The Ballad Of Mr. Jenkins

With skin as tough as a burlap sack
He had his second heart attack
Last summer but hes still goin

Theres a melancholy in his eyes
For all of you who care enough
To wonder why, well, 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 too 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
Thats the day Martin Luther died

So before you judge him you need to know
Theres more to that old man than what you
See there on that barstool with a Bourbon in his hand

You heard about his younger years
But dont leave now theres more to hear
That might explain the pain in that old man

How quick America forgot
About the only war theyd lost
And life goes on, thats what they tell ya

No ticker tape no reason why
Might have never seen the end of that chapter
Of his life, if he hadnt met Betty

They got 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
Theres more to that old man than what you
See there on that barstool with a bourbon in his hand

Now weve covered chapter two
I can almost see a change in you
Theres still a lot of life in that old man

He hadnt had a drink in at least a year
To tell the truth Im shocked hes here
But as long as he wants em, Im gonna pour em

Before you came in I asked him why
He just raised his fragile head and wiped his eyes
And then he told me

Ive seen so much in my life Ive 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 heart attack
Last summer but hes still goin