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

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”