I had an uncle name of Matthew
Was his father's only boy
Born just south of Colby, Kansas
He was his mother's pride and joy
Yes and joy was just a thing that he was raised onAll the stories that he told me
Love was just a way to live and die
Gold was just a windy Kansas wheatfield
Blue was just the Kansas summer sky
Back when I was just a lad
All the memories that he gave me
All the good times that he hadGrowin' up a Kansas farm boy
Life is mostly havin' fun
Rindin' on his daddy's shoulders
Behind the mule beneath the sun
Yes and joy was just a thing that he was raised onWell, I guess there were some hard times
Love was just a way to live and die
Gold was just a windy Kansas wheatfield
Blue was just the Kansas summer sky
And I'm told some years were lean
They had a storm in '47
A twister came and stripped 'em cleanHe lost the farm and lost his family
He lost the wheat and lost his home
But he found the family bible
A faith as solid as a stone
Yes and joy was just a thing that he was raised onAnd so he came to live at our house
Love was just a way to live and die
Gold was just a windy Kansas wheatfield
Blue was just the Kansas summer sky
And he came to work the land
He came to ease my daddy's burden
And he came to be my friendAnd so I wrote this down for Matthew
And it's for him this song is sung
Rindin' on his daddy's shoulders
Behind the mule beneath the sun
Yes and joy was just a thing that he was raised on
Love was just a way to live and die
Gold was just a windy Kansas wheatfield
Blue was just the Kansas summer skyYes and joy was just a thing that he was raised on
Love was just a way to live and die
Gold was just a windy Kansas wheatfield
Blue was just the Kansas summer sky