Sunday, April 12, 2009

We'll Miss you, Uncle Buddy!

Tragically, my uncle Henry died this week. Sadly, I could not fly to Alabama for the funeral because it was too close to my ear surgery. So, I spent a little time looking over some old photos of my mom's brother (just 2 years younger than she) and found this one. Whether you called him Henry, Buddy, or Big Henry, or just "Big", he was an uncomplicated Southern man from a small town with a big heart and warm smile. He loved his family with a passion and we will miss him dearly. My cousin told me today about this Alan Jackson song that just describes him to a T. And yes, I have to agree. Check out the video from YouTube (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5675415937808124856 ). Here are the lyrics:


"Small Town Southern Man" by Alan Jackson

Artist: Alan Jackson
Song: Small Town Southern Man
Album: Good Times


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)

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