Lyrics

Stood there watching this grey-haired man
Carve a piece of wood in his hand
Few minutes went by...he finally spoke to me
Bummed one of my cigarettes...
Said he had a few regrets...
How things had happened...that brought him to his knees.

Said, "Life is like this here piece of wood...
Might cut it to pieces or shape it real good.
When you think you're on a roll...you can lose your way.
Had a pretty wife, a baby child
She left one night.. I was running wild.
Always prayed my boy might come back one day."

CHORUS:
"Take my knife, hold it tight...see if you can feel
how to make something right......While you learn to whittle,
learn to pray on your knees.
Go on to glory...or mess up your mind...
Throw it all away...or leave it behind
In the very end the man upstairs is the one to please."

I went and bought us a six pack of brew
He told me about the war, the missions he flew...
Said he found God when he saw his buddies die.
Of all his regrets, the biggest one
was never being able to find his son...
I put my arm around him he began to cry.

Went back looking for him during the holidays...
That lonely man who whittled wood had passed away
Buried outside of town under a white oak tree.
I read his marker...couldn't believe my eyes
Our last names were the same to my surprise......
Then I recalled the words of wisdom he gave to me.

CHORUS:
"Take my knife, hold it tight...see if you can feel
how to make something right......While you learn to whittle,
learn to pray on your knees.
Go on to glory...or mess up your mind...
Throw it all away...or leave it behind
In the very end the man upstairs is the one to please."

TAG:
Go on to glory...or mess up your mind...
Throw it all away...or leave it behind
In the very end the man upstairs is the one to please."