Don Williams - Good Ole Boys Like Me

Something a friend posted on Facebook made me think of this 1980 song. At the time I was a young priest in Dallas, and the anomalies of being who I was and where I was came ringing through this song. I especially liked the line about "Those Williams boys they still mean a lot to me -- Hank and Tennessee." His voice and this video are pretty clear, but here are the lyrics in case you miss something.

When I was a kid Uncle Remus he put me to bed
With a picture of Stonewall Jackson above my head
Then daddy came in to kiss his little man
With gin on his breath and a Bible in his hand
He talked about honor and things I should know
Then he staggered a little as he went out the door

I can still hear the soft southern winds in the live oak trees
And those Williams boys they still mean a lot to me Hank and Tennessee
I guess we're all gonna be what we're gonna be
So what do you do with good ole boys like me

Nothing makes a sound in the night like the wind does
But you ain't afraid if you're washed in the blood like I was
The smell of Cape Jasmine through the window screen
John R and the wolfman kept me company
By the light of the radio by my bed with Thomas Wolfe whispering in my head

I can still hear the soft southern winds in the live oak trees
And those Williams boys they still mean a lot to me Hank and Tennessee
I guess we're all gonna be what we're gonna be
So what do you do with good ole boys like me

When I was in school I ran with a kid down the street
And I watched him burn himself up on Bourbon and speed
But I was smarter than most and I could choose
Learned to talk like the man on the six o'clock news
When I was eighteen Lord I hit the road
but it really dodn't matter how far I go

I can still hear the soft southern winds in the live oak trees
And those Williams boys they still mean a lot to me Hank and Tennessee
I guess we're all gonna be what we're gonna be
So what do you do with good ole boys like me