OLD DANNY FRANCIS - by Roger Lehman

I knew old Danny Francis, 
We drank wine on my back porch,
He told me stories about the railroad, 
He told me stories about the war,

He had an eighth grade education, 
He had a PhD in life,
I taught his son to play guitar, 
I buried him with his wife,

He held a rifle on Okinawa beach, 
When he was only seventeen,
Lied about his age to get into the Army, 
He grew up fast, his instincts were keen,

An Army Colonel took him under his wing, 
Gave him a high school education,
While he crossed the Atlantic Ocean, 
On his way to fight for our nation,

He went to work for the railroad, 
When he came home from the war,
It was the best of jobs to have back then, 
Who could have wanted more?

I knew old Danny Francis, 
We drank wine on my back porch,
He told me stories about the railroad, 
He told me stories about the war,

I knew old Danny Francis, 
He died some time ago,
I'll miss him the rest of my life, 
They don't make men like that anymore.

copyright 2009 - Roger Lehman
All Rights Reserved