Matthew — John Denver

I had an uncle name of Matthew...he was his father's only boy Born just south of Colby, Kansas...he was his mother's pride and joy

Yes, and joy was just a thing that he was raised on Love was just a way to live and die Gold was just a windy Kansas wheat field Blue was just the Kansas summer sky

And all the stories that he told me back when I was just a lad All the memories that he gave me...all the good times that he had Growin' up a Kansas farmboy...life was mostly havin' fun Ridin' on his daddy's shoulders behind a mule, beneath the sun

Yes, and joy was just a thing that he was raised on Love was just a way to live and die Gold was just a windy Kansas wheat field Blue was just the Kansas summer sky

Well, I guess there were some hard times and I'm told some years were lean They had a storm in '47...twister came and stripped 'em clean He lost the farm and lost his family...he lost the wheat, he lost his home But he found the family bible and faith as solid as a stone

Yes, and joy was just a thing that he was raised on Love was just a way to live and die Gold was just a windy Kansas wheat field Blue was just the Kansas summer sky

So he came to live at our house...and he came to work the land He came to ease my daddy's burdens and he came to be my friend So I wrote this down for Matthew...it's for him this song is sung Ridin' on his daddy's shoulders behind a mule, beneath the sun

Yes, and joy was just a thing that he was raised on Love was just a way to live and die Gold was just a windy Kansas wheat field Blue was just the Kansas summer sky Yes, and joy was just a thing that he was raised on Love was just a way to live and die Gold was just a windy Kansas wheat field Blue was just the Kansas summer sky