Small Town Southern Man

The first time I heard this song on the radio I thought of my daddy. He was born in rural Georgia to a farmer. As he grew up he road the bus into town to work in a cotton mill. He met my mom and married her when she was just 16 and he was 20. Daddy's big dream was to go to Nashville and be a country music singer. He did go and make a demo, and it got played on the air in his little home town. But sometimes dreams have to be set aside and that is what he did when I was born a few years after they married. He joined the Navy when I was about four years old. He retired twenty years later, and went on to retire from another job. He worked hard all his life to raise us three kids. He went to church on Sunday and loved his Lord. He also loved his country music and Alan Jackson was his favorite singer. He never got to see Alan in person and this is one thing I have always wished he could have done. I lost my daddy three years ago this Saturday. I was there when he took his last breath, and the angels came to take him.
This one is for you daddy.
I miss you.



SMALL TOWN SOUTHERN MAN....BY ALAN JACKSON

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
(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)