Worked all his life in the rail yards
Summer heat winter cold
He sits by the fire
This year he'll retire
He don't really feel all that old
She comes in from the kitchen
And sits on the arm of his chair
He looks up and says "hey lady I love you"
Runs his fingers through her hair

There's a picture on the wall of Jesus in the garden
It's been there since they got the house in '53
It ain't no big deal, won't ever go down in history
It's just a little story of an American family

She waited for him in World War 11
He fought the European campaign
Their son John spent two years in "Nam
That war it wasn't the same
Billy's out in L.A., he's a lawyer now
They worry he's so far away
Jeannie got married, she lives here in town
They're comin' over with the kids today

There's a picture on the wall of Jesus in the garden
It's been there since they got the house in '53
It ain't no big deal, won't ever go down in history
It's just a little story of an American family
It's just a little story of an American family