take care of those you call your own
And keep good company
