His father died at the age of 80 And he was just a little boy of three His momma, she was still a young lady So she got down on her knees Crying won't somebody save me She'd settle for less just to be able To keep the banker from foreclosing on the farm And old prince charming didn't like children So she took her only son into her arms Crying won't somebody save me She carried him all the way into the town Took him to the place where children go When they have nowhere else to go She said oh please won't you take me baby Then she turned to face the cold October snow Crying won't somebody save me And when he was 12 years old he just ran away Working on the railroad Working in the coal mine Saving childhood for another day And when he was seventeen he joined the army Oh and Vietnam would bring him to his knees Crying won't somebody save me So I grew up nit knowing my grandpa Because that little boy grew up to be an angry old man They say you can't know someone until you have walked in their shoes I don't know much, but I know this to be true So I'm crying, no I don't blame you