When men were men And boys were boys when trucks and ships where not just toys When the sky was blue and people were true When promises..they meant something. When leaders were honest if ever they were honest When community meant family and friends When craft was rewarded and ingenuity was favored when dedication meant a promotion When a pledge was a pledge and respect was earned, not demanded. When the grass was cool, and the summers still hot When the young outlived there elders When the world was still right, and early, and bright When Americans didn't look down on truckers, carpenters, and welders When fathers were dads and single parents weren't all kids would have when wanting them to succeed wasn't just a fad When men where men And boys where boys. and it was easy, though few, to find things to be glad. We cant know the way the world works We can still be thankful for the sun on our face And what anger or parting may dare hold fast our weary days Or some women or wife with her smiles and charming may keep us in our place. No sorrow or certain longing, nor barred door or wretched gate No pain nor parting, or terrible fate could ever bear upon this humble hardworking spirit undying I would gladly hold the worlds whole weight. If I must go, but for God.. I go..I go with grace Weather beaten, with all my smiles, all my wrath, worn on each line of my face. I'll pick up my tools. Theres still work to do. Because the days not over. And neither..am I. The sweat of the brow prevails. a jubilee for endurance! the basic TRIUMPH of seeing a good. thing. done. all victories in history were in this one thing Alexander in the plowing of a field Washington in the building of a house as much as crossing the Delaware if a man is to be remembered let him be remembered for this. It is well enough to have done and be done. A father is 'dad', or they can be minister preaching with silent faith, and the sweat on their brow. the backbone stands up in the rightness of its purpose. resolved with joy, or crude determination, to get things done steady as it is hard working. We are all up to our ears in living. And thats just where we need to be.