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