Lyrics Mister Can't-Go-On - Tom Paxton

Mister Can't-Go-On

There’s a man on the telephone, says he’s been drinkin' some wine
He won’t give his name, says he’s come to the end of the line
He can’t win for losin', he feels like his back’s to the wall
He’s hard to keep talkin';
keeps sayin' he’s tired of it all
I’m asking him anythin', any fool question will do
He knows what I’m doin' and I know what he’s goin' through
I hear him cryin', so I’ll do the talkin' for now
I hear my own voice and I’m talking, but I don’t know how
I say, «Please Mister Can’t-Go-On, you can go on one more day
The time to decide is still twenty-four hours away
If you still feel the same, then I’ll still have the same thing to say»
I’ll say, «Mister Can’t-Go-On, you can go on one more day»
I ask him his name again;
finally, he tells me it’s Ray
His woman can’t take it no more and she’s movin' away
He’s tried to quit drinkin' but the least little thing and he’s gone
Keep talkin', keep talkin', keep prayin', keep keep in' him on
Sayin', «Please Mister Can’t-Go-On, you can go on one more day
And the time to decide is still twenty-four hours away
If you still feel the same, then I’ll still have the same thing to say»
I’ll say, «Please Mister Can’t-Go-On, you can go on one more day»
I’ve drunk so much coffee, I know won’t sleep for a week
But I feel like we’re winnin';
I’m sitting here letting Ray speak
He’s laughed once or twice, even laughed at a lame joke of mine
He said it was lousy — I guess that’s a pretty good sign
I say, «See Mister Can’t-Go-On, you can go on one more day
And the time to decide, is still twenty-four hours away
If you still feel the same, then I’ll still have the same thing to say»
I’ll say, «See Mister Can’t-Go-On, you can go on one more day»
I’ll say, «See Mister Can’t-Go-On, you can go on one more day»