Mac Mcanally Barney
Barney came to the gossip bench and said "I barbecued a
dog
on a tractor axle yesterday down at the dump yard"
And nobody looked surprised if they was listening at
all
'Cause when you're old to act surprised you have to try
real hard
And they don't, and they won't
Because they tried before, and they were just ignored
By everything - and everyone - they tried
Barney told some jokes and kept 'em grinnin' all while
Especially all the ones they'd heard before
And when he left they all said "Good ole Barney
sure can raise a smile" and then they wondered to
themselves
"What am I smiling for?"
And don't - maybe they just won't
But they all smile before and now there's nothing left
to laugh about
So they go without a smile
Barney get around to be as old as all the rest
He's the only one that seems to keep on tryin'
He still drinks and tells tall tales and hunts and
fishes with the best
While the other sit around and think it's time to die
But won't - anyway they don't
I guess they've lived so long that they just go on
'cause they was raised that way
What a price to pay to live
Ah, we missed your family at church today
Forty years ago I looked a lot like you
Sit down, son, and help us pass the time of day
Lord knows there ain't much nothin' left to do
Good Lord knows there nothing left to do
Barney died last week - I guess he drunk himself to
death
The church ladies said we're better off without him
They say he finished his last and his biggest yarn when
he drew in his last breath
And Mama told me if I start to feeling bad about him
Don't - your grandpa won't
You know he thought before and he said thinkin' is
nothing more than killin' time
And time don't matter anymore
Ah, we missed your family at church today
Have you heard who's running 'round with you-know-who?
Light's home at the fun'ral home - who passed away?
Lord knows there ain't much nothin' left to do
Good Lord knows there nothing left to do
