His father died at the age of 80 nAnd he was just a little boy of three nHis momma, she was still a young lady nSo she got down on her knees nnCrying won't somebody save me nnShe'd settle for less just to be able nTo keep the banker from foreclosing on the farm nAnd old prince charming didn't like children nSo she took her only son into her arms nnCrying won't somebody save me nnShe carried him all the way into the town nTook him to the place where children go nwhen they have nowhere else to go nshe said oh please won't you take me baby nthen she turned to face the cold October snow nnCrying won't somebody save me nnAnd when he was 12 years old he just ran away nWorking on the railroad nWorking in the coal mine nSaving childhood for another day nAnd when he was seventeen he joined the army nOh and Vietnam would bring him to his knees nnCrying won't somebody save me nnSo I grew up nit knowing my grandpa nBecause that little boy grew up to be an angry old man nThey say you can't know someone until you have walked in their shoes nI don't know much, but I know this to be true nnSo I'm crying, no I don't blame you