Abie Rotenberg
Note: Beginnners can skip Bb in the Chorus. C I was raised on a Kansas farm C G C where corn and soybean grow C How my family came to be there's G something no one seemed to know F G Am I played quarterback in high school, C F my mom baked apple pie F C G Each year we'd fly the stars and stripes Am G C on the fourth day of July C My folks never said much C G C but “Did you do your chores today” C Then again from time to time G "G-d bless the USA" F G Am I grew into a man C F with my uncomplicated life F C G And asked the girl from down the road, Am G C Caroline, to be my wife Chorus: F Bb F I was a country boy C living the all American dream G Hard at work, drinking hard, F C not much in between. F Bb F Never gave much thought to matters G Am of the spirit or the soul F C Wouldn't trade my way of life G C for a bushel full of gold. C But one night in the attic C G C in an old and dusty crate C I found great-grandpa's diary, G ‘til dawn I read it straight. F G Am Turns out he fled from Russia C F back in 18--93 F C G The oldest child to my surprise Am G C of a Jewish family. C I showed it to my parents, C G C they said "Son, yes it's true, C But it’s just ancient history, G don't let it trouble you" F G Am First thing great-grandpappy did C F when he set foot on this land F C G Was say I pledge allegiance Am G C to good old Uncle Sam. Chorus: F Bb F I was a country boy C living the all American dream G Hard at work, drinking hard, F C not much in between. F Bb F Never gave much thought to matters G Am of the spirit or the soul F C Wouldn't trade my way of life G C for a bushel full of gold. C But I was more than taken back, C G C my thoughts out of control C I said I got to know more, G put my wedding plans on hold. F G Am So I drove up to the city, C F told the Rabbi what I knew F C G He said "Please let me teach you Am G C what it means to be a Jew." C He taught me about Torah, C G C and the mitzvos 613 C And how our lives have meaning G if we keep ourselves pristine. F G Am Day after day he challenged me, C F "Come home, I know you can" F C G He seemed so sad when I said Am G C "I can't change the way I am." C They all ran out to greet me, C G C my dear folks and Caroline C So happy I was home, G that I hadn't lost my mind. F G Am "Son", my daddy said, C F "While you were gone, I made a pact F C G That I'd buy you a brand new truck Am G C the day that you came back" C We each have moments in our lives C G C that show G-d's providence C But mostly we just shrug them off G as mere coincidence. F G Am When I went to get new plates C F down at the DMV F C G The license plate they gave me read, Am G C G-E-T-6-1-3. Chorus: F Bb F I'm still a country boy C but now my life's a dream come true G Studying Torah in Jerusalem F C with the Western Wall in view F Bb F My mind is filled with matters G Am of the spirit and the soul F C G Wouldn't trade my Yiddishkeit Am G C for a bushel full of gold F Bb F I'm still a country boy C but now my life's a dream come true G Studying Torah in Jerusalem F C with the Western Wall in view F Bb F My Hebrew's got a country twang G Am but no one makes a fuss F C G And now I mean it when I say Am G C the words, "In G-d we trust."