William's Son

I remember William,
 we weren't much more than kids
 His family lived in a run down shack,
 like the rest of the white trash did.
 Now me n ole William
 used to smoke out by the barn
 'till his daddy caught him stealin' cigarettes
 I still think he broke Williams arm
 chorus
 Yea William, you grew up hard and mean
 you weren't the apple of your mammas eye
 and your daddy was a burned out fiend
 for what it's worth now William
 I know you coulda had a heart of gold
 I don't think you ever knew that you had one
 I don't think you were ever told.
 When I was drinkin' my first beer
 ole William was gettin' high
 He got kicked outta school for fightin' and drugs
 and he stayed out late at night
 The last time I seen William
 he was married and had two kids
 he tried to raise 'em like he was supposed to
 but sometimes he raised 'em like his daddy did
 chorus
 Yea William, you grew up hard and mean
 you weren't the apple of your mamma's eye
 and your daddy was a burned out fiend
 for what it's worth now William
 I know you coulda had a heart of gold
 I don't think you ever knew that you had one
 I don't think you were ever told.
 Just last Sunday mornin'
 mamma called me on the phone
 said there's a story in the paper about William
 she just thought I might like to know
 He got shot by a city cop
 while he was robbin' a local drug store
 he was survived by two hungry kids a wife
 and a pool of blood on the floor
 chorus