[Verse 1] I never knew the man who gave me half my name But I never hung my head in a boy’s grief or shame I carried Mama’s name with a whole lot of pride Walking down those dusty roads with no need to hide This Father’s Day, while the world raises a glass I’m thinking of the old men who taught me how to last [Verse 2] The first was my granddaddy, raised me from a pup Taught me how to work and how to stand straight up He’s sleeping in the graveyard now, way up in the sky Some days I miss him so much it brings a tear to my eye But the good Lord didn’t leave me out in the cold alone He left Mama’s youngest brother to help me carry on [Chorus] So here’s to you, my uncle, the youngest of the clan Mama’s little brother who helped make me a man We spent our best years side by side, working in the sun And to this very day, we’re still running where we run You’re the long, cool shadow of that old family tree The shelter from the storm that always covered me [Verse 3] I love you a whole damn lot, my dear old trusted friend There ain’t enough words in the well from beginning to the end You’ve been my steady anchor when the wind began to blow The finest kind of example a boy could ever know I’m standing right here with you, I ain’t about to run Proud to be the nephew of my granddaddy’s son [Guitar Solo] [Pedal Steel Solo] [Chorus] Yeah, here’s to you, my uncle, the youngest of the clan Mama’s little brother who helped make me a man We spent our best years side by side, working in the sun And to this very day, we’re still running where we run You’re the long, cool shadow of that old family tree The shelter from the storm that always covered me [Outro] God bless you, old man, and I hope you hear me up there Grandpa, I might’ve lacked a father, but I was rich with two real men [Instrumental Outro: band slows, final soulful pedal-steel note]
