He was not the kind of man

That would walk you to school hand in hand

He was hard work leathered and tan

And he spoke with a throat full of sand

Me I'd hang on every word you never know

What you might learn.

Son, don't let your horseshoes point down

Never put a blade in the ground

Always look a man right square in the eye

Don't let the good life pass you by.

Any little problem of mine

He'd spit and say boy you'll be fine

He knew that there'd come a time

When I'd find real mountains to climb

Life can be cruel to us all

Sooner or later we fall.

Son, don't let your horseshoes point down

Never put a blade in the ground

Always look a man right square in the eye

Don't let the good life pass you by.

I only ever once saw him cry

The day that his own mother died

Just one tear in the corner of his eye

Then he smiled and said, softly, goodbye

Me I've got two of my own

And a love that is solid as stone

Like a stone.

Son, don't let your horseshoes point down

Never put a blade in the ground

Always look a man right square in the eye

Don't let the good life pass you by.