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
Living all together
In a house built
With his own hands
Little words with love
And understanding
From a small town
Southern man

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

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

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

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