What a Shame

Two packs of cigarettes a day, the strongest whiskey Kentucky can make

That's a recipe to put a vagabond on his hands and knees

I watched it all up close, I knew him more than most

I saw a side of him he never showed

Full of sympathy for a world that wouldn't let him be

That's the man he was

Have you heard enough?

What a shame, what a shame

To judge a life that you can't change

The choir sings, the church bells ring

So, won't you give this man his wings?

What a shame to have to beg you to see we're not all the same

What a shame

There's a hard life for every silver spoon

There's a touch of grey for every shade of blue

That's the way that I see life if there was nothing wrong

Then there'd be nothing right

And for this working man they say could barely stand

There's gotta be a better place to land

Some kind of remedy for a world that wouldn't let him be

That's the man he was

Have you heard enough?

What a shame, what a shame

To judge a life that you can't change

The choir sings, the church bells ring

So, won't you give this man his wings?

What a shame to have to beg you to see we're not all the same

What a shame

God forgiven the hands that laid you down

They never knew how much a broken heart can break the sound

And change the season

Now the leaves are falling faster, happily ever after

You gave me hope through your endeavors

And now you will live forever

What a shame, what a shame

To judge a life that you can't change

The choir sings, the church bells ring

So, won't you give this man his wings?

What a shame to have to beg you to see we're not all the same

What a shame, what a shame

'Cause we're not all the same

What a shame, what a shame

'Cause we're not all the same