First, let me start by apologizing for not blogging like I should be. I really don't have much of an excuse either, other than I've also been blogging (nothing interesting, just meme's and stuff) on Myspace. Man, that place can sure be addictive! I've found so many people, and so many people have found me, it's like a reunion of sorts.
Anyway, this song I'm posting the lyrics of is one of my favorites right now. It's old, I know, but recently I've taken a likin' to it! (That's Florida lingo, by the way.) So, I'm posting the lyrics because in so many different ways I can picture the story in this song being told, but mostly I can see my Grandpa Green and Uncle Emmett, who both have passed, talking in the sense of this song. Actually, quite ironically my Grandpa and Uncle were both in the Navy and passed each other in Pearl Harbor. They were on seperate ships and both just happened to be standing along the outside rail when their ships passed and were able to share a wave and a tear. Thankfully, I was able to know both of them, though I was just a kid when Grandpa passed away, but neither of them died in the war. I kinda miss my Grandpa when I hear this song. Here it is...
There's a story that my daddy tells religiously
Like clockwork every time he sees an opening
In a conversation about the way things used to be
Well I'd just roll my eyes and make a bee-line for the door
But I'd always wind up starry-eyed, cross-legged on the floor
Hanging on to every word
Man, the things I heard
It was harder times and longer days
Five miles to school, uphill both ways
We were cane switch raised, and dirt floor poor
'Course that was back before the war
Yeah, your uncle and I made quite a pair
Flying F-15's through hostile air
He went down but they missed me by a hair
He'd always stop right there and say...
That's something to be proud of
That's a life you can hang your hat on
That's a chin held high as the tears fall down
A gut sucked in, a chest stuck out
Like a small town flag a-flyin'
Or a newborn baby cryin'
In the arms of the woman that you love
That's something to be proud of
So I'm graduatin' college, that was mama's dream
But I was on my way to anywhere else when I turned 18
Cuz when you gotta fast car you think you've got everything
I learned quick those GTO's don't run on faith
I ended up broken down in some town north of L.A.
Working maximum hours for minimum wage
Well, I fell in love, next thing I know
The babies came, the car got slow
I sure do miss that old hot rod
But you sure save gas in them foreign jobs
Dad, I wonder if I ever let you down
If you're ashamed how I turned out
Well, he lowered his voice, then he raised his brow
Said, lemme tell ya right now
That's something to be proud of
That's a life you can hang your hat on
You don't need to make a million
Just be thankful to be workin'
If you're doing what you're able
And putting food there on the table
And providing for the family that you love
That's something to be proud of
And if all you ever really do is the best you can
Well, you did it man
That's something to be proud of
That's a life you can hang your hat on
That's a chin held high as the tears fall down
A gut sucked in, a chest stuck out
Like a small town flag a-flyin'
Or a newborn baby cryin'
In the arms of the woman that you love
That's something to be proud of
That's something to be proud of
Yeah, that's something to be proud of
That's something to be proud of
Now that's something to be proud of
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