Capo 1st fret

Standard (EADGBE)

Intro

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 land

Fell 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 man

First there came four pretty daughters

 For this small town Southern man

Then a few years later came another

A boy, he wasn't planned

Seven people livin' all together

In a house built with his own hands

Little words with love and understandin'

From a small town Southern man

Chorus

And 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 had

 He said his greatest contribution

 Is the ones you leave behind

 Raised on the ways and gentle kindness

 Of a small town Southern man

 Callous 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 land

Like 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 man

 Repeat Chorus)

 Finally death came callin'

For this small town Southern man

 He said it's alright 'cause I see angels

And they got me by the hand

Don't you cry, and don't you worry

I'm blessed, and I know I am

 'Cause God has a place in Heaven

 For a small town Southern man

(Repeat Chorus)

 Raised on the ways and gentle kindness

 Of a small town Southern man

 ENDING