This time last year
There sure was a lot of sad faces
Around this old house
Our papa died without fulfilling his life's dream
Of producing
One of the best crops in Grimes County
Though papa died with that dream
Still in his head
A desire in his heart
A promise on his lips
Calluses on both hands
And two dollars in his pocket
Papa didn't live long enough
To see his dream come true
So he died from too much work
Broken spirit, I guess
But I promised our mama
That if it was a last thing he'd ever do
He'd live long enough
To see just one good crop come through
But you see we can't plan on things
Without first talking to God
Because we don't know his plans
And if we don't include Him, my friends
The way can get mighty hard
They say that every time a good and righteous person
Is buried in God's good earth
It's just fertilizer for the soil
And I guess there must be some truth to that
Whether we believe it or not
I just wish that papa was here right now
So that he could see this good crop
That we finally got
Hey, look at that beans
And look at that corn
And I bet them watermelons
Must be three feet long
Man, look at them tomatoes
And look at them peas
Well, I know if papa was here right now
He'd sure be pleased
And papa would sure be proud of his children too
My brother's famous now
Got his own show on the road
Traveling in customized bus
Imported from Europe
That boy always did love music
And he loves to travel
I got a sister that's got a good job
In a beauty shop
Making money
Making other people look good
Ain't nobody here at a house now
But me and mama
And mama she's getting weaker
And she's getting older every day
And she talks softly
About joining papa in his heavenly home
But that woman sure did love that man
She worked beside papa
For forty some odd years
Trying to produce a good crop
And never could grow a single bean
But I just wish that papa was here right now
To see this good crop
That we finally got
Man, look at that beans
And look at that corn
And I bet them watermelons
Must be three feet long
Man, look at them tomatoes
And just look at them peas
Yes, I know if papa was here right now
He'd sure be pleased
And papa, if you can hear me
Look at them beans