THE MAN BEHIND “I’M FINE” Bubba Patrick featuring Darlene [Intro — upright piano and fingerpicked acoustic guitar] [Verse 1 — Bubba, male lead] He knows the name of everybody’s children, He’ll help you get your mower running right. He’s first to bring a ladder when you need one, Last to leave when something needs a light. Ask him how he’s doing Sunday morning, He’ll smile and say, “Can’t holler, doing fine.” Then stand there in the grocery store on Monday, Forget what he came down that aisle to buy. [Chorus — Bubba lead; Darlene, female harmony] There’s a man behind “I’m fine,” With a whole lot on his mind. He’s been everybody’s someone They can call on any time. Ask him twice and give him room, Let the silence have its time. There may be more he wants to tell you Than that same old “Doing fine.” [Verse 2 — Bubba] We were putting up the tools behind his carport, He dropped a socket somewhere in the grass. He said, “I haven’t slept much here lately.” Then tried to change the subject with a laugh. I set my wrench down on the wooden workbench, Said, “We can find that thing another day.” He leaned against the fender of his pickup, And this time I stayed quiet while he spoke. [Verse 3 — Bubba, gently] “The bills are paid, the kids are doing all right, So I feel foolish saying something’s wrong. But lately I’ve been sitting in the driveway, Trying to find the strength to walk back home. I know how that must sound to you.” I said, “It sounds like you’ve been having a hard time.” He nodded once and looked across the garden, Then said, “That’s what I’ve been trying to hide.” [Chorus — Bubba lead; Darlene, female harmony] There’s a man behind “I’m fine,” With a whole lot on his mind. He’s been everybody’s someone They can call on any time. Ask him twice and give him room, Let the silence have its time. There may be more he wants to tell you Than that same old “Doing fine.” [Instrumental — brief pedal steel over warm piano] [Bridge — Darlene, female solo] You don’t have to make your troubles smaller Just to make them easier to hear. You can tell the truth to someone who loves you, Even when the words don’t come out clear. [Bridge — Bubba, male lead] We found somebody he could talk to, And he asked me if I’d ride along. Thursday morning, I was in his driveway, He came outside and climbed right in. [Final Chorus — Bubba lead; Darlene, full female harmony] There’s a man behind “I’m fine,” And I’m getting to know him now. Some days we talk about the weather, Some days we talk about the hard stuff out loud. He still lends a hand on Saturdays, Still loses sockets all the time. But he knows he’s got somebody he can call When he ain’t doing fine. [Outro — Bubba, softly sung] He called me just this morning, Said, “You got a little time?” I pulled a chair out on the porch. “Sure do, friend. Tell me what’s on your mind.” [End — piano and acoustic guitar]
