Key to the Country

[couchgrouch]

Key to the CountryThe paper said this rich guydropped some cans at the food bankhe got the key to the citythey said he was a saintwell, I chucked that papergot up from that chairtipped old Cecil Tuckera ten for trimming my hairI said, "here in the hollershelping out always comes first"I saw two men outdoors, fixin' a widow's Fordand said, "they both deservethe key to the countryfor helping those in needcos out here there's nothin' doin'there's no praise for doin' nothin'we live by our deedsit ain't power or moneythe workin man getsthe key to the country"I thought of the doctorwho set a miner's bonewith a splint made of pineand painkillers brewed at homewhat about last autumnthe auction barn went up in flamesthat volunteer saved the cattlewith a wagon fulla rainand the fiddler who played gospelat Aunt Jean's bedsidethose hymns did their part, to lift her old hearthomeward as she diedthe key to the countryfor helping those in needcos out here there's nothin' doin'there's no praise for doin' nothin'we live by our deedsit ain't power or moneythe workin man getsthe key to the countrywell, I thought of that fiddlerfireman and old sawboneschipped in with some neighborsfor a key of our owncos old Cecil Tuckersure wears alotta hatsand to thank him for his favorswe bought him a case of Jackcos when a man's got bourbonthe country let him inplus I'd rather limp, than drink his bootleg ginif he sets my leg againthe key to the countryfor helping those in needcos out here there's nothin' doin'there's no praise for doin' nothin'we live by our deedsit ain't power or moneythe workin man getsthe key to the country"(c)2005 Robert George