He was born one mornin' it was cold and it was snowin'
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And from the start he never had a chance
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And though the doctors said he couldn't live his mama had some faith to give
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And they brought him to her and his mama named him Vance
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He was sick a long time then I used to sit by him
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I'd rub his head he would squeeze my hand
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But he never cried he'd grit his teeth and smile at me cause he couldn't speak
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And that's when I began to respect the little man
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And I think Vance was three right about then
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He started school and one day he came home and at the doorway
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I could tell the little man didn't want to come inside
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He'd met a girl but her boyfriend Smitty
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Had caught him walkin' home with her and nearly killed Vance
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But then Vance never cried and the only thing that Smitty hurt was pride
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And he said papa do you become a man when you're twenty one
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And I said age doesn't make a man a man my son
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He looked at me so puzzled with eyes so young and kind
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And I think Vance was seven about that time
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[ strings ]
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I guess they say that first love is the very best
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At least it was with Vance cause he'd scratched Becky on his desk
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But Becky went with Smitty and Vance was very small
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And he used to dream what it'd be like to be tall
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And then a few years later Vance came in one day
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And told me and his mama that he had to go away
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To be fitted for a uniform and though his mama shed a tear
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He kissed her and said he'd see us in two years
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And he looked at me and said papa I'm gonna be a man
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Well two years to the day Vance came walkin' in the driveway
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And I didn't recognize him from his size till he got near
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He came in and he hugged his mama
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And said hey papa little man wanna go with me somewhere and grab a beer
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So we're sittin' at this table when this fella at the bar started buggin' Vance
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Callin' him soldier but Vance kept his cool
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And he said papa that guy is Smitty and he's to be pitied now
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Cause that's the same guy that used to bully me in school
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Then Smitty said the wrong thing when he brought up Becky's name
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And Vance finally stood and said boy what did you say
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And it did my heart so much good when Vance hit ole Smitty
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And it took two of Smitty's friends to carry him away
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Well Vance left the very next mornin' and it was cold and it was snowin'
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And from the first life hadn't been much fun
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But he had finally made a stand and he'd become a self made man
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And incidentally he had just turned twenty one
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|
Vance
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| Roger Miller |
