With skin as tough as a burlap sack he had his second heart attack last summer
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But he's still goin'
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There's a melancholy in his eyes, for all of you who care enough to wonder why
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Let me tell you
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It all started back in 1957 when ole Walt Disney took him by surprise
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Thats the day Old Yeller died
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Well that twelve year old became a man eleven years to soon in Vietnam
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With his best friend Tommy
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They were tough as nails and southern born and awfully proud to wear that uniform
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Then things got scary
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On April 4th, Tommy left for heaven the same year the world was taken by surprise
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That's the day Martin Luther died
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So before you judge him you need to know there's more to that old man
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Then what you see there on that barstool with the bourbon on his hand
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You heard about his younger years but don't leave now theres more to hear
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That might explain the pain in that old man
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How quick America forgot about the only war they'd lost and life goes on
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That's what they tell ya
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No ticker tape no reason why, might have never seen the end of that chapter in his life
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If he hadn't met Betty
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They married in December 1980, no doubt it was the best day of his life
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Two days before John Lennon died
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So before you judge him you need to know there's more to that old man
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Than what you see there on the barstool with the bourbon in his hand
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Now we've covered chapter two I can almost see a change in you
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There's still alot of life in that old man
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He hadn't had a drink in at least a year, to tell the truth I'm shocked he's here
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But as long as he wants'em I'm gonna pour'em
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Before you came in I asked him why, he raised his fragile head and wiped his eyes
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Then he told me
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I've seen so much in my life I've never questioned, this time the good Lord took me by surprise
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Yesterday my Betty died
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With skin as tough as a burlap sack he had his second heartattack last summer
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But he's still goin'
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The Ballad Of Mr. Jenkins
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| Craig Morgan |
