Uncle Charlie was a humble man, born deaf, mute and blind 
He sold pencils down on the corner for a nickel, three for a dime 
Refusing to stand in a welfare line, he wasn’t one to complain 
And long after he passed on fond memories of his smile remain 

If a picture’s worth a thousand words he was worth ten thousand more 
When he died the bar was raised, three tens, a perfect score 
It’s a lesson nailed down long ago written in blood and stone 
In the end it’s not what we achieve but what we overcome 

They had no Special Olympics back when Uncle Charlie was born 
And while the kids chose up sides he sat on the sidelines alone 
As some climbed the social ladder and gained a little wealth and fame 
Uncle Charlie remained on the corner come sun, snow, wind an’ rain 

If a picture’s worth a thousand words he was worth ten thousand more 
When he died the bar was raised, three tens, a perfect score 
It’s a lesson nailed down long ago written in blood and stone 
In the end it’s not what we achieve but what we overcome 

Uncle Charlie had a good friend to whose judgment we all yield 
He knows who’s deaf, mute and blind and how to level the playing field 

If a picture’s worth a thousand words he was worth ten thousand more 
And when he died the bar was raised, three tens, a perfect score 
It’s a lesson nailed down long ago written in blood and stone 
In the end it’s not what we achieve but what we overcome 

Uncle Charlie couldn’t hear, see or speak but like his unseen friend 
He had a tough cross to bear and overcame in the end