American Child

I was ten,

I was thin,

I was playing first base

with a secondhand glove and dirt on my face

In nowhere, Virginia

Who'd ever figure that kid in the yard would go very far

It was 419 Lakewood , had no silverspoons

Just an old beat up upright that played out of tune

Now I'm singin' and living the life that I love

And when I count my blessings I thank God I was

An American child

An American child

'Cause dreams can grow wild

Born inside an American child

Seven pounds, three ounces, she's got my nose

And she's into my heart as deep as it goes

With a promise that's more than just someone's last name

Anyone's equal, in late August came

An American child

An American child

'Cause dreams can grow wild

Born inside an American child

My grandfather would have been eighty today

But in '45 he fell down beside an American child

An American child

Oh, an American child

'Cause dreams can grow wild born inside an American child

An American child