Lyrics

When I was a little girl we lived in Allentown
Daddy was a steeler when the steel mills all shut down
All I had to wear that year was one blue hand-me-down dress
I wore it when I did my chores, I wore it for Sunday best

Chorus: Hallelujah, praise the Lord
There is mercy in His hand
For the rich shall fade away
But the poor man shall reach the promised land

I remember mama crying thankful tears that fall
When neighbors brought a box of coats and shoes that fit us all
Of all the hand-me-downs we had, daddy's were the best
He handed down hard work and courage, love and humbleness

Years have passed since I have worried about the clothes I wore
I have a daughter and she has the things she needs and more
When life is easy, it gets hard to teach her as she grows
In Allentown a good man was not measured by his clothes