He Was

I remember rain' tappin' on the stain-glass window at the chapel The day we laid granddaddy to rest I remember momma cryin', holdin' grandma's hand they were tryin' To be strong for each other, and me, I guess He just looked like he was sleepin' as we sang "Amazing Grace" And it hadn't really sunk in 'til I heard the preacher say He was born in North Georgia He was a high school football star When he was seventeen he married Maggie Jensen He was World War II hero He was a granddaddy five times Yeah, he was a good one we'll miss him And those words hurt the first time I heard'em change from He is... to he was Got his old table in my new dining room It's got a coffee cup stain that reminds me Of us grand-kids sittin' there on those hard-wooden chairs Listenin' to him tellin' stories Now, I'm sittin' at that table starin' at his empty seat And I catch myself smiling At all those memories He was crazy 'bout fried catfish He was a classic car collector Every verse in the Bible he remembered He was a master poker player He was tough as John Wayne He was supposed to live forever And I don't know a boy who wouldn't be proud to become The man he was And I don't know a boy who wouldn't be proud to become The man he was He was He was