Barney Lyrics

Barney came to the gossip bench and said "I barbecued a

dog

on a tractor axle yesterday down at the dump yard"

And nobody looked surprised if they was listening at

all

'Cause when you're old to act surprised you have to try

real hard

And they don't, and they won't

Because they tried before, and they were just ignored

By everything - and everyone - they tried



Barney told some jokes and kept 'em grinnin' all while

Especially all the ones they'd heard before

And when he left they all said "Good ole Barney

sure can raise a smile" and then they wondered to

themselves

"What am I smiling for?"

And don't - maybe they just won't

But they all smile before and now there's nothing left

to laugh about

So they go without a smile



Barney get around to be as old as all the rest

He's the only one that seems to keep on tryin'

He still drinks and tells tall tales and hunts and

fishes with the best

While the other sit around and think it's time to die

But won't - anyway they don't

I guess they've lived so long that they just go on

'cause they was raised that way

What a price to pay to live



Ah, we missed your family at church today

Forty years ago I looked a lot like you

Sit down, son, and help us pass the time of day

Lord knows there ain't much nothin' left to do

Good Lord knows there nothing left to do



Barney died last week - I guess he drunk himself to

death

The church ladies said we're better off without him

They say he finished his last and his biggest yarn when

he drew in his last breath

And Mama told me if I start to feeling bad about him

Don't - your grandpa won't

You know he thought before and he said thinkin' is

nothing more than killin' time

And time don't matter anymore



Ah, we missed your family at church today

Have you heard who's running 'round with you-know-who?

Light's home at the fun'ral home - who passed away?

Lord knows there ain't much nothin' left to do

Good Lord knows there nothing left to do