Vance lyrics

He was born one morning

It was cold and it was snowing

And from the start he never have a chance

Though the doctors said he couldn't live

His mama had some faith to give

And they brought him to her

And his mama named him Vance

He was sick a long time then

I used to sit by and

I'd rub his head

He'd squeeze my hand

But he never cried

He'd grit his teeth and smile at me

Because he couldn't speak

And that's when I began to respect the little man

And I think Vance was 3 right about then

He started school

And one day

He came home and at the doorway

I could tell the little man didn't want to come inside

He had met a girl, but her boyfriend smitty had caught him walking home with her

And nearly killed Vance

But then Vance never cried

The only thing that Smitty hurt was pride

And he said "Papa,

Do you become a man, when you're 21?"

And I said "Age, doesn't make a man, a man... my son"

He looked at me so puzzled with eyes so young and kind

I think Vance was 7 about that time

I guess they say the first love is the very best

At least it was with Vance

Because he had scratched Becky on his desk

But Becky went with Smitty

And Vance was very small

And he used to dream what it'd be like to be tall

Then a few years later

Vance came in one day

And told me and his mama that he had to go away

To be fitted for a uniform

Though his mama shed a tear

He kissed her and said he'd see us in 2 years

And he looked at me and said

"Papa, I'm gonna be a man"

Well, 2 years to the day

Vance came walking in the driveway

I didn't recognize him from his size til he got near

He came in and he hugged his mama

And said "hey papa, little man, wanna go with me somewhere and grab a beer?"

So we were sitting at this table

When this fellow at the bar started bugging Vance

Calling him "Soldier"

Vance kept his cool

He said "Papa, that guy's Smitty.

He needs to be pitied now because that's the same guy who used to bully me in school"

Then Smitty said the wrong thing

When he brought up Becky's name

And Vance finally stood and said "Boy, what did you say?"

And it did my heart so much good when Vance hit old Smitty and it took 2 of Smitty's friends to carry him away.

Well Vance left the very next morning

And it was cold and it was snowing

And from the first life hadn't been much fun

But he had finally made a stand

And he'd become a self-made man

And incidentally, he just turned 21...

• Artist:Roger Miller