Vance

He was born one mornin' it was cold and it was snowin'

And from the start he never had a chance

And though the doctors said he couldn't live his mama had some faith to give

And they brought him to her and his mama named him Vance

He was sick a long time then I used to sit by him

I'd rub his head he would squeeze my hand

But he never cried he'd grit his teeth and smile at me cause he couldn't speak

And that's when I began to respect the little man

And I think Vance was three right about then

He started school and one day he came home and at the doorway

I could tell the little man didn't want to come inside

He'd met a girl but her boyfriend Smitty

Had caught him walkin' home with her and nearly killed Vance

But then Vance never cried and the only thing that Smitty hurt was pride

And he said papa do you become a man when you're twenty one

And I said age doesn't make a man a man my son

He looked at me so puzzled with eyes so young and kind

And I think Vance was seven about that time

[ strings ]

I guess they say that first love is the very best

At least it was with Vance cause he'd scratched Becky on his desk

But Becky went with Smitty and Vance was very small

And he used to dream what it'd be like to be tall

And then a few years later Vance came in one day

And told me and his mama that he had to go away

To be fitted for a uniform and though his mama shed a tear

He kissed her and said he'd see us in two years

And he looked at me and said papa I'm gonna be a man

Well two years to the day Vance came walkin' in the driveway

And I didn't recognize him from his size till he got near

He came in and he hugged his mama

And said hey papa little man wanna go with me somewhere and grab a beer

So we're sittin' at this table when this fella at the bar started buggin' Vance

Callin' him soldier but Vance kept his cool

And he said papa that guy is Smitty and he's to be pitied now

Cause that's the same guy that used to bully me in school

Then Smitty said the wrong thing when he brought up Becky's name

And Vance finally stood and said boy what did you say

And it did my heart so much good when Vance hit ole Smitty

And it took two of Smitty's friends to carry him away

Well Vance left the very next mornin' and it was cold and it was snowin'

And from the first life hadn't been much fun

But he had finally made a stand and he'd become a self made man

And incidentally he had just turned twenty one