I made a trip back to my hometown last week

For my grandparent's 50 year anniversary

It was black leather wingtips, and big bouffant hair

Your typical senior affair



They were cutting a rug to a Glen Miller tune

When someone stood up and tapped a glass with a spoon

It was old Eddie Vicker's, granddaddy's best man

And his very best friend to this day

And his eyes grew misty as he raised his champagne



He said, here's to the makers of things built to last

Like church bells and bridges, and baseball on grass

Like Ferguson tractors and Lucchese boots

My daddy's old tools I still use



The pledge of allegiance, the stars and the stripes

The words in the Bible, the sun in the sky

And here's to the twinkle in old married eyes

Still there after fifty years past

Here's to the makers of things built to last



We live in a world now of plastic and glue

Disposable honor, replaceable truth

If a pot breaks, why fix it

Man, what's the use

It costs less to buy it brand new



Oh, but lately I've looked in the eyes of my wife

And I see there what matters the most in this life

And I have decided I'm taking a stand

To stay on that fifty year plan

Inspired by the words of a very wise man



He said, here's to the makers of things built to last

Like church bells and bridges, and baseball on grass

Like Ferguson tractors and Lucchese boots

My daddy's old tools I still use



The pledge of allegiance, the stars and the stripes

The words in the Bible, the sun in the sky

And here's to the twinkle in old married eyes

Still there after fifty years past

Here's to the makers of things built to last

Here's to the makers of things built to last