The Ballad Of Mr. Jenkins

With skin as tough as a burlap sack he had his second heart attack last summer

But he's still goin'

There's a melancholy in his eyes, for all of you who care enough to wonder why

Let me tell you

It all started back in 1957 when ole Walt Disney took him by surprise

Thats the day Old Yeller died

Well that twelve year old became a man eleven years to soon in Vietnam

With his best friend Tommy

They were tough as nails and southern born and awfully proud to wear that uniform

Then things got scary

On April 4th, Tommy left for heaven the same year the world was taken by surprise

That's the day Martin Luther died

So before you judge him you need to know there's more to that old man

Then what you see there on that barstool with the bourbon on his hand

You heard about his younger years but don't leave now theres more to hear

That might explain the pain in that old man

How quick America forgot about the only war they'd lost and life goes on

That's what they tell ya

No ticker tape no reason why, might have never seen the end of that chapter in his life

If he hadn't met Betty

They married in December 1980, no doubt it was the best day of his life

Two days before John Lennon died

So before you judge him you need to know there's more to that old man

Than what you see there on the barstool with the bourbon in his hand

Now we've covered chapter two I can almost see a change in you

There's still alot of life in that old man

He hadn't had a drink in at least a year, to tell the truth I'm shocked he's here

But as long as he wants'em I'm gonna pour'em

Before you came in I asked him why, he raised his fragile head and wiped his eyes

Then he told me

I've seen so much in my life I've never questioned, this time the good Lord took me by surprise

Yesterday my Betty died

With skin as tough as a burlap sack he had his second heartattack last summer

But he's still goin'