There’s No Shame In Being A Country Boy

You can be ashamed of being a rich kid
’cause your parents give you what you want
You can be ashamed of being middle class
and of Uncle Jeb who’s a chef at a restaurant
You can be ashamed of your hand-me-downs
and your little baby brother named Roy
You can be ashamed of all your relatives
but there’s no shame in being a country boy

You can be ashamed of your troubled Ma
who treats waiters like they did her wrong
You can be ashamed that David Allen Coe
wrote your favorite Outlaw Towering Song
You can be ashamed of Granddaddy’s cabin
You can be ashamed of all your cheap toys
You can be ashamed of your unworn boots
but there’s no shame in being a country boy

‘Cause you wake up in the morning
and you feed the animals we own
And you’ll take pride in raising them
‘Cause it’s due to you they’ve grown
You were taught to do these chores for us
to build your heart with compassion & gold
There’s no shame in being a country boy, son
Life’s not what’s your image or in your billfold

You can be ashamed you don’t say things right
You can be ashamed of that beater you drive
You can be ashamed of our three-legged dog
and old gray mare out there who’s still alive
You can be ashamed of this old farmhouse
Here in the smack dab center of Illinois
But son, I know one day you’ll remember us
and say you liked growing up as a country boy

‘Cause country boys end up with country girls
and know how to raise a hardworking family
We make damn sure you’re never hungry
This old farm is worth more than a degree
You want to go off to a hoity-toity college
But son, don’t forget everything I’ve said
There’s no shame in being a country boy
Don’t let the big time get to your head

Son, there’s no shame in being a country boy
Don’t let the big time get to your head

February 10, 2019