Born the middle son of a farmer
And a small town Southern man
Like his daddy's daddy before him
Brought up workin' on the landFell in love with a small town woman
And they married up and settled down
Natural way of life if you're lucky
For a small town Southern manFirst there came four pretty daughters
For this small town Southern man
Then a few years later came another
A boy, he wasn't plannedSeven people livin' all together
In a house built with his own hands
Little words with love and understandin'
From a small town Southern manAnd he bowed his head to Jesus
And he stood for Uncle Sam
And he only loved one woman
He was always proud of what he hadHe said his greatest contribution
Is the ones you leave behind
Raised on the ways and gentle kindness
Of a small town Southern manCallous hands told the story
For this small town Southern man
He gave it all to keep it all together
And keep his family on his landLike his daddy, years wore out his body
Made it hard just to walk and stand
You can break the back
But you can't break the spirit
Of a small town Southern manAnd he bowed his head to Jesus
And he stood for Uncle Sam
And he only loved one woman
He was always proud of what he hadHe said his greatest contribution
Is the ones you leave behind
Raised on the ways and gentle kindness
Of a small town Southern manFinally death came callin'
For this small town Southern man
He said it's alright 'cause I see angels
And they got me by the handDon't you cry, and don't you worry
I'm blessed, and I know I am
'Cause God has a place in Heaven
For the small town Southern manAnd he bowed his head to Jesus
And he stood for Uncle Sam
And he only loved one woman
He was always proud of what he hadHe said his greatest contribution
Is the ones you leave behind
Raised on the ways and gentle kindness
Of a small town Southern manRaised on the ways and gentle kindness
Of a small town Southern man