I had an uncle named Matthew, he was his father's only boy Born just south of Colby, Kansas, he was his mother's pride and joy Yes, and joy was just a thing that he was raised on Love was just a way to live and die Gold was just a windy Kansas wheat field Blue was just a Kansas summer sky All the stories that he told me Back when I was just a lad All the memories that he gave me All the good times that he had Growing up a Kansas farm boy Life was mostly having fun Riding on his daddy's shoulders Behind a mule beneath the sun Yes, and joy was just a thing that he was raised on Love was just a way to live and die Gold was just a windy Kansas wheat field Blue was just a Kansas summer sky Well, I guess there were some hard times And I'm told some years were lean They had a storm in 47 A twister came and stripped them clean He lost the farm and lost his family He lost the wheat and lost his home But he found the family Bible Faith as solid as a stone Yes, and joy was just a thing that he was raised on Love was just a way to live and die Gold was just a windy Kansas wheat field Blue was just a Kansas summer sky So he came to live at our house And he came to work the land He came to ease my daddy's burden And he came to be my friend So I wrote this down for Matthew And it's for him the song is sung Riding on his daddy's shoulders Behind a mule beneath the sun Yes, and joy was just a thing that he was raised on Love was just a way to live and die Gold was just a windy Kansas wheat field Blue was just a Kansas summer sky Yes, and joy was just a thing he was raised on Love was just a way to live and die Gold was just a windy Kansas wheat field Blue was just a Kansas summer sky