American Child

I was ten,I was thin,I was playing first basewith a secondhand glove and dirt on my faceIn nowhere, VirginiaWho'd ever figure that kid in the yard would go very farIt was 419 Lakewood , had no silverspoonsJust an old beat up upright that played out of tuneNow I'm singin' and living the life that I loveAnd when I count my blessings I thank God I wasAn American childAn American child'Cause dreams can grow wildBorn inside an American childSeven pounds, three ounces, she's got my noseAnd she's into my heart as deep as it goesWith a promise that's more than just someone's last nameAnyone's equal, in late August cameAn American childAn American child'Cause dreams can grow wildBorn inside an American childMy grandfather would have been eighty todayBut in '45 he fell down beside an American childAn American childOh, an American child'Cause dreams can grow wild born inside an American childAn American child