The song Old Dogs, Children & Watermelon Wine by Tom T. Hall is a story about a chance encounter with an old man in a bar who shares his wisdom about life. The protagonist is sitting in a Miami bar drinking blended whiskey when he meets an old gray black gentleman who is cleaning up the lounge. The two strike up a conversation, and the old man begins to share his thoughts about life. He starts by asking the protagonist how old he thinks he is, and reveals that he turned 65 eleven months ago. He then asks if the protagonist has ever had a drink of watermelon wine, and goes on to explain that there are only three things worth a dime in this world: old dogs, children, and watermelon wine. The old man shares his belief that women only think about themselves when men aren't around, and that friends are hard to find when you're down on your luck. He also talks about how he made mistakes in his youth, but has now learned to appreciate the simple things in life. He praises old dogs for being loyal even when you make mistakes, and blesses children for their innocence and lack of hate. When the old man leaves, the protagonist is inspired by his words and writes down the line about old dogs, children, and watermelon wine. He then leaves for Atlanta the next day, and dreams of a peaceful summertime filled with old dogs, children, and watermelon wine. Overall, the song is a tribute to the value of simple pleasures in life, like the love of a loyal dog, the innocence of a child, and the taste of watermelon wine. It also speaks to the importance of appreciating these things while we have them, rather than taking them for granted.
