There's a story that my daddy tells religiously Like clockwork every time he sees an opening In a conversation About the way things used to be I'd just roll my eyes and make a beeline for the door But I'd always end up starry-eyed, cross-legged on the floor Hangin' on to every word Man, the things I heard It was harder times and longer days Five miles to school, uphill both ways We were cane-switched rays of dirt-floor poor Of course, that was back before the war Yeah, your uncle and I made quite a pair Flyin' F-15s through hostile air He went down, but they missed me by a hair He'd always stop right there and say That's something to be proud of That's a life you can hang your hat on Had your chin held high as a tear fall down My gut sucked in, my chest stuck out Like a small-town flag a-flyin' Or a newborn baby cryin' In the arms of the woman that you love That's something to be proud of I was un-graduating college That was Mama's dream But I was on my way to anywhere else When I turned 18 Cause when you got a fast car You think you got everything I learned quick blows, GTOs don't run on faith I ended up broken down in some town north of L.A. Workin' maximum hours For a minimum wage Well, I fell in love next thing I know The babies came and the car got stuck Sure do miss that old hot rod Sure saved gas and them foreign jobs Dad, I wonder if I ever let you down If you're ashamed of how I turned out Well, he lowered his voice Then he raised his brow Said, let me tell you right now That's something to be proud of That's a life you can hang your hat on You don't need to make a million Just be thankful to be workin' If you're doin' what you're able And puttin' food there on the table And providing for the family that you love That's something to be proud of And if all you ever really do is the best you can Well, you did it, man That's something to be proud of That's a life you can hang your hat on That's a chin held high until it falls down Guts up dead, chest dug out Like a small-town flag a-flyin' Or a newborn baby cryin' In the arms of the woman that you love That's something to be proud of That's something to be proud of Now, that's something to be proud of That's something to be proud of Now, that's something to be proud of Now, that's something to be proud of