Vance Lyrics - Roger Miller

He was born one mornin' it was cold and it was snowin' 

And from the start he never had a chance 

And though the doctors said he couldn't live his mama had some faith to give 

And they brought him to her and his mama named him Vance 

He was sick a long time then I used to sit by him 

I'd rub his head he would squeeze my hand 

But he never cried he'd grit his teeth and smile at me cause he couldn't speak 

And that's when I began to respect the little man 

And I think Vance was three right about then 

He started school and one day he came home and at the doorway 

I could tell the little man didn't want to come inside 

He'd met a girl but her boyfriend Smitty 

Had caught him walkin' home with her and nearly killed Vance 

But then Vance never cried and the only thing that Smitty hurt was pride 

And he said papa do you become a man when you're twenty one 

And I said age doesn't make a man a man my son 

He looked at me so puzzled with eyes so young and kind 

And I think Vance was seven about that time 

[ strings ] 

I guess they say that first love is the very best 

At least it was with Vance cause he'd scratched Becky on his desk 

But Becky went with Smitty and Vance was very small 

And he used to dream what it'd be like to be tall 

And then a few years later Vance came in one day 

And told me and his mama that he had to go away 

To be fitted for a uniform and though his mama shed a tear 

He kissed her and said he'd see us in two years 

And he looked at me and said papa I'm gonna be a man 

Well two years to the day Vance came walkin' in the driveway 

And I didn't recognize him from his size till he got near 

He came in and he hugged his mama 

And said hey papa little man wanna go with me somewhere and grab a beer 

So we're sittin' at this table when this fella at the bar started buggin' Vance 

Callin' him soldier but Vance kept his cool 

And he said papa that guy is Smitty and he's to be pitied now 

Cause that's the same guy that used to bully me in school 

Then Smitty said the wrong thing when he brought up Becky's name 

And Vance finally stood and said boy what did you say 

And it did my heart so much good when Vance hit ole Smitty 

And it took two of Smitty's friends to carry him away 

Well Vance left the very next mornin' and it was cold and it was snowin' 

And from the first life hadn't been much fun 

But he had finally made a stand and he'd become a self made man 

And incidentally he had just turned twenty one