Roger Miller
 Words and Music by Bobby Russell

 -peak Billboard position # 80 in 1968


 Spoken:
 He was born one mornin'
 It was cold and it was snowin'
 And from the start he never had a chance
 And though the doctors said he couldn't live
 His mama had some faith to give
 'n' they brought him to her and his mama named him Vance

 He was sick a long time then
 I used to sit by him
 I'd rub his head and he would squeeze my hand
 But he never cried, he'd grit his teeth and smile at me
 'cause he couldn't speak
 And that's when I began to respect the little man
 And I think Vance was three 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 walkin' home with her
 And nearly killed Vance
 But then Vance never cried
 And the only thing that Smitty hurt was pride

 And he said

 (Sung)
 "Papa do you become a man when you're twenty-one?"
 And I said "Age doesn't make a man a man, my son"

 Spoken:

 He looked at me so puzzled with eyes so young and kind
 'n' I think Vance was seven about that time

 I guess they say that first love is the very best
 At least it was with Vance
 'cause he'd 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
 And 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
 And though his mama shed a tear
 He kissed her and said he'd see us in two years
 And he looked at me and said "Papa, I'm gonna be a man"

 Well, two years to the day
 Vance came walkin' in the driveway 'n'
 I didn't recognize him from his size till he got near
 He came in and he hugged his mama
 And said "Hey, Papa, little man, wanna go with me somewhere 'n' grab a beer?"
 So we're sittin' at this table when
 This fella at the bar started buggin' Vance
 Callin' him "Soldier"
 But Vance kept his cool
 And he said "Papa, that guy is Smitty and he's to be pitied now"
 "cause that's the same guy that used to bully me in school"

 Then Smitty said the wrong thing
 When he brought up Becky's name 'n'
 Vance finally stood and said "Boy, what did you say?"
 And it did my heart so much good when Vance hit ole Smitty
 And it took two of Smitty's friends to carry him away

 Well, Vance left the very next mornin' 'n'
 It was cold and it was snowin'
 And from the first, life hadn't been much fun
 But he had finally made a stand 'n'
 He'd become a self-made man and
 Incidentally, he had just turned twenty-one



 Transcribed by Ronald E. Hontz
 ronhontz@worldnet.att.net