EmC
When I was just a young boy, on the okalhoma plains
EmC
I tried to keep my shoes shined, tried to keep a clean name
GFC
Way over town, lived a boy named Eugene Pratt
EmDC
And we weren’t allowed to talk to him, say hi and none of that no no
EmC
I went off to school, Eugene sat right in front of my desk
EmC
The kids they made fun of him, cause Gene was such a mess Lord
GFC
But oh, he worked hard, and he took home a mess of good grades
EmDC
And when it came time for him to go to big school, Eugene went far away
DEmDC
Cause that’s the way it was, and that’s the way it is
DEmDC
And that’s the way it was, and that’s the way it is
EmC
I went off to college, got myself a job in the campus store
EmC
But in the meantime, Gene spent his time writin’ bout the world and war
GFC
I didn’t understand, all the things he was talkin about
EmDC
So my friends and me from that old fraternity, got drunk and blocked it all out (Yes we did)
EmC
And then we graduated, lost our deference, our excuse.
EmC
And the man said, come here boys, gonna put your education to a good use
GFC
Went down to the draft board, saw Eugene lookin’ alive and well
EmDC
But when it came time to put his name on the line, he told them boys to go to hell (Yes he did)
EmC
Eugene was by far the smartest, the most concerned with humanity
EmC
But it was him they took, far away, and stuck in a penitentiary lordy
GFC
I can’t help but wonder, if we’d all stand up like him
EmDC
Then there’d be no one to carry those damn guns for something nobody believes in
DEmDC
But that ain’t the way it was, that ain’t the way it is
DEmDC
That ain’t the way it was, that ain’t the way it is
DEmDC
That ain’t the way it was, that ain’t the way it is
DEmDC
That ain’t the way it was, that ain’t the way it is