Raised Small Town
by Michael Doyle

I was raised all around this world, you see
Believing in America and our cherished liberty
Wherever it was that my family might be found
We stood up straight and chased truth around

Until we caught it by its length of tail
Knowing that merit and character are needed to prevail
And not giving much care to the color of skin
And where it was possible, letting the better person win

Wherever my feet were planted was a smile, not a frown
And I was raised upright; I was raised small town
We enjoyed the wandering that led to our short talks
But we learned to deal fairly and walk the right walk

To hear that it's somehow wrong to believe
In the principles by we which we came to conceive
This land and it's chances of equal opportunity
Seems to me to mostly be a matter of duplicity

Giving to our neighbors when we had a bit more
Everyone grew up rich in soul, even if poor
And that's the way this nation should always stand
I'm all-American, and I damn sure proud of my land

Wherever my feet were planted was a smile, not a frown
And I was raised upright; I was raised small town 
We enjoyed the wandering that led to our short talks
But we learned to deal fairly and walk the right walk

And if someone was hell-bent on acting up and wrong
We would handle our business by being upright and strong
Never relenting and always believing in each other
Caring and loving the right way for one another

Sometimes we might live a little lean and rough
But we hung together and leaned in by being tough
Finding that we could get by giving shelter from the storms
And finding that living this kept our hearts warm

Wherever my feet were planted was a smile, not a frown
And I was raised upright; I was raised small town
We enjoyed the wandering that led to our short talks
Keeping our backs straight and walking the right walk

(c) July 21, 2023  Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved